A special message from Margie Manczko Breen: Dear Friends of the Respect Life Office,

It has been a while since we last published our periodic newsletter, Vitae Bulletin. We have experienced dramatic changes in the Respect Life Office over the last few months. As you are proba-bly aware, Mary-Louise Kurey stepped down as Director in August to be a stay-at-home mother to her adopted baby boy, Ben. For over seven years, she blazed a trail in directing the Respect Life Office, most prominently through the founding of the Chastity Education Initia-tive. We miss her in the daily work, but she has agreed to stay on as our Senior Consultant, providing guidance to us on a wide variety of issues from chastity education to infertility.

After over five months of serv-ing as Interim Director, I was appointed to Director just after the New Year. I am very excited to lead the Respect Life Office in the ministry of spreading the Gospel of Life and Love to the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a great privilege to be entrusted with this re-sponsibility.

That was not the only change in the office. You may have noticed that we have two new staff members, work-ing on programs within the Chastity Edu-cation Initiative. This past July, Ray Pingoy took over for Mitch Striedl as Youth Outreach Coordinator, with the charge of spreading the empowering message of the Gospel of Life and Love to youth in grade school and high school. In October, Emily Warpinski took over for Alicia Torres as Young Adult Outreach Coordinator, focusing on college stu-

dents and young adults. We wish Alicia and Mitch the very best in their new endeavors – Alicia as a postulant with the Franciscans of the Eucharist and Mitch as Director of the Rockford Life Office. Please keep all of them in your prayers!

Over the next year or so, we will be announcing some exciting new opportunities to enhance parish and school Respect Life Outreach. One new program is “Ongoing Spiritual Formation” for Parish Respect Life Coordinators and committee mem-bers. We just launched the program in Vicariate II with a “Morning of For-mation” at St. Norbert’s in North-brook. Fr. Michael Fuller of Munde-lein Seminary was our keynote speak-er for this mini-retreat. It was a real hit! Based on the success of this first session, we plan to bring these events to every Vicariate in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

I also want to thank you for your financial support and prayers for the programs within the Chastity Edu-cation Initiative. Most people don’t realize that the Initiative includes more than just teaching about Chasti-ty: Initiative programs teach our youth and young adults about the Sanctity of Life and encourages them to join the important work of building a Culture of Life. We are working to train them up to be future leaders, teaching them the nuts and bolts skills to evangelize their friends and family members for Life. The record num-bers of teens and college students attending this past March for Life Pil-grimage to Washington, DC, serve as a

visible sign of the great impact of the Initiative. We are in the process of plan-ning new Projects for the Initiative, which we hope to launch in the next year. However, we will need additional financial support to help bring them to fruition. One of those projects will bring the empowering message of the Gospel of Life and Love to youth and young adults in low-income communi-ties within the Archdiocese of Chicago. This outreach is sorely needed. We will keep you posted on our progress on this and other projects in the Respect Life Office weekly e-newsletter, Faith in Action. To sign up for the e-newsletter contact Debbie Cabezas at 312.534.5355 or dcabezas@archchicago.org.

Would you please keep the Respect Life Office in your prayers as we launch these new programs and projects over the next few months? May God bless you for all that you do to build a Culture of Life in the Archdio-cese of Chicago and beyond!

Yours in Christ,

Margie Manczko Breen

Respect Life Office

Letter From the Director

Spring 2011

Vitae Bulletin

Archdiocese o f Chicago

PAGE 2 VITAE BULLETIN RESPECT LIFE OFFICE

Parenthood abortion clinic in Washing-ton, D.C. As we prayed the rosary out-side the doors, a young girl came out in tears, and I knew what had just hap-pened. I began to weep for both the soul of the baby and the mother. Later that evening we attended Mass cele-brated by Cardinal George, where he gave us many encouraging words to continue the fight. The next day we were blessed to be able to attend the Students for Life of America Confer-ence, where we were both educated and inspired to protect the lives of mothers and their children. It was so motivating for me to hear all of the sto-ries of other students on campuses across the U.S. One story that really inspired me was of a young girl that was willing to go to jail to have her voice be heard. On the day of the March, we began with a rally and Mass that had over 100 celebrants, including Cardinal George and a representative from Pope Benedict XVI. When the Papal Nuncio read the statement from the Pope, the center went up in a roar of excitement.

