PROVIDENCE — The Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Providence is coordinating a “Time of Prayer and Fasting” during the month of October — Respect Life Month.
October is designated “Respect Life” Month by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each year, the Respect Life Office compiles a list of parishes throughout our diocese that host a special devotion for the unborn child, for the sick, elderly and dying, for post-abortion healing and for all woman that may be in a crisis pregnancy, for the family life and marriage, for those on death row, for the hungry and the homeless and for all who are directly or indirectly faced with the life threatening challenges facing them today in our modern society.
Some parishes and individuals may choose individual prayer and fasting, while others may join the group activities that are offered through the diocesan Respect Life Office, such as participating in the Human Life Guild Day for Youth (October 6), or the second annual Life Chain that will be held on Respect Life Sunday (October 7); attending the Human Life Guild Day Conference that will be held at St. Anthony Church, North Providence (October 13), and joining the parishes that are offering special devotions during the month. The Respect Life Office urges the faithful to recite the rosary and to participate in all prayerful events for life that are being offered throughout the diocese.
In our society today, the need for a consistent ethic of life is more important than ever as we face confusing moral and political choices — often the result of the media and political agendas. We, as Catholics and Christians, have an opportunity and an obligation to articulate and disseminate the truth of the Church's teaching. Together, we can build up the body of Christ and work towards creating a secular society that cherishes and protects life from the moment of conception to the time of natural death.
The host parishes listed below are offering a special prayer service, adoration, the rosary, or other programs that the pastor chooses to offer. The intent is to offer a special prayer service and opportunities for individual reflection at publicized churches throughout the diocese. The Respect Life Office is prepared to assist the host parish to coordinate programs and activities.
Additionally on Sunday, October 7th the Respect Life Office is sponsoring the Second Annual Life Chain in all 12 deaneries of the diocese. The Life Chain brings all Christians together in a quiet peaceful and prayerful witness to life. Regarded as the “new bold weapon” Life Chains will be drawing thousands together between 2:30-3:30 p.m., not only in the Diocese of Providence but nationwide. Participants in the Life Chain hold signs with various life-related messages such as “Abortion Hurts Women, Life the Inalienable Right of Every Human Being and Abortion Kills Children.”
Below is a list of parishes throughout the diocese that will be offering special devotions for human life during the month of October. For a list of Life Chain locations, call the Respect Life Office at 421-7833, ext. 118.
St. Leo the Great Church
697 Central Ave., Pawtucket
Sunday, October 21, 3 – 4 p.m.
Holy Hour for Life, recitation of the rosary, Benediction;
St. Martha Church
2595 Pawtucket Ave.
East Providence
Monday, October 22, 7 p.m.
Mass for Life, Celebrants: Father Michael J. McMahon, homilist; Father Douglas J. Spina; Deacon Frederick Young. The theme of Father McMahon’s homily will be “Imitating Mary & Her Yes to Life”;
St. Francis Xavier Church
79 Carpenter St.
East Providence
Friday, October 5, 12:05 p.m.
Respect for Life Mass
Every Monday, Rosary for Life at 11:30 a.m.& 5:30 p.m.;
St. Christopher Church
1660 Main Road
Tiverton
October 12, 8 a.m.
Holy Hour for Life (adoration, recitation of the rosary, Benediction);
St. Joan of Arc Church
3357 Mendon Road
Cumberland
Tuesdays during October: All Day Adoration following the 7:30 a.m. Mass, ending at 7 p.m. and concluding with recitation of the rosary, Benediction and special Pro-Life prayers;
St. Ambrose Church
191 School St.
Albion
Thursday, October 4, 7 p.m.
Rosary for Life;
SS. John & James Church
20 Washington St.
West Warwick
Saturday, October 6, 7:30 a.m.
Pro-Life recitation of the rosary, adoration, Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation;
SS. John & Paul Church
341 South Main Road
Coventry
For a schedule of prayer & worship services for October, call the parish office at 821-5764;
St. Anthony Church
1413 Mineral Spring Ave.
North Providence
Saturday, October 13, 9 a.m.
Second Annual Diocesan Human Life Guild Mass, with Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, main celebrant and homilist. If you wish to attend the Human Life Guild Conference that will follow the Mass, registration is required. For more information, call the Respect Life Office at 421-7833, ext. 118;
St. Ann Church
2 Russo St.
Providence
Thursday, October 18, 7PM
Mass for Life, followed by a reception;
St. Paul’s Church
One St. Paul Place
Cranston
Saturday, October 6, 7:30 a.m.
A Pro-Life Mass followed by a procession to the Broad Street Woman’s Clinic for the recitation of the rosary;
St. Mary Star of the Sea Church
864 Point Judith Road
Narragansett
Tuesdays during October, before the 8 a.m. Mass
Recitation of a pro-life rosary;
St. James Chapel
2079 Matunuck School
House Road; Charlestown
Thursday, October 4 following the 8 a.m. Mass
Recitation of a Rosary for Life;
St. Thomas More Church
53 Rockland St.
Narragansett
Friday, October 26, following the 9 a.m. Mass there will be a Holy Hour for Life.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the rosary, pro-life meditation, concluding with Benediction at approximately 10:15 a.m.;
Our Lady of Mercy Church
65 Third St.
East Greenwich
Monday, October 15, 2-3 p.m.
Holy Hour for Life;
St. Bernard Church
410 Tower Hill Road
No. Kingstown
October Monthly Mass for the Unborn (once a month an 8 a.m. Mass is dedicated to the unborn. For more information, call the parish office at 295-0387 for the date & time.;
St. Timothy Church
1799 Warwick Ave.
Warwick
Tuesday, October 2, 7:35 a.m.— Rosary for Life; 8 a.m. – A Mass for Life, followed by recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet;
St. Theresa’s of the
Child Jesus Church
35 Dion Drive
Harrisville
Thursday, October 4, 7 p.m.
Pro-Life Mass & Rosary;
St. Philip Church
622 Putnam Avenue
Greenville
The parish community will host a “baby shower” during the entire month of October. Gifts will be donated to local problem pregnancy centers. Various life-related films will be offered during the month Call the parish office for a schedule of events at 949-1500.
October 6 and 7, following all weekend Masses, parishioners will carry a wreath to the tomb of the unborn in a procession and will offer special prayers.
Prior to each daily 7:30 a.m. Mass, a Rosary for Life will be recited.
