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April 2025 Newsletter
In this edition you will find:
New Feature: Text Messaging!
National Volunteer Month: April
40 Days for Life Spring Campaign: March 5th-April 13th
Stewardship of Creation Book Study: To Heights and Unto Depths by Fr. John Nepil
CRS Rice Bowl and Lent
NextGen for Justice: Abolishing the Death Penalty: April 8th
Healing Retreats: April 25th-27th
Divine Mercy Resources: April 27th
Midwest March for Life: May 1st
MCC Corner
Volunteer Opportunities
In the News
Other Calendar Items
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New Feature: Text Messaging!
- Have you ever been interested in one of our events, but it didn't find its way into your calendar?
- Are you wanting to give of your time, talent, and treasure, but don't know where to start?
- Want to be immersed with prayer opportunities that remind you of the sanctity of life and the dignity of every person?
Check it out...we can now text out reminders through the month of upcoming events, volunteer opportunities with our community partners, and prayer reminders and requests from the Office of Life & Justice!
We promise not to spam you, just some occasional reminders of the same great Life & Justice content, but in short text form.
You can sign up a few different ways:
- Text "Join" and your email to (816) 707-5123
- Click the button below!
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National Volunteer Month
When: April
The important work of building a culture which stands for Life & Justice would not be possible without our many volunteers! During this National Volunteer Month, we salute each and every one of the volunteers in our parishes and diocese who are knitting blankets for new mothers, assisting in parish Green Teams, running the parish pro-life ministry, writing letters to prisoners, and so much more! Thank you!
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40 Days for Life Spring Campaign
When: Wednesday, March 5th-Sunday, April 13th
Where: Center for Women's Health, 4840 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66211
Parish groups are invited to sign up for vigil hours with 40 Days for Life at Center for Women’s Health, 4840 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS, 66211. Parishes and individuals can sign up for 40 Days for Life vigil hours at 40daysforlife.com/en/overlandpark.
Vigil opportunities may soon be coming to Missouri abortion provider locations. Please stay tuned to how to become involved with sidewalk prayer and counseling opportunities at https://www.lifeandjusticekcsj.org/40-days-for-life.
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Stewardship of Creation Book Study: To Heights and Unto Depths by Fr. John Nepil
When: April 8th and April 22nd
Where: April 8th: Cathedral of St. Joseph, 519 N 10th St., St. Joseph, MO 64501; April 22nd: Chancery Glennon Room, 20 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Zoom option available each time! Get link at www.lifeandjusticekcsj.org/stewardship-of-creation
All are invited to join in a Lenten and Easter book study featuring To Heights and Unto Depths by Fr. John Nepil, priest-theologian, mountaineer, and co-host of the Catholic Stuff You Should Know podcast. To accommodate participants across the diocese, this book study will take place in-person in St. Joseph AND Kansas City, plus a Zoom option.
About the book: Spanning nearly 500 miles across the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Trail is an epic, arduous route through some of America’s most breathtaking natural grandeur. In the summer of 2022, Fr. John Nepil set out to traverse the entire trail as a “thru-hike” with a trio of companions, accompanied along the way by an eclectic rotating cast of priests and young people. This memoir, which is simultaneously a theological reflection on life, Christianity, and the mountains themselves, is the fruit of that pilgrimage.
Order your book copy at Ignatius Press.
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50 Years of CRS Rice Bowl!
This year marks 50 years of CRS Rice Bowl! Join us in celebrating by sharing the impact of Rice Bowl all Lent long. Share with us how you, your family, and your parish are celebrating!
Tag @lifejusticekcsj with your pictures of your Rice Bowl activities on social media. You can also email us your parish and family activities and pictures at lifeandjustice@diocesekcsj.org.
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NextGen for Justice: Abolishing the Death Penalty
When: Tuesday, April 8th, 7pm
Where: Arrupe Hall Auditorium, Rockhurst University, 5331 Forest Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110
Join us at Rockhurst University for NextGen for Justice, a panel discussion on abolishing the death penalty as an expression of Catholic teaching on the sanctity of all life and the dignity of every person. The discussion will feature Laurence Komp, the Kansas City-based defense attorney for Marcellus Williams, who was executed in Missouri on September 24. He will be joined by others who will share their stories about how the death penalty has impacted their lives.
