Respect Life Newsletter
April 3, 2021
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Since we concluded the 25th Anniversary year of Evangelium Vitae on the Solemnity of the Annunciation this year, allow me to use Pope Saint John Paul II's closing of the encyclical as a meditation for us this Easter:
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"Death shall be no more": the splendor of the Resurrection |
The angel's Annunciation to Mary is framed by these reassuring words: "Do not be afraid, Mary" and "with God nothing will be impossible" (Lk 1:30, 37). The whole of the Virgin Mother's life is in fact pervaded by the certainty that God is near to her and that he accompanies her with his providential care. The same is true of the Church, which finds "a place prepared by God" (Rev 12:6) in the desert, the place of trial but also of the manifestation of God's love for his people (cf. Hos 2:16). Mary is a living word of comfort for the Church in her struggle against death. Showing us the Son, the Church assures us that in him the forces of death have already been defeated: "Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life's own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign" (Roman Missal, Sequence for Easter Sunday).
The Lamb who was slain is alive, bearing the marks of his Passion in the splendor of the Resurrection. He alone is master of all the events of history: he opens its "seals" (cf. Rev 5:1-10) and proclaims, in time and beyond, the power of life over death. In the "new Jerusalem", that new world towards which human history is traveling, "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away" (Rev 21:4).
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ALLELUIA! May Christ's victory over death and the hope of eternal LIFE bring you peace and joy; and may the Risen Lord grant you and your family a very blessed Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday!
For Life,
Rebecca
Rebecca Brady
Director, Respect Life Ministry
Secretariat for Parish Life, Archdiocese of Miami
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PS- Check out the announcements and resources below:
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NEW hours at two of our Pregnancy Help Centers
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Host a Baby Bottle Fundraising Drive at your Parish
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Open Respect Life staff and volunteer positions
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Pro-Life Policy Action Alerts at the Federal and State level
- Divine Mercy Sunday/ Post-Abortion Resources
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Archdiocese of Miami Walking with Moms resources for Parish Representatives and Core Teams
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Registration for our next LIVE Webinar on Pro-Life Saints
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National Congreso Pro-Vida Save the Date
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Annunciation & Welcoming New Life Blog post
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Resurrection & Roe v. Wade movie premieres
Enjoy- and don't forget to share with you parish, school, family and friends!
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Two of our five Pregnancy Help Center locations, Central Broward and South Dade, have extended their hours of operation to include one late night per week. Thanks to the dedicated staff and volunteers at these centers, these new hours of operation will allow us to better serve current and future clients and save more lives and souls! |
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There's still time for your parish to host it's Baby Bottle Drive for the Walking with Moms initiative! Call your Program Coordinator for more information and assistance in coordinating a fundraiser at your parish or school in support of the mothers and children served at your local Pregnancy Help Center.
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All five of our pregnancy help centers are in need of volunteers. You can make a difference for LIFE by ministering to abortion-vulnerable women and families in your community. |
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Federal Action Items from the USCCB |
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Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Equality Act, which has now passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is being actively considered in the Senate, in many ways does the opposite and needs to be opposed. Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith and risk mandating taxpayers to fund abortions. Visit www.usccb.org/equality-act to learn more and TAKE ACTION.
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Innocent life is under attack like never before, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is preparing a nationwide grassroots advocacy effort to help protect unborn children. Please consider asking your parish to publish the following announcement or one of these graphics in the bulletin the weekend(s) of April 11, 18, and/or 25.
Stop your tax dollars from going to abortion! www.NoTaxpayerAbortion.com
Together, we can make a powerful stand for the most vulnerable among us!
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State Level Update & Action Alert from FCCB |
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The Florida Legislative Session runs from March 2, 2021 to April 30th, 2021. Below are the updates and action items from the Florida Catholic Conference of Bishops related to pro-life legislation.