He encouraged us to not give up the fight and to continue to be beacons of Christ’s love and presence. After the celebration of Mass, we headed to Capi-tol Hill to begin the march. The excite-ment could be heard throughout the streets as people were chanting and praying. As we marched up the hill we carried with us the words of our Holy Father, and we used our voices to get our opinion across to our government. This is an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I owe it all to the diligent work of the Respect Life office and the forever working power of our God.

As the sun shone brightly in the sky, over 200,000 lay, religious and priests came to walk the hill to the U.S. Supreme Court in protest of legalized abortion. This was the second time that I was able to attend the March for Life with the Archdiocese of Chicago. We began, as we begin all things, with giv-ing praise and thanks to our God through the celebration of Mass. The Mass really placed me into that spiritual place that I needed to be in order to begin the pilgrimage, and it really gave me the energy to make it through. This pilgrimage had its many difficulties, but it came with so many blessings. The first and most inspiration-al stop we made was at the Planned

A College Student Reflects on the March for Life By Fred Cabras

Tune into Life Talk on Relevant Radio 950 AM!

Join Margie Manczko Breen and the staff of the Respect Life Office on the first Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m.– 10 a.m. as they discuss upcoming Life events and issues regarding the sanctity of all human life.

Archdiocesan “Mass for Expectant Mothers”

May 8, 2011, 11:00 a.m.

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. Celebrant

Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, Chicago

All expectant mothers are invited to attend and will receive a special blessing from the Cardinal with a blessed white silk rose and St. Gerard medal as a keepsake.

Sponsored by the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Parking is available across the street from the Cathedral. For more information, call the Respect Life Office at (312) 534-5355.

In the culture today, our Young people face many negative pres-sures that can lead them away from the beautiful plan that God has intend-ed for their lives. Societal pressures to engage in premarital sexual activity or to use alcohol and other drugs can lead our youth to make choices that can prevent them from fulfilling their po-tential and accomplishing the mission that God has entrusted to them. On Sunday, November 21, 2010, more than 500 people gathered at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace to help support the important work of the Chastity Education Initiative through the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Everyone en-joyed a delicious dinner before Dr. Ronan Tynan gave his inspirational keynote address and vocal perfor-mance. Dr. Ronan Tynan is known to many as one of the founding members of the world-famous Irish Tenors. With the guidance of his Catholic upbringing from his loving parents, he achieved remarkable success against great odds, becoming an equestrian, Paralympic

record-holder, physician, and world renowned singer. Dr. Tynan’s keynote was centered around the topic of “Living Life to the Fullest.” How does one truly live life to the fullest? Dr. Ronan Tynan described it as living a life that honored his father and mother who loved him and believed in him all throughout his life. He joyfully contin-ued on with the message of always striving for excellence in the work that each of us has been called to do. To live life to the fullest is the great mes-sage of Chastity. True joy and freedom comes from living life in the fullness of God’s greater purpose. If our young people just discover that, there is no end to the greatness that can be re-vealed to them! God has a great plan for each of us, and it is up to us to see it and live it! The Chastity Education Initia-tive serves as a resource for parents, educators, parishes, schools, and most importantly teens and young adults. This important Initiative is run almost solely on generous donations. And the 8th Annual Chastity Education Initia-

tive Benefit Dinner was a great success thanks to all those who had attended and supported. Thank you to the many people who helped make this benefit dinner a success, especially the Benefit Committee and the students of East Lake Academy. Make sure to save the date for the next benefit dinner, which will be held on Sunday, October 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. There are a number of ways that you can support the Initiative: be a table host, purchase an advertise-ment in the Program Book for your family, business and/or parish, and purchase raffle tickets.

