The primary goal of the Respect Life Program is to create and sustain respect for human life at every stage of its existence and in every situation. The Respect Life Committee will need approval by their pastor before initiating any activities for their parish.

Educational Activities

• Borrow a Respect Life Video from the Department for Pro-Life Activities, for use at a parish function or for your school.
• Donate Respect Life material/books to your school library.
• Have a Respect Life speaker or panel discussion on one or more of life's issues.
• Keep yourself informed by reading periodicals and church documents.
• Host a Respect Life coffeehouse.
• Increase awareness of local crisis pregnancy centers and other organizations that respect life.
• Organize a Chastity Educator for parents, CCD and CYO groups.
• Donate materials and speakers to a school.
• Promote High School Leadership Day and other youth Respect Life retreats.
• Wear a pro-life symbol such as a rose or precious feet pin.
• Set up a literature table or bulletin board near an entrance to your parish containing literature on life's issues.
• Distribute church documents, and Bishops' statements.
• Publish bulletin announcements with Respect Life facts.
• Place an advertisement or letter to the editor in the local newspaper.
• Help organize and promote Family & Marriage enrichment programs and retreats.
• Insert flyers in parish bulletin.
• Dedicate a memorial or shrine.
• Include Respect Life materials in materials for new parishioners.
• Co-host an essay contest with your parish school.
• Sponsor a child development display at parish events.
• Distribute and educate parishioners on the value of a living will and durable power of attorney.

Pastoral Activities

• Project Rachel - Familiarize yourself and your parish with Post Abortion Syndrome and the Project Rachel Referral line.
• Mother's Day Rose/Flower sale.
• Advent Tree/Giving Tree - Collect gifts for a local pregnancy center or for persons in assisted living situations.
• Baby Shower - At any time, you may wrap presents for unborn babies and donate these gifts to a crisis pregnancy center or other agency.
• Food Pantry or Food Collections for the needy.
• Provide transportation for persons with needs and/or companionship to those who are homebound.
• Recruit volunteers for a local crisis pregnancy center.
• Provide food trays to those in need.
• Blanket collection for the homeless.
• Host a flea market, breakfast or spaghetti dinner to benefit a respect life cause.
• Co-host a walk/run for life to support a local crisis pregnancy center or assisted living home.
• Assist or donate to a shelter for persons living with AIDS.
• Host an awareness day for persons with disabilities.
• Raise funds to have assisted listening devices (ALD) installed in your parish church, or removing other barriers to accessibility.
• Organize volunteers for respite care and assistance for elderly to attend church.

Public Policy/Advocacy Activities

• Letter writing in response to public policy issues.
• Create and maintain a phone tree and email ist of persons who are interested in participating in advocacy alerts and drives for pro-life legislation at all levels.
• Sponsor a voter registration drive in the parish, school or community.
• Encourage everyone 18 years of age to become informed about Respect Life issues and to vote.
• Write letters to the editors of local newspapers on pro-life issues.
• Sponsor a bus for the March for Life in Washington, DC.

Prayer and Worship

• Holy Hour
• Rosary
• Benediction/Adoration
• Spiritual Adoption Prayer Programs for School or Parish
• Liturgy/Healing service for those who have lost a child
• Respect Life Day of Prayer
• Prayer Intercessions
• Respect Life Mass with other parishes - First Sunday of October, Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul
• Blessing of expectant mothers
• Participate in the annual Mass for Life
• Respect Life Ecumenical Vigil