by Sister Lynne Marie Simonich
October, as we know, is Respect Life Month. The theme for 2018-2019 is: “Every life -- Cherished, Chosen, Sent". On this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time we are reminded of the sacredness of marriage. The words from the theme apply so well not only to those united in the Sacrament of Marriage, but to all people. In our troubled world, we know the need for peace, justice and respect. We also know the power of love, compassion and tenderness. We are challenged to be bearers of the love that knows no boundaries and to bring about a world where all of life is truly cherished. How do we do this?
Every life –- cherished, chosen, sent! We are challenged to take these words to heart and to believe them. “We are cherished, chosen, and sent by God to love one another as He loves us. In doing so, we help build a culture that cherishes all human life” (excerpted from the USCCB Liturgical Resources for Observing Respect Life Month, 2018, MS-Word document)
The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops sponsors the Respect Life Program and has information on their website along with articles, prayers and other resources to encourage us in our efforts to spread the news that all life is precious.