The St Catherine's Respect Life Ministry recognizes the dignity of each individual as created in the image and likeness of God and seeks through faith, hope, and love, to protect and promote the sanctity of God's children from the moment of conception to natural death through prayer, education, and outreach.
 

While we realize that Respect Life includes everyone, including the handicapped, the poor, the homeless, and the elderly, the focus of our ministry is on the issues of abortion. Abortion takes the lives of approximately 800,000 babies each year in the United States and 42 million worldwide. Abortion is an intrinsic evil, meaning that it is never permitted or morally justified, regardless of individual circumstances or intentions. Because of this, we are actively involved in:

• Helping to end abortion.

• Helping mothers and fathers in an unplanned pregnancy.

• Helping mothers and fathers that need help caring for their child(ren).

• Helping women who have had an abortion seek healing and repentance.

Working with the next generation to promote the preciousness of life beginning at conception.

Our major events and activities
Mary Garden Improvements
 The Mary Garden is the area on the southwest side of the church, which is accessible from the west side handicap parking lot. 
 In 2021, major improvements were made: 

• Added a wooden cross
• Added personalized handprint stones
• Added edging and mulch
• Added some Perennial plants 
• Added two stained glass pieces

• Added plaque containing Jeremiah 1:5 Bible verse
• Replaced and expanded edging (thanks to Knights for purchasing)
• Moved 3 benches from other areas on church grounds
• Moved some of the Perennial plants 
• Purchased new hose and sprayer 
• Added more marble rock around the statue of Mary
• Planted annual plants
• Replaced wooden Arbor destroyed by tornado with new PVC Arbor (thanks to Knights for purchasing)
• 

Communicating Respect Life / Gospel of Life information from the USCCB
For more information, go to https://www.respectlife.org/. 
 
Organizing "Baby Showers" to collect items for local Pregnancy Resource Centers 
(Caring Network and Alternatives). 
For more information about Caring Network, please go to https://ccdok.org/caring-network/.
 For more information about Alternatives, please visit https://www.alternativescc.org/. 
 
Encouraging and coordinating participation in the following:

• 40 Days for Life - For more information, go to https://www.40daysforlife.com/.

• LifeChain - For more information, go to https://lifechain.org/.

• National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children - For more information, go to http://abortionmemorials.com/.

• Annual March for Life in Washington, DC - For more information, go to https://marchforlife.org/.

• Communicating key state and national laws and legislation

• Engagement of our youth

If you are interested in learning more, please go to https://stcatherinesiena.flocknote.com/RespectLife or complete the form below to join the Respect Life Ministry Flocknote group and get up to date information about events and discussions. You may also send an email to [email protected].