Get Involved!
Disclaimer: Mention of a person or group or a person's or group's publication does not constitute an endorsement of all the work, publications and/or information of such person or group.
Prayer
At the foundation of all our Respect Life efforts is the need for prayer and sacrifice. We urge you to pray each day for the respect for life at all its stages-from fertilization to natural death.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/prayers/
http://www.defendlife.org/prayers.htm
http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/prolife.htm
Civic Involvement
On November 24, 1999, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference [NCCB/USCC] released its statement, "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium." This is a wonderful document calling all Catholics to participate in responsible citizenship.
We encourage you to read the entire document at:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/document.aspx?id=1186
This document may be ordered from NCCB/USCC for $1.25 by calling 1-800-235-8722 and requesting item No. 5-355 [English] or No. 5-831 [Spanish]
The following are excerpts from "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium:" "For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good. In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. Every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active, and responsible participant in the political process. As we said a year ago, 'We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity [more fully] to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power.'"
"Beyond the responsibilities of every Catholic, the Church as an institution also has a role in the political order. This includes educating its members about Catholic social teaching, highlighting the moral dimensions of public policy, participating in debate on matters affecting the common good, and witnessing to the Gospel through the many services and ministries provided by the Catholic community. Our efforts in this area should not be misconstrued. The Church's participation in public affairs does not undermine but enriches the political process and affirms genuine pluralism. The leaders of the Church have the right and duty to share the Church's teaching and to educate Catholics on the moral dimensions of public life, so that they may form their consciences in light of their faith.
As bishops, we do not seek the formation of a religious voting block, nor do we wish to instruct persons on how they should vote by endorsing or opposing candidates. We hope that voters will examine the position of candidates on the full range of issues, as well as on their personal integrity, philosophy, and performance. We are convinced that a consistent ethic of life should be the moral framework from which to address all issues in the political arena. We urge our fellow citizens to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not simply party affiliation or mere self-interest."
For additional information please read Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility (2007) http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/church/statements
The following links should aid the faithful in becoming and staying involved in their own communities, their state, and their federal government:
www.nchla.org
www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org
www.wf-f.org/Catholics_and_Politics.html
www.ilga.gov/
thomas.loc.gov/
www.illinoisfamily.org
www.ifrl.org/ifrl/index.html
Find your legislator: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
Voter Registration and Information: http://www.elections.state.il.us/VotingInformation/Register.aspx
Get Involved In Your Parish
On March 21, 2000 The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, requested that each pastor in the Diocese designate a Respect Life Coordinator for his parish. As of June 30, 2010 eighty-eight parishes have a Respect Life Coordinator in place.
If you are faithful to the teachings of the Church and would like to help the respect life committee in your parish, contact your Respect Life Coordinator and ask how you could be of service.
Natural Family Planning
Learn Natural Family Planning by contacting a local instructor.
Pray for engaged and married couples and all those involved in promoting, teaching, and using NFP. We would be especially grateful for volunteers to offer a holy hour for the seminars, preferably at the time of the seminar. However, we will welcome holy hours at other times or any other prayers.
Make or donate food for the Natural Family Planning Seminars that are part of marriage preparation in the diocese. Food for the couples makes them feel welcomed and is important in helping the engaged couples open their hearts and minds to the Truth. We try to offer the same hospitality at the seminars as we would offer to guests in our homes. You do not need to make/buy anything extensive but just something to show that we care. Our seminars range from ten couples to thirty-five couples. Time commitment: a few seminars per year
Serve as a witness couple Would you like to share your story about how NFP has benefited your marriage? Witness couples primarily volunteer at the NFP seminars, but are also sometimes used in small group instruction. Witness couples share their experience using NFP: the struggles, the benefits, etc. Witness couples receive training from the NFP Coordinator. Time commitment: a few seminars per year, each of which take less than an hour.
Provide hospitality at the NFP seminars At the seminars, each of the registered couples checks in, turns in preparation materials, and receives seminar materials. At the start of each seminar, we need volunteers that are willing to help with the registration process and to individually greet the couples. During the seminar, volunteers are needed to compile together documents to give to the couples before the conclusion of the seminar. Towards the end of the seminar, volunteers are also needed to collect papers from the couples. Time commitment: seminars are Friday evening or Saturday morning and each would take about four hours of your time. You can assist at as many seminars as you like.
Clerical This includes various tasks at the Administration Building in Rockford. Time commitment: can fit your availability
Teach NFP NFP instructors must be trained and certified in a particular method of Natural Family Planning (generally the method the potential instructors currently use). We can provide information on training and financial support may be a possibility. Time commitment: teaching a few series of courses per year, availability when couples call you, possibly presenting at NFP seminars.
Interested in volunteering for any of the above? Contact Deborah Irwin, Natural Family Planning Coordinator at 815.399.4300 x382 or fill out the volunteer form and mail it to: Respect Life - NFP / P.O. Box 7044 / Rockford, IL 61125 and we will contact you.
