Parish Ministry
The responsibilities of the Parish Human Rights/Respect Life Coordinator depend on the interests of the committee members, the needs of the pastor and the parishioners and the opportunities for volunteers in and around the parish. For instance, the responsibilities of the Human Rights Coordinator for a parish with a large youth ministry and within walking distance of a local food pantry may be different than those for a parish with a large population of older adults and an active Knights of Columbus council; the responsibilities of the Respect Life Coordinator for a parish close to a pregnancy center may be different than those for a parish needing more information on end-of-life care. Each parish Human Rights/Respect Life Committee must decide what it is that will provide the most benefit to its parishioners and will provide the most opportunities for its members.
However, by working with the Office of Life & Justice and with other parishes in the deanery, members of a particular parish Human Rights/Respect Life Committee may have the opportunity to not only participate in additional programs, activities and events, but to also share their own gifts with even more of our faithful. For instance, one parish may have someone who enjoys organizing and planning events and a nearby parish may have someone who likes making posters and flyers; by working together, both Human Rights/Respect Life Committees benefit from the contribution of each and both parishes have the opportunity to share in a single larger event.
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What are the current areas of interest for you and for your fellow parishioners?
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What unique skills, knowledge or talents do your committee members or your parishioners have that they would like to share?
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What other ministries exist within your parish and what needs within your parish are currently not being met?
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You will want to provide volunteer and donation opportunities for your committee members and for your parishioners. What existing pro-life/human rights organizations or activities are near your parish?
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Working closely with Respect Life/Human Rights committees from neighboring parishes can provide additional opportunities and resources. What other parish Respect Life/Human Rights committees exist within your area?
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Feeling called? Use the Parish Coordinator Sign-Up button above!
In addition to providing on-line educational resources and referrals to local community partners and to other social service/pro-life organizations, the Office of Life & Justice has developed a set of pastoral care programs monitored by a dedicated program manager who coordinates the relationship between the diocese, the parishes committee and the community partner, if applicable. For these particular pastoral care programs, online "tool kits" have been created to assist with the development of parish ministries.
The benefits to:
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New Parish Ministries -- Provides the necessary materials for small parish Human Rights/Respect Life Committees, or even a single individual who may not yet have the interest and support of others, to establish a viable parish Human Rights/Respect Life ministry from which to grow.
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Existing Parish Ministries -- Provides a quick and easy way to kick-start additional programs by simply utilizing diocesan resources that are already available.
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Experienced Parish Committee Members -- Provides the opportunity to participate directly in the design, development and implementation of diocesan programs by serving on leadership committees or as a diocesan resource when another parish contacts the Office of Life & Justice with a request for program assistance or for expertise in a specific area.
Below are some "tool kits" of activities and ideas to assist with the development of your own parish Human Rights/Respect Life ministry. These are not exhaustive lists and are meant to help you kickstart or reinvigorate your parish ministry. Visit our page of resources and programs for even more ideas. These are also split between ordinarily Human Rights and Respect Life programs and ministries; each could easily cross over (i.e. a parish Human Rights ministry can offer community outreach for 40 Days for Life; a parish Respect Life ministry can encourage prayers on behalf of migrants and refugees in the General Intercessions at Mass). To learn more, please contact the Office of Life and Justice.
Diocesan Ministry
Role of Diocesan Program Volunteers
The responsibilities of a Diocesan volunteer within any of the Life & Justice Pastoral Programs depends on the type of outreach of the program and the needs of the Office of Life & Justice. For instance, a volunteer within our Gabriel Project pastoral program will be quite unique from a volunteer within our diocesan MAX Jail and Prison Ministry. Each diocesan volunteer must discern how God is calling them to share His Love and Mercy with others, as well as based on the capacity and needs of our pastoral programs.
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By volunteering within our diocesan Life & Justice Pastoral Programs, you have the opportunity to share your gifts with many within our diocese. By becoming involved with our VIA Immigration and Refugee Ministry, you have the chance to encounter different cultures and welcome the stranger into our community. By helping spread the Spiritual Adoption program through the diocese, you have a chance to engage in conversation about human development and the great wonders of human life.
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Getting Started
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What are your current areas of interest?
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What unique skills, knowledge or talents do you have that you would like to share?
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What other Respect Life/ Human Rights ministries exist within our diocese and what needs within our diocese are currently not being met?
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Working closely with the Office of Life & Justice can provide additional opportunities and resources. How can our diocese outreach within our own community as well as with other dioceses?
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Feeling called? Visit our Pastoral Programs page, discern which you are being called to, and contact us to get involved!