September 2024 Newsletter
In this edition you will find:
Gabriel Project Angel Training: September 21st
Next Missouri Execution Date: September 24th
40 Days for Life Fall Campaign: September 25th-November 3rd
Green Mass: September 29th
World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees: September 29th
Respect Life Month: October
News on Missouri Amendment 3 + upcoming speaking events
Event on KANSAS Side: Memorial Service for Aborted Children: September 14th
NEW REGULAR FEATURE: MCC Corner
NEW REGULAR FEATURE: Volunteer Opportunities
In the News
Other Calendar Items
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Gabriel Project Angel Training
When: Saturday, September 21st, 8:30am-4pm
Where: St. Pius X High School EWTN Building, 1500 NE 42nd Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64116
Gabriel Project, a shared ministry of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, offers emotional, spiritual, and material support to pregnant mothers in difficult or unplanned pregnancies. As part of our call to build a culture of life in the face of Amendment 3, we invite women to join us on Saturday, September 21st to learn what it takes to become an angel and minister to moms in need. Check in and continental breakfast at 8:30am; training begins at 9am. Lunch is provided. RSVP to Ann Marie at director@gabrielprojectkcj.com.
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Next Missouri Execution Date of Marcellus 'Khaliifah' Williams
When: Tuesday, September 24th
The next execution of 2024 in the state of Missouri has been scheduled for September 24th for Marcellus 'Khaliifah' Williams. The death penalty violates the Church's teaching of respect for life and the inherent dignity of the human person. It is an ineffective deterrent to crime and unproductive in offering healing to victims and their families. Please pray for Marcellus 'Khaliifah' Williams, and follow Missouri Catholic Conference and Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty for opportunities to advocate and pray. Local Catholics will gather on September 24th at 5pm to pray for Marcellus 'Khaliifah' Williams. Contact Chelsea Voboril at voboril@diocesekcsj.org with questions.
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40 Days for Life Fall Campaign
When: Wednesday, September 25th-Sunday, November 3rd
Where: Center for Women's Health, 4840 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66211
The Fall 2024 40 Days for Life Campaign begins September 25th, and lasts through November 3rd. During the campaign, participants are invited into a prayer vigil outside of the Center for Women’s Health (4840 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66211). Trained sidewalk advocates are present to offer help, hope, and love to women arriving for their abortion appointments. To access the sign-up for your parish group to hold vigil, visit 40daysforlife.com/en/overlandpark.
You are also invited to join in the 40 Days for Life Kick-Off Rally on Sunday, September 22nd, at 4:00pm in the Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center (10901 Granada Ln, Overland Park, KS 66211). Matt Britton, 40 Days for Life Board Ex Officio and General Counsel, will be speaking.
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Green Mass
When: Sunday, September 29th, 10am Mass, reception to follow
Where: St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 2 E 75th St, Kansas City, MO 64114
Please join us Sunday, September 29th, 2024 for the annual Green Mass. The Green Mass especially gathers those who work in or are interested in environmental sustainability, such as farmers, gardeners, other horticulturalists and agriculturalists, environmental scientists, and anyone who cares for our Common Home. Please contact Chelsea Voboril at voboril@diocesekcsj.org, 816.714.2375 if you or a group from your parish plans to attend; there will be a reception with breakfast and community time in the basement of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church following the Mass.
The Green Mass takes place during the Season of Creation, an ecumenical season between September 1st to October 4th when Catholics, Orthodox, and other Christians worldwide join in celebration, conversion, and commitment to care for creation and praise of our Creator. Learn more at https://seasonofcreation.org/.
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World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
When: Sunday, September 29th
The Church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914. This year, Pope Francis shares in his message for the day: “…the encounter with the migrant, as with every brother and sister in need, ‘is also an encounter with Christ. He himself said so.’ Dear brothers and sisters, on this day dedicated to migrants and refugees, let us unite in prayer for all those who have had to leave their land in search of dignified living conditions.” We join the Holy Father in this prayer.
Read the rest of Pope Francis' message here.
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Respect Life Month
When: October
October marks Respect Life Month. Parishes and schools can find resources at https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month. We encourage parishes and schools to highlight topics such as:
Abortion
Adoption
Contraception/Birth Control
Death Penalty
Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide
Fetal Development
Mental Health
Non-Violence
Post-Abortion Healing
Reproductive Technology
Stem Cell Research/Human Cloning
Find resources on all of these topics and more at https://www.lifeandjusticekcsj.org/.
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News on Missouri Amendment 3
Amendment 3 seeks to amend the Missouri Constitution and legalize abortion throughout ALL stages of pregnancy and affect parental rights. We will have English and Spanish speakers available to give parish presentations about the amendment.
You are invited to join our upcoming parish presentations:
Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Nativity of Mary Catholic Church, 10021 E 36th Terrace S, Independence, MO 64052
Wednesday, September 18th, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 300 S Ridgeview Dr., Warrensburg, MO 64093
Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081
Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church, North, 7207 MO-9, Kansas City, MO 64152
Saturday, October 12th, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church, 13000 Bennington Ave, Grandview, MO 64030
Visit https://www.lifeandjusticekcsj.org/missouriproabortionballot for local updates and https://mocatholic.org/abortion/ for state-wide updates as we approach the November voting time.
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Memorial Service for Aborted Children
When: Saturday, September 14th, 11am
Where: Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Parallel Pkwy & N 126th St, Kansas City, KS 66109
On Saturday, September 14th, pro-life Americans throughout the country will gather at the gravesites of aborted babies and other memorial sites dedicated in their honor for the tenth annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.
Solemn vigils will be held at these sites to commemorate the more than 65 million children who have lost their lives to legal abortion since 1973, and to remind our society of the humanity of the unborn child. Please join us for the memorial service in our community.
More Info: Contact Tina Jinkens, VP, Planned Parenthood Exposed, at (785) 615-8373
Together let us remember the victims of abortion and pray for a final end to this injustice in our land during the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.
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NEW REGULAR FEATURE: 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. One of the bills which the MCC supported in 2024 was bill SB1380, which would offer an incentive for grocery stores to establish retail stores in underserved areas to help alleviate "food deserts."
Read more about SB1380 at https://senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx...
Contact your legislators to show your support at https://www.votervoice.net/MOCATHOLIC/Address
Learn more about this bill and others that MCC advocated on at https://mocatholic.org/.../End-of-Session-Report-2024.pdf
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NEW REGULAR FEATURE: Volunteer Opportunities
Many volunteer positions are available within our office programs and with our community partners. Highlighted today are just four:
Birthright KC needs a few volunteers to help measure out and hang curtains for their maternity clothes closet.
Jewish Vocational Service is in need of youth mentors for young refugees adjusting to life in Kansas City.
Gabriel Project is in need of more mentors to accompany pregnant moms in need.
As we face Amendment 3, there are many opportunities for activism and organization.
For these and more volunteer opportunities, or to have your organization's volunteer opportunities included in this regular feature, 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 September: Suicide Prevention Month
September 5th: International Day of Charity
September 14th: Exaltation of the Cross
September 24th: Our Lady of Mercy
September 26th: World Environmental Health Day
Keep watching our social media to see how we address these topics and more!
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