Office of Respect Life
Role of the Office
The Respect Life Office promotes the Catholic Church’s teachings on respect for, and the legal protection of, every human life from conception to natural death.
Upcoming Events and Related Resources
Respect Life Month
Diocesan Pro-Life Rosary
What: One Pro-Life Rosary, 3 Locations
– Thursday October 12 at 9pm at Holy Trinity Adoration Chapel, Springfield
– Saturday, October 7 at 6pm at Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in St. Francis Hospital, Cape Girardeau
– Thursday, October 12 at 7pm at Sacred Heart Parish, Webb City
Midwest March for Life
With encouragement from the Missouri Bishops and the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, we are focusing our Respect Life activities at the state level.
What: Official Missouri Pro-Life March
Voice for Life
The mission of Voice for Life (VFL) is to support life from conception to natural death. We promote awareness and conduct advocacy campaigns in accordance with Catholic teaching on today’s life issues.
VFL’s annual Coloring Contest is for all students and children of our diocese are invited to participate in the Voice of Life contest. The contest is open to children from Kindergarten to 12th grade and includes coloring pages, posters, poetry, essays, and t-shirt designs. There are cash prizes.
2023 Theme: St. Gianna Beretta Molla.
For information on how to enter click here.
Deadline: All entries are due by February 9, 2024.
Respect Life Issues
Prayer Resources
A Prayer After Miscarriage
O my Jesus,
my life has changed forever.
I’m separated in this world from my beloved baby [name].
I beg for Your mercy for me, and for all who mourn.
I rely on Your promise that all who mourn will be comforted (Mt 5:4).
Help me to persevere in faith,
so that one day I may praise You
in the company of my baby and all of the saints.
Please accept my suffering and unite it with Yours for the salvation of all souls,
and fill my emptiness with Your mercy
that I may continue to love and serve others in my life.
I surrender to You all my needs, doubts, and anger.
You are the Source of my strength, hope, and consolation.
Even when I don’t understand what is being asked of me, help me to live in imitation of You and Your Blessed Mother in acceptance of the Father’s plan of loving kindness.
Lord, thank You for hearing my prayer, even at times when the depth of my sorrow won’t allow me to speak it aloud.
I entrust my baby to Your mercy,
as I entrust my life to You.
Amen.
To learn more about healing from the effects of miscarriage, visit www.marian.org/miscarriage
Naming and Commendation of an Infant who Died Before Birth
“This rite is intended to assist the parents in their grief and console them with the blessing of God. It may be used by a priest or a deacon, and also by a lay-person, who follows the rite and prayers designated for a lay minister.“
Click here to view and download the PDF.
Pro-Life Rosaries
Respect Life Month Resources
Year-Round Resources
End of Life & Natural Death
The Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) End of Life Guide
Find Post Abortion Healing — Project Rachel
PDF may be found here: English
Staff
Sr. Janine Tran
Director | jtran@dioscg.org
Kim Brayman
Administrative Assistant, Project Rachel Ministry/Program Coordinator | kbrayman@dioscg.org