Facing the End of Life and the Power of the Resurrection

Office for Human Dignity

"I have come that they might have Life and life more abundantly."

John 10:10

Here are the latest opportunities

from the ministries of the Office for Human Dignity

to strengthen your faith and connect with the community.

Respect Life Ministry

Join Bishop Pates in prayer via Livestream during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday

Prayers at Home for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday

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As we enter into the sacred moments of the Paschal Mystery this week, we offer a helpful booklet for families, Encouraging End of Life Conversations: A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives by the Catholic Conference of Illinois.

Download a free copy of "End of Life Conversations: A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives." You may also download a free copy of the booklet in Spanish and in Polish .

Justice & Peace Ministry

We must always remember that Holy Week gives way to Easter; the fast turns into a feast. God wins the day. As we prepare to celebrate Easter joy, it is our responsibility as members of God’s one human family to share that joy with everyone, near and far.

Thomas Awiapo from Catholic Relief Service gives a glimpse of how our Lenten fasting can turn into Easter joy for those most in need around the world. Watch his emotional and inspirational testimony. (3 minutes)

P.S. Don't forget about your CRS Rice Bowl. Your alms will save others just like Thomas Awiapo! You can mail it too. Click for more info here.

Laudato Si’ Ministries

Holy Week Poem by Wendell Berry

Check out this month's Christ is Our Hope magazine which focuses on Pope Francis' exhortation "Beloved Amazon," featuring articles from

Sr. Nancy Schramm, Kayla Jacobs, and Edith Avila Olea.

Missions

COVID-19 news from Tacloban City and the work of Catholic Relief Services. CRS is the relief and development organization of the U.S. Bishops. It was they who first recommended this region of the Philippines to us for our mission outreach.

Do you believe in miracles? Let us tell you about one that we witnessed firsthand. The Philippines responded quickly to the coronavirus pandemic and determined that Tacloban City would go into lockdown on Saturday, March 21. By Friday morning, the CRS Philippines team had developed a plan. They identified community members most vulnerable to COVID-19 and determined that 100 families needed to move to a safer situation by the next day. The families were ready and eager.

In less than 12 hours, the CRS Philippines team:

•Turned over 92 keys and physically moved six elderly families.

•Built a water station to ensure that the new houses had clean water.

•Organized a food distribution so the elderly families would have three weeks’ worth of food.

In the words of one staff member, “We could actually help prevent these families from getting COVID.” We are awed by the dedication and determination of this team. Thank you for your immediate, life-saving actions!

Jesus I Trust in You

A reflection by Nancy Schramm, osf

I believe we are in the holiest of all the weeks of the year. This is the week that we face the reality of the mission of Jesus. We witness Jesus who understands profoundly what the Father wills and yet we see Jesus hesitating. ( continue reading - 1 minute)

Alexandra Kurator

Respect Life Ministry

Associate Director

Edith Avila Oleo

Justice and Peace

Associate Director

Alex Quezada

Justice and Peace

Relief & Development Coordinator

Kayla S. Jacobs

Laudato Si' Ministries

Director of Programs

Bruce Carlson

Missions Administrator

Sr. Nancy Schramm, osf

Director of Mission Formation

Felicia Rodriguez

Missions Operation Assistant

Dan Defino

Liaison for Pastoral Care in Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Mary Dragovan

Administrative Assistant

Thomas L. Garlitz

Director