OVERVIEW
The St. James Respect Life Ministry works to protect and honor human life from the moment of conception until natural death. We do this by teaching, supporting, and praying within our church and community. We help our local crisis pregnancy center through events like the Mother’s Day Diaper Drive and the Advent giving tree. We also join the Knights of Columbus Roses for Life campaign to share our beliefs with government leaders. Each year, we team up with the Altar & Rosary Society to bring speakers who talk about pro-life topics to the parish. Everyone who cares about the value of human life is welcome to join us.
Contact: Kirsten Maggi at kirsten.maggi@stjames-liberty.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to promote and protect the dignity of human life, from conception to natural death, through prayer, communication, and education. We follow the teachings of Christ as taught by the Roman Catholic Church.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
- – Encourage participation in the Knights of Columbus Rose for Life Campaign
– Hold an annual Diaper Drive to help parishioners in need and the Crisis Pregnancy Center
– Sponsor pro-life presentations, videos, and guest speakers for the parish
– Support Respect Life Month with activities like placing reminder roses on the altar, sharing quotes and hand-outs in the bulletin, and joining local events like the Life Chain
– Celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and contribute to a Mother’s Day ad in the Catholic Key newspaper
MEETING TIMES
Put your faith and respect for all human life into action by coming to our Respect Life Ministry meetings. We usually meet on the first Thursday of each month from August to May, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, in the St. Therese Room at the school. Come join us!
We also ask all parishioners to pray for us and support this ministry.
The Natural Choice is Life!
THE SINGLE ROSE
Our ministry uses the single rose as a symbol, a tradition we adopted from the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocesan Respect Life Network. The single rose is also used by the National Right to Life Campaign and appears in many religious and secular materials supporting the pro-life cause.
The single rose is well known as a symbol in the Knights of Columbus Rose for Life Campaign, which takes place every January to help end abortion.
In our Catholic faith, the rose has a deep spiritual meaning. We pray to Mary as the “Mystical Rose” in the Litany of Mary. Our Lady of Guadalupe, who prays for unborn babies, is linked to the beauty and smell of roses. Mary used roses to show Juan Diego proof of her appearance. The smell of a rose during prayer is said to be a sign of Mary’s presence.
Since 1994, our Respect Life Ministry has placed a single rose near the altar during October (Respect Life Month) and January (the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision and the Knights of Columbus Rose for Life Campaign). We explain the meaning of this rose in the parish bulletin during these months. A fresh rose is cared for and given to the parish every week by individuals, families, and ministries, as noted in the bulletin. We also suggest including the rose’s symbolism in the church service through the sermon, prayers, and petitions during October and January.
The Respect Life Ministry is proud to use the single rose as the best symbol for spreading the message of the value of life.