by Debra Niesen
The new Parish Evangelization Services (PES) team has been busy visiting pastors and parish leaders in the eight deaneries of the archdiocese these past several months.
Created to support Archbishop Shawn McKnight’s vision that parishes form missionary disciples and be centers of charity and sanctuaries of mercy, our mission is to support and help build capacity in our parishes in five key ministry areas: liturgy and sacraments, evangelization and Catholic formation, marriage and family, mercy and charity and the Gospel of Life.
The Gospel of Life ministry pillar is foundational to all ministries because it proclaims the core Christian message that God created, loves and has a wonderful plan for each of our lives. Since he created us in his own image and suffered and died on the cross to save us from our sins, every human life is uniquely sacred, worthy of protection and possesses infinite dignity.
Every October, the church celebrates Respect Life Month to remember and share this message! This month, we reflected on the theme “Mary, Mother of Life” and Our Lady’s distinguished role as mother of all the living. The life of the Blessed Mother teaches us to respect each human life in every stage and circumstance, helping us to recognize the gift of human life, even when that gift is unexpected or calls us to make sacrifices.
The celebration began with Respect Life Sunday Mass with Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Shawnee. PES gathered archdiocesan and community life-affirming ministries such as Walking With Moms in Need, Catholic Charities adoption services, foster care, Coalition Life sidewalk counseling, special needs, The Culture Project, Life Alliance Kansas and Catholic Community Health end-of-life care for a ministry fair after Mass.
Recently, the bishops of Kansas took a stand against state executions and asked Gov. Laura Kelly to commute current death sentences to life in prison. Additionally, Archbishop McKnight wrote an editorial that appeared in the Kansas City Star against the death penalty (https://archkck.org/there-is-no-good-way-for-the-state-to-kill-a-person/).
Many parishes celebrated Respect Life Month too. Sts. Peter and Paul in Seneca joined the Life Chain, a public witness to the sanctity of Life. St. Michael the Archangel and St. Agnes parishes hosted “Love Box Parties” to form parish support groups for single, pregnant women. Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park, hosted a candlelight memorial service for preborn, infant and child loss. Prince of Peace and St. James Academy hosted Kansans For Life’s AFTERMATH, raising awareness of life lost to abortion in Kansas. Church of the Ascension had an educational talk with Joe Heschmeyer, “A Pro-Life Case for a Pro-Choice World.” Parishes supported pregnancy centers and Catholic Community Health’s banquets, and many prayed at the 40 Days for Life vigil and through the Respect Life Month Novena.
Thank you for all you are doing to build a culture of life in the archdiocese!
Visit: archkck.org/prolife for more ideas and resources. Mary, Mother of Life, pray for us!
