Join us in praying the Novena for Life: Click here for the Novena-for-Life Pdf!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2024, St. Francis, in Belfast: Please join us for our second “Movie Night:” This is a reminder of our pro-life movie + 40 Days for Life event following the 4pm Mass on Saturday, Jan. 20th at St. Francis in Belfast. A light meal will be served. We would love to see you there! PLEASE RSVP by to Emma Clark at queenwithgoldenroses@gmail.com. Also, Additional infomratin on how you can pray for the unborn will be presented.

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024: DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN COINCINDING WITH L.D. 780: 

URGENT: News from Augusta: We know January 22 as a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children for the U.S. Catholic Church, but it was President Ronald Reagan who issued a presidential proclamation on January 13, 1984 designating Sunday January 22, 1984 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day, noting that it was the 11th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in our nation. Fortunately, Roe v Wade met its demise before the U.S. Supreme Court on June 22, 2022 in its majority Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, yet the 22nd of January remains a significant date, and this year, we have an opportunity to speak up for the unborn on this anniversary because of a proposed bill in our legislature that would further jeopardize their right to life.

On Monday January 22, 2024 at 10:00am, L.D. 780 comes before the Judiciary Committee in the Maine State House in Augusta for public hearing. This bill, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, Sagadahoc County), would enshrine in the Maine Constitution a woman’s “right” to abort her unborn child. That is correct: it is a bill to amend our state constitution. The official proposed title of this “legislative document” is the following: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Protect Personal Reproductive Autonomy.  Here is what  YOU can do:
(1) READ THE BILL: You can read this bill by clicking on this link: bit.ly/3vNTiFO.  
(2) SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY: We citizens may submit our written testimony online here: www.mainelegislature.org/testimony. The Christian Civic League of Maine has posted detailed instructions on how to go about giving official written testimony that will become part of the official record. You can find these instructions on their Facebook page here (and you do not need to have a Facebook account to access it): https://www.facebook.com/CCLMaine/.  Do not let the length dissuade you from staying the course and giving your testimony. You'll need to follow some guidelines and directions, but it is not difficult to do. 
(3) SUBMIT VIDEO TESTIMONY: We may also testify via Zoom or in-person at the State House before the Judiciary Committee in room 438 on Monday 1/22/24 at 10am. Some Saint Francis parishioners are planning on being present. For more information, reach out to Maureen Rispoli from the St Brendan Pro-Life Ministry at momeuse89@gmail.com
 

• Our Lady of Good Hope, Camden: The 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, @ 7:30am
• St. Bernard, Rockland: The 2nd Thursday of the month, @ 5pm
• St. Francis of Assisi, Belfast: : 3rd Sunday of the month @7:50am

“I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. …But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. …The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”

--Pope Saint John Paul II, Evangelium vitae, no. 99. © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Join Catholics around the country as we pray a Novena for Life, starting on Friday, October 13th. Copies of the Novena for Life were in the bulletins the weekend of 10/1 or you can download the Pdf here. Thank you for joining us in praying for life at every stage.

WHY ARE WE PRO-LIFE?

Copies of Why We’re Pro-Life by Trent Horn, published by Catholic Answers Press, are available in each of our churches. It is a beautifully written statement on why unborn life is undeniably human and should be afforded the rights of all humans. Please take a copy for your family.

PASTA DINNER AND OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

COME AND MEET OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, Patroness of the Unborn and of the Americas. All parishioners are invited to join the Pro-Life Ministry’s Respect Life Month pasta supper and movie event on Saturday, October 14th after the 4:00pm Mass at St. Francis in Belfast. Enjoy a meal with fellow parishioners and learn about the apparitions of Our Lady to Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago and their meaning for us today. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. Donations gladly accepted at the event to benefit future events and doings of the Pro-Life Ministry. Posters in each church provide RSVP information. Please RSVP by October 9th with name and number of people coming.  For carpooling opportunities at St. Bernard see Armelle Sigaud, for Our Lady of Good Hope see Paulette Spera.Questions (or to rsvp): Contact Maureen Rispoli at momeuse89@gmail.com.