First I'd like to extend a big thank you to all the parishes who participated in the   40 Days for Life campaign that is coming to a close this week. If you haven't yet had a chance to pray at the vigil, there is still time through Sunday, November 6!  The final hour (5 p.m. - 6 p.m.) is always particularly beautiful, and this year will be followed by our Victory Celebration at St. Elizabeth of Hungary beginning at 7p.m. with an inspiring, personal testimony from the pastor, Fr. Russ. I hope you can join us! 

Also this weekend is our 2nd Annual Pasos por la Vida! Everyone is invited this Saturday, November 5 for Mass at 8:00 a.m. at Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Dallas, followed by a Procession led by the Blessed Sacrament to a Rally with great music and presentations at Santa Clara parish. (Note: Mass and Rally in Spanish)

As we begin November, we also celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month. The CPLC encourages the option of adoption through our Project Gabriel Ministry, blessed with the expert help of our Parenting Options Advisor Carolina Salazar, who has 25+ years of adoption counseling experience. For more information on adoption, visit  prolifedallas.org/adoption or following our #thelovingoption campaign on Facebook.

One of our most popular events this month -- the annual Christ Child Christmas Market & Luncheon is on November 19 at a new, bigger venue: DoubleTree Hotel in North Dallas near the Galleria. If you haven't yet reserved your luncheon tickets or table, be sure to visit prolifedallas.org/luncheon to do so now. Our guest speaker will be Father Edwin Leonard, Director of Vocations for the Diocese, with emcee Dave Palmer from Guadalupe Network. All are welcome to shop the Christmas Gift Market which is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please spread the word about this festive event, proceeds of which benefit the CPLC as well as the new maternity homes Bella House and Mater Felius.

Please also be sure to mark your calendars for our next Parish Pro-Life Coordinators Meeting on Saturday, November 12 at Immaculate Conception in Grand Prairie.  The Knights of Columbus will have a wonderful breakfast for us beginning at 8:30 a.m.  We will also provide important information (including promotional materials) for the 2017 Roe Memorial Events on January 13 - 14, 2017.   If you cannot be there, please send a representative from your parish.

Also around the corner is the National Night of Prayer for Life on December 8-9.  If your parish is planning to participate, please let me know, so we can be sure to list the location on our calendar. More information can be found at nationalnightofprayerforlife.org.

In addition to these events, please also note:

As this Year of Mercy draws to a close, we must continue to show mercy to all.  This Jubilee of Mercy is not the first time that Pope Francis has emphasized the need for the faithful to live their lives in a witness to the mercy of God. In Evangelii Gaudium, or The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis highlights the connection between mercy and continually spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives. The Church is called to be "missionary disciples" as an "evangelizing community" seeking "to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Father's infinite mercy" (EG, no. 24). Our faith is not our own; it is ours as members of the Body of Christ, who continually testify to the truth of the Gospel through all of our actions. Just as mercy is an overarching theme for Pope Francis's pontificate and his life, we are all called to make mercy the theme of our life. Here are two ways you can close out this beautiful year:

1. Throughout this month, read Evangelii Gaudium. Take note of the various places that the mercy we show others is described as a reflection of God's merciful love and compassion.
    
2. Share your faith with someone else. This is somewhat intimidating, but it can be done in a variety of ways since all of our words, actions, and lives should reflect the joy of God's great gift of mercy and love. Even something as simple as stating that you are a Christian can help someone recognize the connection between your actions of compassion and your faith in Jesus Christ.

In these days of abortion on demand, I cannot help but wonder if there are any persons that are lost who could be saints. Let us remember to pray for them daily as we battle against the culture that has ensnared them and victimized so many.

Thanks for all you do for Life and God bless,