May 5, 2010
ACA: supporting life and families
By Julie Filby
Money raised by the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal helps to build a culture of life and promote strong families by funding the archdiocese’s Respect Life Office and Marriage and Family Life Office.
The Respect Life Office seeks to protect human life from the moment of conception until natural death through education, outreach, pastoral care, and public policy formulation and awareness. Life issues addressed by the Church today include abortion, human sexuality, infertility procedures, cloning, stem-cell research, euthanasia and the death penalty.
“The Respect Life Office strives to provide the Church’s perspective so all Catholics receive a clear message about respect for all human life,” said director Mimi Eckstein. “We depend on the generous contributions made to the appeal to assist us in these efforts.”
The Respect Office sponsors the Gabriel Project, a Catholic outreach to pregnant women; Project Rachel, a post-abortion ministry for healing and reconciliation; the annual Gospel of Life Conference scheduled for Oct. 2; annual Respect Life Mass scheduled for Oct. 30; and monthly pro-life prayer vigils.
The opening of the Gabriel House last October was a highlight for the ministry (see story on Page 2). It has allowed the apostolate to significantly increase the number of mothers assisted: more than 350 mothers and families were served in its first five months of operation.
Organizers were encouraged by increased attendance, including more priests, at the Year For Priests’ pro-life prayer vigils at the Stapleton Planned Parenthood clinic. Vigils on the first Saturday of each month are expected to continue beyond the Year For Priests which concludes June 19.
“We’ve grown from about 25 ‘regulars’ to 150,” according to Eckstein. “On Holy Saturday, we had about 300 people.”
The Office of Marriage and Family Life promotes an authentic Catholic vision of marriage, human sexuality and family life by facilitating marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, natural family planning and sponsoring an annual Anniversary Mass.
“We act as a conduit through which marriage and family life ministries offered in parishes can be shared and advertised more widely in the archdiocese,” said director Phil Webb.
Each year about 700 couples participate in the archdiocese’s day-long marriage preparation workshop “God’s Plan for a Joy Filled Marriage.” It is offered in both English and Spanish and provides the theological component of marriage preparation.
“Many parishes don’t have the resources for marriage preparation,” Webb said. “While others simply prefer our method of instruction.”
Along with the dioceses of Colorado Springs and Pueblo, the office plans the annual Rocky Mountain Catholic Men’s Conference. Organizers were pleased with the attendance of the second annual event held in March.
“More than 1,200 men from Colorado and surrounding states absorbed a day of inspirational talks on the theme of ‘Seize Life,’” Webb said.
The annual Anniversary Mass is offered for couples celebrating 25, 50 or 50-plus years of marriage. It is celebrated with Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. every fall. This year’s Mass is scheduled for Sept. 25.
The Office of Marriage and Family Life also links couples with resources such as natural family planning education and marriage counseling.
“They (couples) are all seeking guidance of one sort or another,” Webb said. “And we are happy to help steer them in the right direction.”
These are just two of the nearly 40 ministries supported by the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal. ACA donations are tax deductible, and can be made in one lump sum or in payments over several months. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted. Parishioners are encouraged to pledge as early as possible to help reduce administrative costs associated with the appeal.
ARCHBISHOP'S CATHOLIC APPEAL
For more information or to contribute
Phone: 303-715-3111
E-mail: bet tyjane.nel son@arch den.org
Web: www.archden.org (click on Offices, Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal)
Mail: 1300 S. Steele St., Denver CO 80210
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