Come for this powerful evening of personal stories and exploration of the hope for restorative justice.
Click here to learn more.
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Healing Retreats: Two Options
When: Friday, April 25th-Sunday, April 27th
Over the weekend of April 25th-27th, there are two options of post-abortion healing retreats.
Rachel’s Vineyard: Weekend retreats offer a supportive, confidential, and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release, and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing. Contact rvkcmo@gmail.com, 816.679.4973
Found & Woven: The power-packed, focused retreat allows time to advance the healing journey. Scripture, music, drama and creative expression are utilized in groups and individual time to assist in the process of dismantling all the walls that keeps the abortion-wounded in bondage. Contact info@foundandwoven.com, 816.847.2911
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Divine Mercy Sunday Resources
When: Sunday, April 27th
Divine Mercy Sunday is a pivotal time to share Christ’s message of mercy and healing, especially with those who have participated in abortion.
Please consider some of the following resources:
Divine Mercy Action Guide: www.respectlife.org/action-guides#sunday-of-divine-mercy
Homily Considerations (in English and Spanish): www.usccb.org/resources/homily-considerations-regarding-healing-after-abortion
Prayer and Action Guide: www.usccb.org/resources/prayer-guide-healing-after-abortion
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Save the Date: Midwest March for Life
When: Thursday, May 1st, 2025
Where: Jefferson City, MO
DEADLINE to Register: April 1st, 2025
You're Invited!
We're going on a pilgrimage!
Register now here
Please plan to join us on Thursday, May 1st, for a diocesan day bus trip to Jefferson City, MO, to participate in the 2025 Midwest March for Life. There we will participate in continued prayer and civic rallying for our local respect life efforts.
This bus trip will be an excellent opportunity to engage in civil demonstration, enjoy fellowship, and save on gas for your trip to Jefferson City. Win, win, win!
Questions? Email Deb Sheppard at sheppard@diocesekcsj.org.
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MCC Corner
The Missouri Catholic Conference promotes the sanctity and dignity of human life in public policy advocacy in Jefferson City, MO on behalf of the Missouri Catholic Bishops. Proposed Bill HB875 would prohibit public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against religious, political, or ideological associations. Per the MCC: "College campus organizations should not be discriminated against and denied access to campus resources based on their religious beliefs or practices."
Read more about HB875 and others at https://mocatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/Progress-Report-1-31-25.pdf
Contact your legislators to show your support at https://www.votervoice.net/MOCATHOLIC/Address
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Volunteer Opportunities
Many volunteer positions are available within our office programs and with our community partners. Highlighted today are just four:
Looking for a way to serve? The Market at Catholic Charities provides a dignified shopping experience for families in need, and we rely on volunteers to make it happen! Morning shifts assist families as they shop, while afternoon shifts help pack pre-bagged groceries. With up to 50 families served daily, your time can make a real impact! Other ways to serve are in the Community Garden, Reception Desk, Employment Services, and more! Want to get involved? Email volunteers@ccharities.com to sign up today!
Volunteer in your parish with Catholic Relief Services by helping your parish with Rice Bowl distribution and collection, as well as hosting various Rice Bowl opportunities, such as the meatless meal recipes, promoting communications, and creating prayer opportunities.
Support families facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies at Birthright of Nevada in Nevada, MO
Join in administrative, mentoring, or hands-on roles with KC Can Compost
For these and more volunteer opportunities, please visit www.lifeandjusticekcsj.org/volunteer or call 816-714-2375
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Other Calendar Items
Did you know that on our social media we share awareness topics saint feasts and ways to pray about them, take action, and support local groups which address the topics? Here are some examples of some upcoming "awareness" topics and saints:
Month of April: National Month of Hope
April 2nd: World Autism Awareness Day
April 5th-6th: Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers
April 7th: Servants of God Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba
April 20th-26th: National Infertility Awareness Week
April 25th-27th: Jubilee of Teenagers
April 27th: Mass for the Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis
April 28th-29th: Jubilee of People with Disabilities
April 28th: St. Gianna Molla
April 30th: Stop Food Waste Day
Keep watching our social media to see how we address these topics and more!
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