this issue

Featured Article P.1 Recommended Reading & Viewing P.2

Special Highlights P.3 Upcoming Events P.4

FROM THE OFFICE OF MARRIAGE, FAMILY & RESPECT LIFE Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We offer this prayer as the Christmas season comes to an end and a new year begins:

O Sacred and Adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our Holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in au-thority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give pros-perity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintanc-es, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preced-ed by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.

Source: CatholicOnline.org

E-Newsletter of the Office of Marriage, Family & Respect Life Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD

www.sfcatholic.org/RespectLife January 2015

Carrying Christmas into the New Year by Anne McGuire | www.usccb.org

When we witness suffering in the world around us, we know that many did not have a carefree, merry Christmas this year. This Christmas Eve Mass, one song, "O, Holy Night," particularly stood out to me:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

The world is broken. There is suffering. And God Himself comes into that suffering to be with us. This is the true nature of compassion – to suffer with. But awareness of the brokenhearted and God's great gift of Himself could easily become just another insight that comes and goes. So in the New Year, how do we carry the message of Christmas in our hearts? How do we live its truth in our lives, rather than pack it away with the orna-ments?

Remembering the Holy Innocents: Drawing Near to Christ

By Eric Metaxas | breakpoint.org

The gifts are packed away; the kitchen’s finally cleaned up. Maybe you’re relieved Christmas is over. But is it? We Americans really outdo our-selves celebrating Christmas, often starting the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes before. We not only “out do,” we often overdo, glutting our-selves to the point where getting past Christmas becomes a relief. With all the hubbub and celebrating, one as-pect of this holiday that often gets lost is the season of Christmas, which be-gins (not ends) on Christmas Day and runs for twelve days until January 5. Read more….

Pope Francis: Life is Always Worth Living, Even When Seriously Ill

By Christine Rousselle | LifeNews.com

In a year that saw assisted suicide advocates be applauded by the press, Pope Francis made some poignant commentary about the sanctity of life in his message for the World Day of the Sick, reminding the world that life is always worth living, regardless of the perceived “quality” of it. Read more….

This country banned abortion and now, abortion promoters can’t

believe their eyes! www.personhoodusa.com

“Outlaw abortion and abortion won’t stop. Women will just do it illegally and women will die!” Or so the argu-ment goes… But facts are pesky things, and they show that the opposite is true in Chile. According to new re-search from the MELISA Institute, since Chile’s ban on abortion, not only has maternal health improved but the number of women seeking illegal abor-tion has plummeted! Since Chile banned abortion in 1989, the number of maternal deaths decreased from 41.3 to 12.7 per 100,000 women (69.2% reduction). That puts Chile in second place for the lowest maternal mortality rate in the Americas…. Read more….

We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us, to enter compassionately into the suffering of others, and to share Jesus' love with them. One important way we can do this is through prayer.

A specific invitation to prayer surrounds January 22, when our nation will mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the U.S. throughout the nine months of pregnancy. Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and many women and men experience – often in silence – deep and lasting suffering due to their in-volvement.

The U.S. Catholic bishops are inviting the faithful to participate in 9 Days for Life, a period of prayer, penance and pilgrimage set aside to observe this anniversary by taking part in local events and by joining Catholics across the country united in prayer. Each day of the novena includes simple prayers and different brief inten-tions, reflections and actions. Along with prayers for the end to abortion, the nove-na also includes prayers for the end to domestic violence and use of the death pen-alty, for those near the end of their lives, and for children awaiting adoption.

Visit www.9daysforlife.com to download a free app for your Android or iPhone or to sign up for daily emails or text messages. To receive daily text updates, send 9DAYS to 55000 (9DIAS for Spanish speakers). Printable versions of each day's con-tent will also be there. You can even download a special cover photo and profile picture for Facebook to stand in solidarity and raise awareness, which are available in the sidebar ofwww.9daysforlife.com. Flyers, web ads and other promotional and planning resources are available on the leaders' resources page (www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/9-days-for-life-resources-for-leaders.cfm).

The daily intention will also be posted on social media with the hashtag #9daysforlife. Follow People of Life at www.facebook.com/peopleoflife, and join the event (www.facebook.com/events/1585412145015528) to be notified of the daily postings.

As we begin the New Year, let us remember the brokenhearted and the suffering in our prayers and, remembering Christ's own love for each of us, reach out to be with others in support and in love. Though we may not see the immediate effects of our prayers and good works, we can trust in God's power to work through us.

Anne McGuire is Assistant Director of Education and Outreach for the USCCB Secre-tariat of Pro-Life Activities. Join tens of thousands praying the "9 Days for Life" no-vena! Visit www.9daysforlife.com – or text 9DAYS (or 9DIAS) to 55000.

RECOMMENDED READING & VIEWING

Please Visit the Medical Decisions & End of Life Care page of the OMFRL website for the following resources:

Into the Father’s Arms: Catholic Teaching & Guidance for Medical Decisions & End of Life Care

End of Life Planning and Reference Guide

Sample Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare

Articles

Recommended Websites

Since its inception by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1994, the World Meeting of Families (WMF) has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of the family across the globe. Enjoy a week of spiritual enrichment, prayer, engaging speakers, breakout sessions, and the opportunity to join Pope Francis in his first visit to the United States and attend a Papal Mass. Travel package cost with Canterbury Pilgrimages & Tours, Inc., is $1625 per person. WMF early registration fee is $125.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday, Sept. 22nd: Our World Meeting of Families Pilgrimage begins as we depart from Sioux Falls Regional Airport for Philadelphia. Upon arrival, we will join in Evening Mass, followed by our hotel check-in.