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Surrendered Infants bill passed in the House |
HB 133 (Harding/Beltran), supported by the FCCB, authorizes the installation of newborn safety devices or "baby boxes" to accept surrendered newborn infants at the same locations where newborns may now be surrendered under current law. The boxes would be installed through an exterior wall, with an access door on the inside of the building. An alarm notifies emergency personnel that someone has placed an infant inside the box. The bill also increases the allowable age of surrender from seven days old to 30 days. HB 133 was passed by the full House (108-11) on March 18. The Senate companion, SB 122 (Baxley), is waiting to be heard in its final committee of reference, Appropriations. |
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Add your voice to the hundreds of Catholics statewide who are participating in the 2021 VIRTUAL Catholic Days at the Capitol.
This year's CDAC policy priorities include the Protection of a Pain-capable Unborn Child from Abortion (SB 744: Rodriguez, A. / HB 351: Gregory) prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks gestation.
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Post-Abortion Parish Resources |
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"Each year, on the Second Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates the Sunday of Divine Mercy. It provides an important opportunity to share Christ’s message of mercy, especially with those who have been wounded by abortion. By the age of 45, as many as 1 in 3 women have had an abortion, and a similar number of men and family members have been involved. Many inaccurately feel that abortion is 'the unforgivable sin.' They need to hear that God forgives every sin of a repentant heart, even the sin of abortion."
The USCCB Respect Life Action Guide for Divine Mercy Sunday includes Sample Announcements, Intercessions, Homily Helps and supplementary resources such as the Divine Mercy Novena, Homily Considerations Regarding Healing After Abortion, Prayer Service for Forgiveness and Healing, Eucharistic Holy Hour for Divine Mercy Sunday, HopeAfterAbortion.org and usccb.org/abortionhealing.
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Shifting from Condemnation to Compassion |
A short post geared towards those in the pro-life community from the Support After Abortion blog:
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Free and Confidential Post-Abortion Healing is offered in the Archdiocese of Miami through Respect Life Ministry:
PROJECT RACHEL POST-ABORTION HEALING
(954) 981-2984
Toll Free (888) 456-4673
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March Webinar: Phases 5 & 6 |
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Walking with Moms Downloads |
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Please use the buttons below to view and download the complete Walking with Moms Parish Action Guide adapted for use by parishes and groups in the Archdiocese of Miami, as well as the slides from the most recent presentation including an overview of Respect Life Ministry, Abortion statistics, the Walking with Moms initiative, and the steps for Phases 5 and 6.
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These resources and more are also available on our website.
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April Webinar: Pro-Life Saints |
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National Congreso Pro-Vida |
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Archbishop Wenski has adapted our Walking with Moms timeline to include Phase 7: Celebrating Parish Action Plans and Respect Life Ministry at the National Congreso Pro-Vida which will be held at St. Thomas University this October 29-31, 2021. Save the date flyers and social media graphics are available to download on respectlifemiami.org/events.
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Rebecca Brady reflects on the Solemnity of the Annunciation and the pro-life message is holds for us today in light of the Year of St. Joseph and the Amoris Laetitia Family Year with excerpts from Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis.
Click HERE to read her post in the Archdiocese of Miami Let's Talk Blog.
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In Resurrection, Jesus’ followers are hunted, leaderless and desperately searching for understanding. But when Jesus rises from the dead, they realize that hope didn’t die on the cross-- It lives on in them. One man changed the world and brought hope in a time of despair. Stream the global premiere of Resurrection, March 27th only on discovery+. Learn more at www.discoveryplus.com/resurrection.
Click HERE to listen to Dr. Grazie Christie of The Catholic Association interview Catholic filmmaker and actress Roma Downey about her film which is premiering just in time for Holy Week and the Easter season on the Conversations with Consequences Radio Show.
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Now through Monday, April 26, you are invited to a Virtual Premiere Event of the Roe v. Wade Movie: "the real story you’ve never been told” about the Supreme Court abortion decision. Individuals can sign up to stream the film for a discounted price of $12.99 plus $1.25 transaction fee at www.watchroevwade.com/florida. You can see the trailer, fact checks, and details at www.roevwademovie.com.
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
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RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
Archdiocese of Miami | Secretariat for Parish Life
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