September 30, 2009

Local events to honor Respect Life month

By Denver Catholic Register

“Every child … brings us God’s smile and invites us to recognize that life is his gift, a gift to be welcomed with love and preserved with care always and at every moment.”
—Pope Benedict XVI

To call attention to life issues, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops designates October as Respect Life month. The theme for this year’s USCCB Respect Life program, which begins on Respect Life Sunday Oct. 4., is “Every Child Brings Us God’s Smile.”

This issue of the Denver Catholic Register kicks off a six-piece series related to life issues (see column at the bottom of this page). The life issues addressed by the Church today are abortion, human sexuality, infertility procedures, cloning, stem-cell research, euthanasia and the death penalty.
Below is a list of upcoming pro-life events in the archdiocese.

Gospel of Life Conference
“Strengthening the family: Hope for the future,” is the theme of the Denver Archdiocese’s 2009 Gospel of Life Conference set for 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Christ the King Parish, 830 Elm St. in Denver. Everyone is invited.

The presentations will look at how the health and happiness of families—or lack thereof—directly impact culture today and in the future. Presenters will offer reflections and tools to help families on their spiritual journey.

Keynote speakers will be Helen Alvaré, associate professor of law at George Mason University and former spokeswoman for the USCCB on life issues; Father Jorge Rodriguez, vice rector and professor of sacred theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary; and Jonathan Reyes, executive director of Catholic Charities of Colorado. 

Alvaré will offer a consideration of the family from a global, sociological perspective. Father Rodriguez, will speak on the theology of the family, and consider how the true nature of God’s love, mercy and beauty can be fully reflected in the vision of holy, happy families. Reyes, newly appointed executive director of Catholic Charities in Colorado, will offer practical ways in which families can grow in holiness and virtue amidst the challenges abounding in our culture today.

The fee is $20. To register, contact the Respect Life Office at 303-715-3205 or e-mail resplife@archden.org by Oct. 22.

Bioethics and health care morality seminar
It’s not too late to register and attend the National Catholic Bioethics Center’s two-day seminar, “Catholic Health Care in Service to the Human Person,” set for Oct. 2-3 at Bonfils Hall on the John Paul II Center campus. The event is being presented in collaboration with the Denver guild of the Catholic Medical Association. 
The seminar is aimed at health care professionals, chaplains, clergy, teachers and laity interested in learning more about the Catholic approach to ethical issues in health care and how to apply moral theory to real-life circumstances.

Renowned expert speakers will include moral theologian John Haas, NCBC president; nurse and canon lawyer Marie Hilliard, NCBC director of bioethics and public policy; and scientist-priest Father Tad Pacholczyk, NCBC director of education. Local speakers include Deacon-Dr. Alan Rastrelli, who is an anesthesiologist and a founding member of the inpatient palliative care team at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center; and professor of bioethics and genetics Marilyn Coors of the University of Colorado’s Denver Health Sciences Center.

The fee is $225 for both days, $150 for one day and $180 for full-time students. Teachers in Catholic schools can attend for $50. For more information or to register, visit http://www.ncbcenter.org/ annual_seminars.asp or contact Julie Kelley at 215-877-2660 Ext. 213 or jkelley@ncbcenter.org.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekend
Rachel’s Vineyard, a Catholic ministry of Priests for Life, helps individuals suffering from the psychological and spiritual pain associated with a past abortion. On Oct. 16-18 the organization will offer a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekend at a location in the Denver metro area. The retreat gives women and men a safe place to begin their journey of healing and reconciliation, with the guidance of priests and professional counselors.

For more information, visit www.rachelsvineyard.org. To sign up for the retreat, contact Edie at 303-410-1710 by Oct. 10. The fee is $160 per person, with a $25 deposit requested at registration. Financial assistance is available. Participation is confidential.