Pro-Life Mass, Rally Sunday in Salem

The Respect Life Mass will be an opportunity to pray for the building of a culture of life in Oregon and in the United States.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Archbishop John Vlazny will celebrate the annual Respect Life Mass at noon Sunday, at St. Joseph Church, 721 Chemeketa St. NE, Salem.

The Mass precedes the annual Oregon Right to Life rally on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol, which begins at 2:30 PM.

Everyone is invited to attend.

The rally will address public policy issues related to promoting a culture of life.

Following the Mass there will be a reception held in the parish hall sponsored by the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Activities office and St. Joseph Catholic Church.

The reception will include a number of pro-life organizations with educational information.

Baby clothes, food and other pregnancy resources will be collected for Birthright and the Father Taaffe Foundation Homes.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ has set Jan. 22nd of each year as a “particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.”

In a recent letter to pastors, Archbishop Vlazny asked that each parish offer special opportunities for prayer and reflection on that day.

He has also encouraged parishes to offer one Mass each month for the intention of “peace, justice and respect of life.”

“These three dimensions of the Gospel really go hand in hand and uniting our prayers with those of Christ himself in the Mass enables his light to shine in our darkness and dispel it,” Archbishop Vlazny said.

Organizations offering information and education at the reception after Mass on Sunday will be 1st Way of Eugene, Birthright of Salem, Catholic Charities/Project Rachel, Father Taaffe Foundation Homes, Holy Family Supply, Northwest Family Services, Oregon Catholic Conference, Oregon Right to Life Education Fund, Physicians for Compassionate Care Education Foundation, St. Germaine Center, and St. Michael the Archangel/Salem Right to Life.

Items needed in the collection for pregnancy support include baby thermometers, baby monitors, hot water bottles, vaporizers, new car seats, bathrobes and maternity clothes mothers, infant clothes, baby and toddler toys and books, disposable diapers (size 3 and 4), and basic baby formula.

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