Disclaimer: Mention of a person or group or a person's or group's publication does not constitute an endorsement of all the work, publications and/or information of such person or group.
Prayer
At the foundation of all our Respect Life efforts is the need for prayer and sacrifice. We urge you to pray each day for the respect for life at all its stages-from fertilization to natural death.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/prayers/
http://www.defendlife.org/prayers.htm
http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/prolife.htm
Civic Involvement
On November 24, 1999, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference [NCCB/USCC] released its statement, "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium." This is a wonderful document calling all Catholics to participate in responsible citizenship.
We encourage you to read the entire document at:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/document.aspx?id=1186
This document may be ordered from NCCB/USCC for $1.25 by calling 1-800-235-8722 and requesting item No. 5-355 [English] or No. 5-831 [Spanish]
The following are excerpts from "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium:" "For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good. In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. Every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active, and responsible participant in the political process. As we said a year ago, 'We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity [more fully] to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power.'"
"Beyond the responsibilities of every Catholic, the Church as an institution also has a role in the political order. This includes educating its members about Catholic social teaching, highlighting the moral dimensions of public policy, participating in debate on matters affecting the common good, and witnessing to the Gospel through the many services and ministries provided by the Catholic community. Our efforts in this area should not be misconstrued. The Church's participation in public affairs does not undermine but enriches the political process and affirms genuine pluralism. The leaders of the Church have the right and duty to share the Church's teaching and to educate Catholics on the moral dimensions of public life, so that they may form their consciences in light of their faith.
As bishops, we do not seek the formation of a religious voting block, nor do we wish to instruct persons on how they should vote by endorsing or opposing candidates. We hope that voters will examine the position of candidates on the full range of issues, as well as on their personal integrity, philosophy, and performance. We are convinced that a consistent ethic of life should be the moral framework from which to address all issues in the political arena. We urge our fellow citizens to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not simply party affiliation or mere self-interest."
For additional information please read Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility (2007) http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/church/statements
The following links should aid the faithful in becoming and staying involved in their own communities, their state, and their federal government:
www.nchla.org
www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org
www.wf-f.org/Catholics_and_Politics.html
www.ilga.gov/
thomas.loc.gov/
www.illinoisfamily.org
www.ifrl.org/ifrl/index.html
Find your legislator: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
Voter Registration and Information: http://www.elections.state.il.us/VotingInformation/Register.aspx
Get Involved In Your Parish
On March 21, 2000 The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, requested that each pastor in the Diocese designate a Respect Life Coordinator for his parish. As of June 30, 2010 eighty-eight parishes have a Respect Life Coordinator in place.
If you are faithful to the teachings of the Church and would like to help the respect life committee in your parish, contact your Respect Life Coordinator and ask how you could be of service.
Natural Family Planning
Learn Natural Family Planning by contacting a local instructor.
Pray for engaged and married couples and all those involved in promoting, teaching, and using NFP. We would be especially grateful for volunteers to offer a holy hour for the seminars, preferably at the time of the seminar. However, we will welcome holy hours at other times or any other prayers.
Make or donate food for the Natural Family Planning Seminars that are part of marriage preparation in the diocese. Food for the couples makes them feel welcomed and is important in helping the engaged couples open their hearts and minds to the Truth. We try to offer the same hospitality at the seminars as we would offer to guests in our homes. You do not need to make/buy anything extensive but just something to show that we care. Our seminars range from ten couples to thirty-five couples. Time commitment: a few seminars per year
Serve as a witness couple Would you like to share your story about how NFP has benefited your marriage? Witness couples primarily volunteer at the NFP seminars, but are also sometimes used in small group instruction. Witness couples share their experience using NFP: the struggles, the benefits, etc. Witness couples receive training from the NFP Coordinator. Time commitment: a few seminars per year, each of which take less than an hour.
Provide hospitality at the NFP seminars At the seminars, each of the registered couples checks in, turns in preparation materials, and receives seminar materials. At the start of each seminar, we need volunteers that are willing to help with the registration process and to individually greet the couples. During the seminar, volunteers are needed to compile together documents to give to the couples before the conclusion of the seminar. Towards the end of the seminar, volunteers are also needed to collect papers from the couples. Time commitment: seminars are Friday evening or Saturday morning and each would take about four hours of your time. You can assist at as many seminars as you like.
Clerical This includes various tasks at the Administration Building in Rockford. Time commitment: can fit your availability
Teach NFP NFP instructors must be trained and certified in a particular method of Natural Family Planning (generally the method the potential instructors currently use). We can provide information on training and financial support may be a possibility. Time commitment: teaching a few series of courses per year, availability when couples call you, possibly presenting at NFP seminars.
Interested in volunteering for any of the above? Contact Deborah Irwin, Natural Family Planning Coordinator at 815.399.4300 x382 or fill out the volunteer form and mail it to: Respect Life - NFP / P.O. Box 7044 / Rockford, IL 61125 and we will contact you.
