Respect Life
About the Parish Respect Life Group
The Holy Spirit Respect Life Group promotes the sanctity of human life in our parish and community. We offer opportunities for parishioners to pray, become better educated, volunteer, and support organizations and events that encourage respect for all human life.
Commitment
If you want to attend or support any of our annual events – March for Life in January, Life Chain in October, 40 Days for Life, the Advent Giving Tree for Project Rachel/Gabriel Project – watch the bulletin for information. With the help of the parish Women’s Council, we also support A Woman’s Choice Crisis Pregnancy Center through a monthly diaper collection (every 2nd weekend of the month) and an Advent Greens sale.
2025 Respect Life Monthly Calendar
January
National March for Life
Virginia Pro-Life Day
February
Project Rachel Retreat
March
40 Days for Life
Bedding 4 Babies
April
Virginia March for Life
40 Days for Life ends
Bedding 4 Babies ends
Project Rachel Retreat
May
Mother’s Day Rose Sale
June
Religious Freedom Week
Project Rachel Retreat
July
August
September
40 Days for life starts
Voter registration
Project Rachel Retreat
October
Respect Life Month
40 Days for Life
November
40 Days for Life ends
December
Advent Greens Sale
Advent Giving Tree
Prayerfully consider getting involved in any of these events / projects!
If you are a mother in need, a woman facing and unplanned pregnancy, a woman who has experienced abortion, or in any other need, our parish and our diocese are ready to help you.
To find out about the many resources available in our area to help women, men, and families in need, see this diocesan web page. Or contact us at [email protected].
What does the Catholic Church really teach about abortion?
“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2270)
Pope Francis
“It is troubling to see how simple and convenient it has become for some to deny the existence of a human life as a solution to problems that can and must be solved for both the mother and her unborn child.”
Pope Benedict XVI
“God’s love does not differentiate between the newly conceived infant still in his or her mother’s womb and the child or young person, or the adult and the elderly person. God does not distinguish between them because he sees an impression of his own image and likeness in each one.”
Pope John Paul II
“Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by
welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life.”
Read longer statements on abortion and life issues at the links below:
- Respect Life: Pope Francis’ 8 Strongest Statements Against Abortion, Catholic News Agency
- Pope Benedict XVI and USCCB on Life Issues, USCCB
- Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church’s Constant Teaching, USCCB
- Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II
- Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI
How can you build a culture of life? Checkout our Internet Toolkit for some great web sites to help you out.
For more information, contact Dawn Beutner at [email protected].
Learn More About Specific Life Issues Here:
Life Issues & Vaccines
Theology of the Body
Help After Abortion
Population Control
Why Can’t We Love Them Both?
The Importance of Fathers
Evangelium Vitae
Adoption
Abortion & the Law
