Catholics for Life
The STM Catholic for Life Ministry is dedicated to protect human life from the moment of conception to natural death in conformance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. We work with the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office to offer STM parishioners opportunities for education on pro-life issues, for service to the community, and to pray for those imperiled.
We usually meet at 7 PM on the second Monday of every other month to pray the rosary and to plan activities. For more information, please contact Aileen Barreca at 404-588-3276 or
stmcathforlife@aol.com.
Help with unexpected pregnancies:
Birthright, “We love them both!™”
800-550-4900
The Gabriel Project, “Protecting the unborn... supporting the expectant mother...”
Our mission is to respect all life -- at any age, in any circumstance. This means that we are profoundly committed not only to the unborn, but also to their mothers.
215-379-LOVE
OptionLine, “...refers each caller to a pregnancy resource center in her area for answers to questions about abortion, pregnancy tests, STD's, adoption, parenting, medical referrals, housing, and many other issues.”
800-395-HELP
Stories of women who had unexpected pregnancies:
Stand Up Girl, Offering teens information on abortion.
Her Choice, “...a Christian Pro-Life organization dedicated to educating America to the trauma that abortion causes.”
678-339-0018
Help after an abortion:
Post Abortion Treatment & Healing (PATH), “Hope, Heart, Healing”
404-896-6521
Rachel’s Vineyard, “...a safe place to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by abortion”
Silent no More Awareness, “Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men.”
Catholic church teaching and materials on life issues:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “...an assembly of the Catholic Church hierarchy who work together to unify, coordinate, promote, and carry on Catholic activities...”
202-541-3000
Priests for Life, “An officially approved association of Catholic Clergy who give special emphasis to the pro-life teachings of the Church.”
888-PFL-3448
Events
Archdiocese of Atlanta Pro-Life Office, “To assist the Archbishop of Atlanta in promoting and implementing the United States Bishops’ annual Respect Life Program and Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.”
404-888-7821
Natural Family Planning
Couple to Couple League, “Building healthy marriages through the art of Natural Family Planning since 1971.”
800-745-8252
Public Policy Issues/Action
National Right to Life, “...to restore legal protection to innocent human life.”
202-626-8800
Georgia Right to Life, “...to engage in actions that will restore respect and effective legal protection for all human beings from the moment of fertilization until natural death.”
770-339-6880
Abortion Education
Abort73, “...to cut through the skewed rhetoric of a broadly ‘pro-choice’ culture by presenting young people with the conclusive evidence that abortion is a massive injustice...”
Pro-Life America, “Helping moms, saving babies, ending abortion!” A rap music video by Nick Cannon whose mother nearly aborted him.
310-378-0067
Prayer to End Abortion
(by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life)
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pro-Life Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary
(by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life)
Joyful Mysteries
1.The Annunciation
Mary is troubled by the angel’s greeting, yet rejoices to do God’s will. Let us pray that those who are troubled by their pregnancy may have the grace to trust in God’s will.
2.The Visitation
John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. We pray that people may realize that abortion is not about children who “might” come into the world, but about children who are already in the womb, and are scheduled to be killed.
3.The Nativity
God Himself was born as a child. The greatness of a person does not depend on size, for the newborn king is very small. Let us pray for an end to prejudice against the tiny babies threatened by abortion.
4.The Presentation
The Child is presented in the temple because the child belongs to God. Children are not the property of their parents, nor of the government. They, and we, belong to God Himself.
5.Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The boy Jesus was filled with wisdom, because He is God. Let us pray that all people may see the wisdom of His teachings about the dignity of life, and may understand that this teaching is not an opinion, but the truth.
Luminous Mysteries
1.Christ is Baptized in the Jordan
When Jesus is baptized, the Father’s voice is heard: “This is my beloved son.” All are called to become adopted sons and daughters of God through baptism. We pray that children in the womb may be protected, so that they may be born and welcomed into the Christian community by baptism.
2.Christ is made known at the Wedding of Cana
Jesus revealed His glory by the miracle of Cana. The new couple was blessed not only with wine, but with faith in Christ. Let us pray for strong marriages, rooted in the Lord, and open to the gift of new life.
3.Christ Proclaims the Kingdom and Calls all to Conversion
“Repent and believe the good news.” Let us pray that these first words of Jesus’ public ministry may be heard by all who have committed abortion. May they know that the Lord calls them to conversion, and may they experience life-giving repentance.
4.The Transfiguration
Christ is transformed on the mountain, and the disciples see His glory. May the eyes of all people be transformed that they may see each and every human life as a reflection of the glory of God Himself.
5.Jesus Gives us the Eucharist
“This is my Body, given for you.” The Eucharist teaches us how to live and how to love. Let us pray that parents who sacrifice the babies for the sake of themselves may learn instead to put themselves aside for the sake of their babies.
Sorrowful Mysteries
1.The Agony in the Garden
Let us pray for mothers and fathers who are in agony because they are tempted to abort a child. May they be given good news that there are alternatives, and may they make use of the help that is available.
2.The Scourging
As Christ’s flesh was torn by the instruments of those who scourged Him, so the bodies of babies in the womb are torn by the instruments of the abortionists. Let us pray that abortionists may repent of these acts of child-killing.
3.The Crowning of Thorns
Jesus suffered the pain of thorns in His head, and did so silently. We pray for the mothers and fathers of aborted children. So many of them suffer deep grief and regret over a choice they can never reverse. So many suffer in silence, because others tell them it’s no big deal.
4.The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus was not condemned by the power of wicked people. He was condemned because of the silence of good people. Silence always helps the oppressor, never the victim. Let us pray that we may never be silent about abortion, but rather will clearly speak up to save babies from death.
5.The Crucifixion
As we ponder the death of Christ, let us remember the many women who have died from so-called “safe, legal” abortions. Let us ask forgiveness and mercy for them. May their memory save women from making this tragic mistake.
Glorious Mysteries
1.The Resurrection
Christ is Risen! By His Resurrection, He has destroyed the power of death, and thereafter the power of abortion. The outcome of the battle for Life has already been decided: Life is victorious! Let us pray that pro-lifers will spread this victory to every segment of our society.
2.The Ascension
By ascending to the Father’s throne, Christ takes our human nature, given to us in the womb, to the heights of heaven. He shows us that human beings are made to be raised to heaven, not thrown in the garbage. Let us pray that the world may learn this truth and reject abortion.
3.The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the advocate: He pleads our cause, for we cannot save ourselves. We pray that He will make us advocates for the babies, who cannot speak or write or vote or protest or even pray.
4.The Assumption
The Blessed Virgin Mary was taken body and soul into heaven because she is the Mother of God. Mother and Child are united. The Assumption reminds us that they belong together. We pray that society will see that it cannot save children without helping their mothers. We pray that people will be touched by the pro-life question, “Why can’t we love them both?”
5.The Coronation
Mary is the Queen of the Universe. She is the greatest creature, second only to God Himself. The Church defends the dignity of women. We pray that people will understand that to be pro-life means to be pro-woman, and that to be pro-woman demands that we be pro-life.
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