October 1, 2019
My Dear Friends in Christ,
The celebration of Respect Life Month this October kicks off the 2019-20 Respect Life Program with the theme, Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life. This program, created by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a year-round, nationwide effort to help Catholics understand, value, and become engaged with building a culture that cherishes every human life.
This year’s theme is particularly suited for our times. While attacks against human life seem to grow ever more numerous and callous, we know that Christ has conquered sin and death. Through our Christian hope in the Resurrection, we are given the grace to persevere in faith.
The Respect Life Program and our Diocesan Office of Respect Life offer many valuable tools, resources and insights that are meant to help us respond when someone is facing a difficult time in their life.
What do we do when a friend is considering an abortion?
How do we support a woman during a crisis pregnancy?
What does the Church teach about assisted suicide?
Are we ready to walk the journey with those nearing the end of their life?
We are called as disciples of Jesus to cherish, defend and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. This includes the unborn, the elderly, the dying, the poor, the prisoner and many others that are suffering.
Respect Life Sunday will be celebrated on October 6th throughout the Diocese of Saginaw and across the United States with a focus on the new theme of Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life. We find God’s promise of hope in scripture;
“Hold fast to the hope that lies before us.
This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm.” Hebrews 6:18-19
Let us share this gift of hope with others. And, let us recommit ourselves to upholding the dignity of all human life each and every day.
With peace and love in Christ,
Bishop Robert D. Gruss
Bishop of Saginaw