Wednesday, Sept. 23rd: Today we will participate in some of the World Meeting of Families (WMF) events. Time permitting, we will visit the St. John Neumann National Shrine and the St. Katherine Drexel Shrine, located on the historic grounds of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Thursday, Sept. 24th: Today we will participate in WMF events. If time allows, we will take a guided tour of historic Philadelphia, visiting key places where the history of our nation was decided. After dinner, return to the hotel.

Friday, Sept. 25th: After breakfast we will join other pilgrims in WMF events, including the afternoon closing ceremony. After a relaxing afternoon, we will return to our hotel in anticipation of the weekend’s Festival of Families.

Saturday, Sept. 26th: This morning, we will join in the Festival of Family events, including the anticipated afternoon welcoming ceremony for Pope Francis.

Sunday, Sept. 27th: This morning, we will join other pilgrims from around the world in the closing Papal Mass for the Festival of Families. Afternoon depar-ture for home.

Travel Package with Canterbury Pilgrimages & Tours, Inc., includes:

† Round-trip Airfare from Sioux Falls Regional Airport † Hotel for 5 nights at the Holiday Inn Express, Lansdale, PA (or similar) † Breakfast daily at the hotel and 2 Dinners at Restaurants in Philadelphia area † Luxury Motor Coach Transportation † Assistance of a Canterbury Pilgrimages & Tours Representative † Sight-seeing in Historic Philadelphia as well as visits to the various Shrines

PARENT’S PICKS & TIPS chastityproject.com

Chastity Project believes that young people play a pivotal role in the new evangelization, and there-fore invites them to launch chastity projects within their schools and churches to promote the good news of purity to their peers. As Pope Francis said, “Do you know what the best tool is for evangeliz-ing the young? Another young per-son. This is the path to follow!” Those who minister to teens today have unlimited needs, but very limited budgets. Therefore, through low-cost resource distribu-tion, media appearances, seminars, and social media, Chastity Project exists to promote the virtue of chastity so that individuals can see God, and be free to love (Matt. 5:8). The orange and green colors of the Chastity Project logo are from the tilma of Our Lady of Gua-dalupe, to whom the ministry is consecrated.

Pilgrimage to Participate in the World Meeting of Families, Papal Visit and Mass Planned

VISIT www.sfcatholic.org/RespectLife For additional information and registration details!

Available for Presentations

We are available to give talks, workshops, forums, discussions, or presentations on a variety of is-sues, such as chastity, marriage, contraception, Natural Family Plan-ning, Theology of the Body, abor-tion, stem cell research and clon-ing, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, end of life deci-sions, the death penalty, political responsibility, and much more. We are open to sharing with groups of any size, are flexible with the speaking format and topics, and work with each group to determine specific needs. Please CONTACT US for more information or to sched-ule a date and be sure to check out the UPCOMING EVENTS for events already occurring across the dio-cese.

LIFE CHAIN LINK PRAYER WITH BISHOP PAUL J. SWAIN January 20, 2015, 12:00 noon, Planned Parenthood on 41st Street, Sioux Falls

To learn more and to sign up to participate in this prayer ministry, please visit the Life Chain Link Page of this website.

MARCH FOR LIFE Thursday, January 22, 2015, Washington D.C.

The Diocese of Sioux Falls will be participating in the March for Life. We invite youth and adults to come along with us. We will be traveling by bus, leaving Sioux Falls on January 20 and returning on January 24, 2015. The pilgrimage will include participa-tion in the March, the Catholic youth rally, and some free time to visit sites at our Nation’s Capital. For more information, call Mary Andersen at 605-988-3766 or visit our website at:www.sfcatholic.org/youth.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND February 13-15, 2015, Abbey of the Hills, Marvin, SD

After the holidays--think about a tune up! It might be time for some marriage maintenance! The Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend gives married couples the tools to keep their relationship in top running condition. Save the dates: February 13-15th, 2015 at Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin, SD. Call John and Dawn Elsinger at 605-362-0924 now to register, or visit www.wwme.org.

RETROUVAILLE February 27-28, and March 1, 2015, The Abbey of the Hills near Marvin, South Dakota

A confidential weekend that offers hope and help for a couple to heal and renew their marriage relationship. Retrouvaille is a peer to peer ministry and has helped couples who experience chronic communication problems, as well as those who thought they were beyond hope, already separated, or even divorced. Please check the website for other regions if looking for a different date. For more information, or to register, con-tact 988-3755.

7 MYTHS OF PORNOGRAPHY EXPOSED A LOVE THAT SATISFIES (both with MATTHEW FRADD) March 11, 2015, Sacred Heart Parish, Aberdeen, SD

In an age where all media desensitizes our culture and our minds, it is good to have critical awareness and pro-active tools to address pornography in our midst. Sacred Heart extends an invitation to attend to every parish & every church in our region. Invite all faiths, all friends, & all community groups. This is a regional outreach of Sacred Heart. Two reasons we bring Matt Fradd here: 1. to change hearts in a personal way, and 2. to help form our community virtue. Tickets for the event are $10 per adult, $7 per teen. A simple supper will be served. Please contact Michele Coughlin at 605-225-7065 with any questions.

LifeTimes Litterae Office of Marriage, Family & Respect Life

Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls

523 N Duluth Avenue

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

605.988.3755

www.sfcatholic.org/RespectLife

www.facebook.com/OMFRL

Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events SOUTH DAKOTA’S 90th LEGISLATIVE SESSION January 13—March 13, 2015 & March 30, 2015 (Veto Day) Pierre, SD

The Catholic Advocate Network (CAN) is the grassroots public policy initiative of the Diocese. Visit the NEWLY UPDATED CAN website to follow this years legisla-tive session and to learn more about our call to be “faithful citizens”.