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YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE
"THE CIRCLE OF LIFE JOURNEY"
In Brazil, Pope Benedict calls
for solidarity, love for the poor, and respect for life from its
“beginning to its natural end;” in the Middle East, warfare continues to
claim the lives of both civilians and soldiers; along the U.S.- Mexican
border, two more migrants die in the desert; in the United States,
our elected officials debate over legislation on stem-cell research and
abortion; in Florence, AZ, a death row inmate awaits
execution; and in a Tucson hospital a loved one with a
terminal disease faces death. What do all these events have in common and
what do they have to do with being Catholic? How do Church teachings,
tradition, theology, and scripture help us form our individual consciences
so that we can make moral decisions about challenging and often complex
life issues? How does our faith call us to be consistent in defining the
ethics surrounding life . . .and death?
An 11-session program called “The Circle of Life Journey” has been
created by the Christian Life Commission of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish (OMOS) to explore
these questions through study, prayer, reflection and faith sharing. The
program will be based on a series of
Catholic Update articles
(published by St. Anthony Messenger Press) that
cover the full spectrum of life issues from “womb to tomb” using the
perspective of a “A Consistent Ethic of Life.” The Catholic Update: A
Consistent Ethic of Life by Kenneth R. Overberg, S.J.
starts out the series to initiate our journey of study, reflection and prayer
as together we seek to grow together in a deeper respect for life
in all its seasons.
The session topics and related issues to be addressed are:
Session 1 - The Seamless Garment (consistent life ethic, Catholic morality
today, forming one’s conscience)
Session 2 - Respect for Unborn Life (stem-cell research, abortion)
Session 3 - Respect for the Poor and “The Least Among Us” (poverty, hunger, AIDS)
Session 4 - Respect for All, Including the Marginalized (treatment of
homosexuals, other marginalized groups)
Session 5 - Respect for All Races, Cultures, and Faiths (racial prejudice,
other stereotypes)
Session 6 - Respect for All, Including the Migrant (immigration reform,
human rights, border orphans)
Session 7 - Respecting Creation for Future Generations (environment,
consumerism, living simply)
Session 8 - Respect for Peace, and Love for Our Enemies (“just war” today,
nonviolence, peace)
Session 9 - Respect for All, Both Victim and Detained (death penalty,
detention ministry)
Session 10 - Respect for Life until Natural Death (euthanasia, assisted
suicide)
Session 11 - Completing the Circle & Being Sent Forth (faithful citizenship,
bringing moral vision to public life)
Copies of Catholic Update articles related to each of these topics
will be made available to read in advance of each session. Participants will be invited
to make a commitment to complete the entire journey covering all 11
topics. For those who may be absent due to vacations or other reasons, a
process has been established to make up for missed sessions by obtaining
copies of specific Updates by visiting
the Circle of Life Journey's website:
www.circleoflifejourney.org which has
online versions of the Updates and other readings for each session. Those who
complete the entire Circle of Life Journey will be commissioned and “sent
forth” in a special rite at the end of the program.
You are most welcome to
join us on this powerful journey!
Please spread the word !
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