Jason Evert’s speaking tour kicked off with the Life Night youth rally, on Sunday, March 13, at Our Lady of the Snows in Chicago. His whirlwind speaking tour of 10 presentations in

World-renowned chastity speaker and Catholic apologist—Jason Evert—spoke to thousands of Chicago youth about how it is possible to have “Romance without Regret.” The Chastity Education Initiative of the Respect Life Office brought Evert back to Chicago for a special speaking tour that ran from, Sunday, March 13, through Wednesday, March 16. He is the author of multiple books like If You Really Love Me, Love, Sex, and Babies, and Pure Love. He has earned his master’s degree in Theology, and his undergraduate degrees in Counseling and Theology, with a minor in Philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

under 4 days included some of the following schools and parishes: Maria H.S., St. Rita of Cascia H. S., St. Isaac Jogues in Hinsdale, St. Francis De Sales H. S., and St. Francis Xavier in La Grange. He truly makes chastity look cool! Evert is in great demand in the Archdiocese of Chicago with a full waiting list of schools and parishes. For more information on how you can bring him to your school or parish in the future, contact the Respect Life Office at 312.534.5355. This tour has been made possible through the gen-erous financial support of donors to the Chastity Education Initiative.

Dr. Ronan Tynan Rocks the House

Jason Evert on the Chicago Speaking Circuit

PAGE 3 VITAE BULLETIN RESPECT LIFE OFFICE

RESPECT LIFE PARISH PRAYER

PAGE 4 VITAE BULLETIN RESPECT LIFE OFFICE

Mondays · Third Monday of every month - St. John Vianney, Pro-Life Holy Hour 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. with Rosary, Mass,

Exposition, Benediction and other prayers. Call 708.562.0500 for information. · Fourth Monday of every month - Prince of Peace, Lake Villa, Eucharistic Adoration, 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Rosary 7:00 p.m., Benediction at 9:00 p.m. Respect Life Rosary every 4th Monday.

Call 847.356.7915 for info. Tuesdays

· Every Tuesday - 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Five Holy Martyrs - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. · Second Tuesday of every month - 7:30 p.m. Bremen-Orland Families for Life meetings at Brementowne Manor, 16130 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park. · Last Tuesday of every month - Holy Family, Inverness; 7:30 p.m. Pro-Life Holy Hour.

Wednesdays · Last Wednesday of every month - Prayer Hour, 7:00 p.m.; First Saturday of each month, Rosary for Life, 8:00 a.m. in the Church, sponsored by Knights of Columbus. St. Marcelline, Schaumburg.

Thursdays · Every Thursday – Holy Hour 8:00 - 9:00 p.m., Adoration 9:00 p.m. to Midnight, St. Mary’s 10 N. Buffalo

Grove, Buffalo Grove, IL. Call 847/541-1450 x 28 for more info. · Thursday before First Friday of each month - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Holy Hour to end abortion; St. Bernardine, 7246 W. Harrison (Elgin & Harrison), Forest Park. Call 708/366-1608 for information.

Fridays · First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; St. Pancratius, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., ending with Benediction, Pro-Life Holy Hour 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.. 4025 S. Sacramento, Chicago. Call 773.523.5666 for information. · First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; Transfiguration in Wauconda, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Ro-

sary, Benediction and Confession at 7:00 p.m., Mass at 7:30 p.m.; 310 W. Mill St., Wauconda. Call 847.526.2400 for information.

· First Friday Adoration - St. Peter Chapel, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., 8140 Niles Center Road, Skokie. · First Friday Adoration - St. Thomas More, 12:30 - 7:00 p.m., ending with Mass at 7:00 p.m.; 2825 W. 81st St., Chicago. Call 773.436.4444 for information. · Every First Friday - Eucharistic Adoration at 7:00-8:00 p.m., Mass at 8:00 p.m. St. Lambert, 8148 N. Karlov, Skokie. · Every Friday 6:30 p.m. St. John Vianney in Northlake, Pro-Life Stations of the Cross.

Saturdays · Every Saturday - Five Holy Martyrs (4327 S. Richmond St., Chicago, IL) Pro-Life Group meets at the 8:00 a.m. Mass and Pro-Life Rosary; Last Saturday of each month, Eucharistic Adoration 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

· Every Third Saturday - Rosary, Albany Clinic, Elston Avenue. Call Kathy Gadarowski 773.794.0466. By Date

· 13th of every month, Fatima Holy Hour - St. Peter Church, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., Lincoln & Niles Center Road, Skokie.

Perpetual Adoration, St. Jude Chapel, The Women’s Center (5116 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago) Daily Mass Monday-Thursday at Noon, Friday Mass at Noon and 6:00 p.m.

