Respect Life

The Respect Life Ministry at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church is here to teach respect for
all human life from conception to natural death, and organize for its protection. 

Team Needed

We are in need of a team of individuals for our Respect Life Ministry Committee. Please prayerfully consider joining! Contact Karen Edmonds at karensedmonds@gmail.com or 713-858-0462.

COVID 19 Vaccine
Cardinal DiNardo issued a statement concerning permissibility of using the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The USCCB Committees on Doctrine and Pro-Life Activities have recently issued an additional statement which goes into more detail on this matter:  moral-considerations-covid-vaccines (usccb.org)

Respect Life Activities  

• 9 Days for Life Novena – January 21-29, 2021 The annual 9 Days for Life novena will take place from Jan. 21 – Jan. 29.  Resources are available in English 9 Days for Life 2021 Novena (English) | USCCB and in Spanish 9 Days for Life 2021 Novena (Spanish) | USCCB.  Each day involves special prayers, intentions, and actions.
• National Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Unborn – January 22, 2021
  The Roman Missal calls for a day of prayer each year on January 22, the date of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision in the United States. Friday, January 22, 2021, marks the 48^th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. This year, the Archdiocese will be hosting a special Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the Co-Cathedral from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm. This live event will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person. The event will be open to the public and can also be live-streamed throughout the day at https://www.archgh.org./live. 
• Pro-Life Panel Discussion Saturday, January 23 from 9–10:30 am. This virtual event will take place in three segments. In addition to Greg Schleppenbach of the Pro-Life Secretariat of USCCB, we will be joined by Jennifer Allmon of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops and Dr. Kathryn Karges of Caritas Women’s care to discuss issues including legislative priorities in 2021, vaccine ethics, and support for families following a miscarriage and prenatal diagnosis. This webinar is free and can be accessed at https://zoom.us/j/94039633893.
• Respect Life Mass Cardinal DiNardo will offer a Pro-Life Mass at 11 am on Saturday, January 23 at the Co-Cathedral.  Because we will still be social distancing at that time, we ask that you register to attend at https://archgh.cvent.com/RespectLifeMass.  Alternatively, the Mass will be live-streamed at https://www.archgh.org/live. 
• Saturday, January 23 (Texas Rally for Life) This year’s event will be held in downtown Austin from 2-4 pm. The Archdiocese will not be organizing buses or a send-off mass, but you can travel on your own. The event will also be live-streamed.
• Save the Tiny Texans Conference January 23-24 held in Austin. Click here for more information and registration. 
• Bioethics Offering – Healthcare Ethics Saturdays in February (Feb. 6 – 27) from 10:30 am-noon.  Registration is available at https://cvent.me/VN0PQm. This course deals with a variety of current healthcare questions.  Most significantly for our current climate, the course deals with Catholic teaching on the ethics of vaccines and moral questions surrounding vaccines, including whether a Catholic may permissibly use a particular vaccine and whether a Catholic is ever obligated to use a vaccine.  We also evaluate issues such as the ethics of transgender therapies and questions surrounding organ donation. Registration is $30. See the flyer for more information. 
• Bioethics Offerings - End of Life Decisions Tuesdays from Feb. 16- March 9 from noon-1:30pm.  Register at https://cvent.me/L4z1mN.  Topics will include issues of care rationing during the COVID pandemic. Registration is $30. See the flyer for more information.

Archdiocese Offerings in Support of Life

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Office of Pro-Life also supports many resources:

• Helpers of God's Precious Infants - Prayer for the unborn

• Los Ayudantes de los Preciosos Niños de Dios - Unase a Nosotros en Oracion

• Jerome's Hope - Support after prenatal diagnosis, miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant loss

• La Esperanza de Jerónimo - Apoyo despues de un diagnostico prenatal, el aborto espontaneo, nacimiento de un bebe muerto, o la mortalidad infantil

• Project Rachel - Support after Abortion

• Proyecto Raquel - Apoyo Despues del Aborto Voluntario

• Loving Choice Catholic Pregnancy Help Center is a new center in Spring. The center will initially offer medical-grade pregnancy testing, client advocacy services, referral for ultrasound, pregnancy and parenting classes, an earn-while-you-learn program, and more!  For more information about the center or to find out how you can get involved, visit their website at https://loving-choice.org/ or follow them on FB at https://www.facebook.com/LovingChoiceSpring/