By Christina Galeone
CFP Correspondent

Most Catholics are aware of the words of Jesus, found in Matthew 25:39-41, that teach us to treat even the most vulnerable people as if they were him. Fewer Catholics are aware of the words of Pope Francis when he spoke at the 2019 “Yes to Life: Taking Care of the Precious Gift of Life in its Frailty,” conference at the Vatican. “No human being can ever be unfit for life, whether due to age, state of health or quality of existence,” the pope said. “Every child who appears in a woman’s womb is a gift that changes a family’s history, the life of fathers and mothers, grandparents and of brothers and sisters. That child needs to be welcomed, loved and nurtured. Always!”
The Worcester Diocese’s Respect Life Office is committed to living according to the will of Jesus, and in full agreement with the pope’s statement. It humbly offers its words to raise awareness of the struggle for the most vital right for those without words: the right to life.   
The Respect Life Office’s mission – according to its website worcester
diocese.org/respect-life – is to “proclaim the Gospel of Life in our midst throughout all ages and stages o f life.” Its website also notes, “By working together diligently, prayerfully and courageously in the Lord’s service, the culture of death that surrounds us today will one day be replaced with a culture of life.” That work continues, in these challenging times, through generous support.
Allison LeDoux, the office’s director, is particularly thankful for Partners in Charity funds that allow the office to carry out its mission through pastoral care, public policy advocacy, prayer and education. Mrs. LeDoux explained that the work includes providing things such as Respect Life ministry training, prayer resources, presentations, reflections, bulletin articles and annual Respect
Life program materials to churches and schools.
“We also promote parish service opportunities to help women in crisis choose life by volunteer work and fund raising for pro-life organizations,” Mrs. LeDoux noted. “The office also fields many inquiries from people seeking help with ethical or pastoral issues, and facilitates the diocese’s Project Rachel ministry offering healing and reconciliation for those who have been wounded by a past abortion. We work closely with the Massachusetts Catholic Conference in monitoring and advocating as needed regarding public policy issues … for example, the physician-assisted suicide bills currently in the Massachusetts Legislature and the Dobbs case, which has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade.”

Even the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t interrupted the office’s work.
“Learning to be creative and do things a little differently has been a good thing,” Mrs. LeDoux said. “One of the blessings of Zoom meetings is that people can participate from anywhere without ever having to leave the comfort of their home or office, and we don’t have to worry about … weather getting in the way. Things are getting better, and we can look forward to having the benefits of both in-person and virtual events in the future,” she added.

Another blessing also emerged.
“Perhaps one of the ways that God has brought good out of the pandemic is helping people to see, in a new way, how precious life is,” Mrs. LeDoux shared. “In a world where life is so often devalued and cast aside, there are many people who love God and put him first, and they are witnessing to the fact that human life is sacred as they work to protect those most vulnerable. It really gives a lot of hope in a darkened world,” she said.

That appreciation is reciprocated by schools and churches.
At St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge, Diane Moriarty, pastoral associate, is especially thankful. She said that she has contacted Mrs. LeDoux many times and views the office as a “wonderful resource.”
“She is always so helpful and is very knowledgeable on all issues pertaining to life,” Mrs. Moriarty said. “She offers trainings, and the St. Mary Respect Life committee … participated in the training she offered. She was also part of a panel discussion on end-of-life issues presented at our parish. She offered guidance and information in regards to the Church’s positions pertaining to Catholic ethics and end-of-life concerns.”
On March 25, the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Respect Life Office held its annual Mass for Life. It was attended by hundreds of Catholic school students and included pro-life awards for people active in the cause.
“It is very uplifting and a powerful witness for the students, and for everyone who attends, to see that strong faith and the dedication to doing God’s work for those most vulnerable can truly make a life-saving difference,” Mrs. LeDoux said.
Since the pandemic the office had been looking forward to bringing the students back to pray with Bishop McManus “for a renewed respect for human life, and to be inspired by the stories of the awardees,” she said.