THE RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY'S MISSION is to educate the parish on all life issues from natural conception to natural death. Through prayer and education we encourage the parish community to get involved in organizations that support the Catholic view of the sanctity of life.

WE WELCOME you to explore the many ways to live our faith and stay current on the various activities within each ministry through the many links and documents that are listed below and on the side of this page.

~May the Holy Spirit guide you towards
prayer and service to build a culture
which demonstrates respect for ALL human life.~

For questions or to sign-up for monthly e-mails outlining current needs,
contact Barb Williams at  respectlife@stpius.net or 574-742-2516 
 

Pray and Fast For Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health
https://stpius.net/prayfordobbs
This case is the biggest challenge to
Roe v Wade in a generation.



"Reverence for life is the glue of human community"

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

FIRST, we begin by joining the USCCB in praying for life.

The Bishops' weekly prayer intention is printed in our bulletin from the Word of Life 


Intercessions for Life Dobbs Special Edition - prayers for now through June

May the Supreme Court's upcoming decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization help protect women and children from the harm of abortion; We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For the legal protection of unborn children and for loving support for their mothers before and after their births;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For expectant mothers considering abortion:  May the Lord give them the grace to choose life for their children and send them caring people to help them meet their needs;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For expectant mothers:  May they be lovingly supported by the fathers of their children in welcoming new life:  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

May friends and families of women with difficult pregnancies provide loving, life-affirming support for both mother and child;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

May Catholics recognize the needs of pregnant and parenting women present in their communities and help them to obtain the necessities of life; We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

May Catholic parish communities strive to provide compassionate, tangible support to pregnant and parenting mothers in need of assistance;   We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For the Church:  May we faithfully witness in word and in deed to the dignity of every human life through comprehensive care of mothers and their children;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer. 

May the Church redouble its efforts to accompany mothers in need, offering them compassionate care and support;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

May the Church better understand the challenges facing mothers in need and respond with increased care and support;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

May Catholic parishes become islands of mercy for women, children, and families in need of assistance;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For our nation:  May we create a society in which the legal protection of human life is accompanied by profound care for mothers and their children;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who have participated in an abortion and feel they have committed an unforgiveable sin:  May they come to know the Lord's limitless mercy, and turn to Him for forgiveness and healing;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who suffer after participating in an abortion:  May they find peace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and be consoled through the Church's abortion healing ministry;  We pray to the Lord; Lord, hear our prayer.

Thank you for praying!  You have just become a part of the St. Pius X Respect Life Ministry, it's that easy.  To learn more about prayer and volunteer needs, please continue reading below and contact Barb Williams for a monthly email.

SECOND, we encourage prayer and service within 
16 ministries under the parish's umbrella for Respect Life.  

Prayer: 

• Project Rachel Parish Companion a friend to talk to when a past memory weighs on one's mind and heart
• Apostolate of Divine Mercy in Service of Life, Marriage, and the Family a Chapel in South Bend with Mass and Exposition dedicated to praying for the unborn 
• 40 Days for Life local efforts of the national campaign in spring and fall to particularly pray and fast for the unborn
• March for Life, Washington, DC an annual event to support an end to legalized abortion in the United States

Service:

• Women's Care Center a crisis pregnancy center with 4 locations within St. Joseph County alone
• Hannah's House a maternity home in Mishawaka for pregnant and parenting single/homeless young women
• Christ Child Society of South Bend all-volunteer group that provides winter clothing to verified need children without regard to race or religion
• Right to Life Michiana promotes life through education and advocacy
• Center for Hospice Care supports all to live as well as possible until God calls us home
• Catholic Medical Association local guild unites Catholic health care professionals to inform and inspire members to bridge faith and profession

• Village at Arborwood 820 E. Cleveland Rd, Granger 
• Bell Tower Health & Rehabilitation Center 5805 N. Fir Rd, Granger
• Brookdale,Granger 430 Cleveland Rd East, Granger
• Fountainview Golden Living Center, 609 Tanlgewood Lane, Mishawaka
• StoryPoint Granger 6330 N. Fir Rd, Granger
• Cedarhurst of Edison Lakes 1025 Park Place, Mishawaka

In addition, we encourage becoming familiar with these resources:

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Office of Marriage & Family by communicating these opportunities to our parishioners:

• Project Rachel post abortion counseling and healing ministry
• Miriam's Blessing poor prenatal diagnosis support 
• Ava's Grace pregnancy and infant loss 

Additional information on other ministries such as Infertility, Natural Family Planning, Physicians Providing NaProTECHNOLOGY, and others may be found on the Diocesan website.
 

and

The Bishops'  Respect Life program as follows

• October (Respect Life Month)
• January (The Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, Jan 22)
• March (Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25)
• April (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
• May (Mother's Day)
• June (Father's Day) 

Walking with Moms in Need

In conjunction with our parish Elizabeth Ministry, we embrace the USCCB's Walking with Moms in Need program to help pregnant women, and women with small children, find the local resources to help them in caring for their babies.  More information may be found at https://stpius.net/walkingwithmoms