June 2024 Newsletter


In this edition you will find:


Congratulations Life & Justice Grant Recipients!

Next Scheduled Missouri Execution of David R. Hosier: June 11th

Father's Day: June 16th

Juneteenth Observance: June 19th

Anniversary of Dobbs v Jackson: June 24th

Religious Freedom Week: June 22nd-29th

In the News

Other Calendar Items

Congratulations to the 2024 Life & Justice Grant Recipients!

 

Congratulations to our 2024 Life & Justice Grant recipients! Your generous support of the Life & Justice Campaign each August enables these grant awards. Find our posts about the grant recipients at Facebook or Instagram.


The annual 2nd Collection for the Life & Justice Campaign will take place August 17th-18th. This 2nd Collection helps fund the Life & Justice Grant! Give then or give any time at lifeandjusticekcsj.org.

Action Alert for David R. Hosier


Please contact Governor Parson and urge him to do everything in his power to stop David R. Hosier's execution. Stay tuned to https://catholicsmobilizing.org/state/missouri for message prompts to write and send. Stay tuned for prayer opportunities for June 11th, 2024, to pray for David and for victim Angela Gilpin.


Father's Day

When: Sunday, June 16th, 2024

 

Father's Day is a wonderful time to remind the parish of the essential role of fathers in building up a culture of life. For a parish action guide including bulletin announcements, intercessions and homily helps, sample activities, and more, please visit https://www.usccb.org/fathers-day-action-guide.


Juneteenth

When: Wednesday, June 19th, 2024

 

Juneteenth marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. This observance, long recognized by the Black community, is now held as a federal holiday. We celebrate this observance of freedom and pay tribute to the legacy of the Black community.

Anniversary of Dobbs v Jackson

When: Monday, June 24th, 2024

 

As we mark two years since Dobbs v Jackson overturned Roe v Wade, ending the federal constitutional "right" to abortion, we have been tasked to live out "'radical solidarity' with women facing unexpected or challenging pregnancies and doing whatever we can to provide them with the care and support they need to welcome their children."


Parishes are invited to visit respectlife.org/dobbs to access resources and prayers for sharing with your community as we approach this anniversary.


Join Missouri Right to Life-Western Region in a Pro-Life Prayer & Praise Picnic in celebration of the anniversary of the Dobbs court case decision which struck down Roe v Wade. The Prayer and Praise Picnic will take place on Saturday, June 22nd from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Waterfall Park Pavilion, 4501 South Bass Pro Dr., Independence, MO 64055. Enjoy a picnic and games, share positive stories, and pray for an end to abortion. Questions, contact 816.353.4113 or visit https://www.mrlwesternregion.org/

Religious Freedom Week

When: Saturday, June 22nd-Saturday, June 29th, 2024

 

From usccb.org: Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. Beginning June 22, the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom.


Follow along on our social media for the prayers and themes for each day of Religious Freedom Week!

In the News


Where do you encounter Life and Justice in the news and broader world? Here are some headlines to watch related to Life and Justice issues:


Abortion: Pro-Life Doctor Disputes New York AG's Claims That Abortion-Pill Reversal Doesn't Work


Contraception/Birth Control: Why do so many Catholics use contraception? Experts weigh in


Criminal and Restorative Justice: What Is Restorative Justice in Schools? Everything Educators Need To Know


Death Penalty: Advocates Launch [Tool] Kit for David Hosier's Clemency Campaign


Economic Justice: Understanding America's Labor Shortage


Education: Marking 70 years since Supreme Court ruling on Brown v. Board of Education


Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide: Cause for Canonization of Quadriplegic Lay Evangelist Advances


Fetal Development: Catholic Neonatologist Wins Award for Exemplary Medical Care of Most Fragile, Vulnerable Babies


Human Trafficking: Human trafficking survivor calls for tackling problem of demand


Immigration & Refugees: Brooklyn parish serves migrants amid city's crisis: 'It's about living the Gospel'


Mental Health: Prayerful Pause: What the Family Needs After Losing a Baby or Child


Non-Violence: Nagasaki's Continuous Martyrdom: From the Hidden Church to the Atomic Bomb


Post-Abortion: Sisters of Life Offer Hope and Healing for Mothers


Racial Harmony: Jesuit Antiracism Sodality to host retreat centering Black spirituality


Religious Freedom/Conscience Protection: U.S. religious freedom watchdog's new appointments include three Catholics


Reproductive Technology: How a Denton divorce could imperil IVF access in Texas


Stem Cell Research/Human Cloning: Iron Restriction Keeps Blood Stem Cells Young


Stewardship of Creation: 'They told us that this material would be safe.' Toxic PFAS discovered on US farms

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 June: Immigrant Heritage Month

June 2nd: National Gun Violence Awareness Day

June 12th: World Day Against Child Labor

June 16th: St. John Francis Regis

June 23rd: International Widows Day

June 27th: National PTSD Awareness Day


Keep watching our social media to see how we address these topics and more!