I opened my eyes to see standing before me, hun-

dreds of thousands of people. People just like me, walking for

one reason, that reason was the March for Life. All of these

people including myself were here to make a difference in the

world, and most importantly to save the lives of innocent

children being murdered through abortion. One month ago, I

wouldn’t have known that this experience would change my

life forever; but it has, and it will continue to do so.

There are many issues in the world today that we

don’t know about, and we don’t realize how important it is to

speak up against them. I was able to open my eyes and see

that I may just be one person, but I am still a person, and my

view matters just as much as the next person. I had gathered

with hundreds of people who wanted to find justice in the

world.

The experience as a whole was astonishing. I had

never attended Mass so many times in a weekend, but each

time I found myself learning about something new and

becoming more motivated to walk. When we attended Mass

at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate

Conception, I felt myself become more inspired to march.

Seeing several people crowded around on the floor, made me

realize how important it was that every single one of us was

there.

Everyone who spoke on the issue of abortion

motivated me to want to get more involved in my community

and talk to others on my views. I was scared before to speak

up about being prolife because of what others would say or

think of me, but now I see that no matter what others say or

think, the world will never change if we do not speak up.

During my journey, I met so many different people.

As I heard their stories and how the trip impacted them, it was

my thoughts in their words. Although we

each found something we liked about the

whole experience, we all felt the same way.

Yes, we were there to speak up against

injustice, but we were also there to be

changed for the rest of our lives. Our journey

wasn’t ending there, but it was just

beginning. I hope that next year the March

for Life won’t be necessary, but if it is, I

hope the number of supporters will multiply

and that God will allow me to be there.

Save the Date!

September 16-17, 2011

Retreat Opportunity

For

Parish Respect Life Coordinators

at

the beautiful Mundelein Seminary

More information forthcoming

Not the End, But the Beginning By Anna Cabezas

PAGE 5 VITAE BULLETIN RESPECT LIFE OFFICE

MAKE A LASTING GIFT TO THE

RESPECT LIFE OFFICE Have you considered including the Respect Life Office in your will? A will is an expression of your commitment to the principles, people and institutions that you cherish here on earth. As a supporter of Life, a bequest in your will ensures that the Archdiocese of Chicago’s work to protect Life can continue after you are gone. Suggested wording for a bequest:

“I give and bequeath to the Catholic Bishop of Chicago, a corporation sole, located in Chicago, Illinois, _______% of the residue of my estate *or: the sum of $________+,

to support the Chastity Education Initiative of the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago.”

For more information, please contact Margie Manczko Breen at (312) 534-5355 or e-mail mmanczko@archchicago.org.

ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICA GO Respect Life Office 3525 S. Lake Park Ave Chicago, IL 60653 312-534-5455

“And so America: If you want peace, work for justice. If you want justice, defend life. If you want life, embrace the truth – the truth revealed by God.”

- Pope John Paul II, 1999 visit to St. Louis

Margie Manczko Breen, Director Ray Pingoy, Youth Outreach Coordinator Emily Warpinski, Young Adult Outreach Deborah Cabezas, Administrative Assistant Mary-Louise Kurey, Senior Consultant Phone: 312.534.8792 Fax: 312.534.1554 www.RespectLifeChicago.org

Lent is a Real Opportunity for Post-Abortion Healing

The readings of Lent—focused on personal sin, repentance, and God’s mercy—may awaken sorrow and pain in those who have been involved in an abortion. This awakening is a healthy thing, if it leads them to sacramental confession and to the post-abortion ministry of the Church called Project Rachel. But as you are well aware, many post-abortive men and women fear approaching the confessional, and many are unaware of the Church’s ministry of post-abortion healing. The Pro-Life Secretariat of the United States Conference of Catholic

Bishops has developed a few resources to help parishes spread the message of Divine Mercy during Lent, providing homily notes, bulletin quotes and prayers of the faithful that could be used on the Third Sunday of Lent—March 27– when the Gospel relates the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. These resources can be found online at www.usccb.org/prolife/lent/. If you have questions or would like to request some materials, call the Respect Life Office at 312.534.5355. Make sure to let your parish priests know about these special post-abortion healing resources.

Make sure to promote the Project Ra-chel hotline in your bulletin—888.456.HOPE.