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Respect Life Office
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As Catholics, we believe that God created every one of us in his image and likeness. We believe that God has called us each by name and has a perfect plan for every single person, born and unborn. As a people of life, our mission is never to stand in judgement, but to stand firm in truth and love.
We know that the most vulnerable in our community, especially the unborn, are too often forgotten and don’t have a voice. We must be their voice. We know that the sick, the elderly, the homeless and the cast aside, need someone stand for them as well. We must stand for them.
This is a movement driven by love, God’s love. So let us all love more and love life.
Fr. Dan Pacholec
65 Elliot Street, PO Box 1730
Springfield, MA 01102-1730
Tel. 413-732-3175
E-mail: prolife@diospringfield.org -
A Message from Archbishop Henning, Bishop McManus, Bishop da Cunha, and Bishop Byrne for the Clergy, Religious, and Lay Faithful of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Catholic bishops respond to the state’s new abortion law, calling for prayer, advocacy, and support for mothers, families, and unborn children. They encourage Catholics to defend human dignity and participate in Respect Life Month. -
Bishop Byrne speaks out in opposition of new law allowing
abortion up to birth in Massachusetts
Abortion is a very serious topic. I think we can all agree on that. In my 30 plus years of ministry I have worked with many women and men who experienced an abortion, either personally, as a family member or as a close friend. My experience is that it is difficult, and often brings pain, sometimes many years later. Most made the decision to have an abortion not because they hadthe freedom of choice, rather because they felt they had no choice at all!
Continue Reading . . . -
40 DAYS FOR LIFE
The Diocesan Pro-Life Commission is promoting
’40 Days for Life’ in Western Massachusetts.The Fall 40 Days for Life campaign goes from September 23, 2026 - November 1, 2026
The 40 Days for Life is a semi-annual, ecumenical campaign focused on changing hearts and minds on abortion through three components:
Prayer and Fasting: inviting people of faith throughout our city to join together for 40 days of fervent prayer and fasting for an end to abortion
Peaceful Vigil: standing for life through a 40-day peaceful public witness outside the local Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts at in Springfield
Community Outreach: taking a positive, upbeat pro-life message to every corner of our city through media efforts, church presentations, petition drives, and public visibility.
For more information, contact Tim Biggins at (413) 342-0403 or go to www.40daysforlife.com or Diane LeDoux at (413) 821-0871
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PREGNANCY HELPWomen facing a crisis pregnancy are not alone. There are several organizations ready and willing to help women and their families choose life by not only providing practical help, but spiritual and emotional support. The following is a list of local pro-life pregnancy support centers, all of which offer free services:
BETHLEHEM HOUSE, Inc., Easthampton
Bethlehem House, Inc. is an all volunteer non-profit organization located in Western Mass which offers free pregnancy resources for women in crisis. Gifts of baby supplies and other necessities are offered at no charge. Bethlehem House is located at 33 Knipfer Avenue in Easthampton, MA. Call for an appointment – 413-527-2861.
CLEARWAY CLINIC, Springfield
A non-profit, licensed pro-life medical clinic specializing in pregnancy diagnosis and medical confirmation. In addition to pregnancy testing and ultrasound exams, they offer STD testing and classes to help new mothers.
Visit clearwayclinic.com or call (413) 216-5446
SPRINGFIELD PREGNANCY CARE
Pro-life crisis pregnancy center which offers pregnancy testing and counseling, maternity and baby clothes, referrals, and post-abortive counseling.
Visit springfieldpcc.org or call (413) 732-2006
NEW DIRECTION WOMEN’S CENTER, Pittsfield
Pro-life crisis pregnancy center which offers free pregnancy testing and ultrasound exams, counseling, material resources, referrals and post-abortive counseling.
Visit www.newdirectionpc.org Call: (413) 347-8005
Call or text 24 hours a day!: 413-242-4959
PREGNANCY SUPPORT SERVICES OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Pittsfield
Conveniently located in Pittsfield, MA and offering FREE and confidential services or if you are in need of post-abortion support.
Visit www.pregnancysupportservices-berk.com or call 413-443-7351 (24 hour answering service) -
POST-ABORTIVE CAREWhile abortion is sold as a solution to a problem, we know that the trauma of the choice breaks the hearts of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and families. We in the Diocese of Springfield want men and women who are post-abortive and hurting to know that they are not alone.
Rachel’s Vineyard offers healing through a weekend experience, as participants gather to pray, share spiritual exercises focusing on God’s forgiveness, compassion and mercy. The retreat includes a memorial service and a Mass of Resurrection. Retreat and registration are strictly private. For more information, contact Joetta Dawson [email protected] (516) 457-2838. For information on retreats in Spanish, contact Mabeline Burgos at [email protected] or call (413) 219-2573LOCAL 2026 RACHELS'S VINEYARD HEALING RETREATSOctober 16-18 (Spanish)Rachel's Vineyard Healing Retreats offers the gift of healing from a past abortion through a weekend experience. The retreat is strictly private and confidential.For information about our local retreat or to register contact: Joetta Dawson: [email protected]or 413 452-0661, 516 457-2838 For Spanish contact Mabeline Burgos: [email protected] or 413-219-2573.All calls are confidential! -
PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE
As Catholics, we believe in protecting life from the moment of conception to natural death. Efforts to promote physician-assisted suicide in Massachusetts and the nation undermine the protection of the most vulnerable. While pitched as ‘death with dignity,’ often those who are terminally ill can feel pressured to make such a decision. According the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the state of Oregon’s annual report in 2016 showed that 49% of patients seeking lethal drugs cited being a “burden” on family members. That number was 52 % in Washington. See usccb.org/resources/top-reasons-oppose-assisted-suicide
While the Church is opposed to physician assisted suicide, that does not mean that extraordinary measures which do not cure an underlying condition and could add to the suffering of a patient, are obligatory. Hospice and palliative care can offer comfort to a person at the end of life. It is our hope that through outreach and education, people will come to understand the serious flaws in physician-assisted suicide legislation.
There are two companion physician-assisted suicide bills in the Massachusetts legislature that were introduced Feb. 8, 2021. Both bills are before the Joint Committee on Public Health. -
ADDITIONAL information & resources
- Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning (NFP) promotes the love-giving and the life-giving nature of marriage, supporting God’s design for husbands and wives. NFP, which promotes an openness to life, is based on scientific, natural and moral methods of achieving or postponing a pregnancy.
For more information, contact Jennifer McManus at [email protected] or call (413) 533-5204
Additional NFP Resources - Grief Support
Zelie’s Hope Ministry offers support to couples who are suffering through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss or infertility. St. John the Evangelist Parish hosts a monthly Zelie’s Hope Coffee Hour after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. For more information, contact the parish secretary at (413) 786-8105
Additional grief support resources are available here - Faithful Citizenship
The Catholic bishops of the United States offers a teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics, entitled, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (en Español). This statement represents guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. Pastors, lay and religious faithful, and all people of good will are encouraged to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care; to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue; and to shape political choices in light of Catholic teaching.
- USCCB – Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities – www.usccb.org/prolife
- The National Catholic Bioethics Center – www.ncbcenter.org
- The Massachusetts Catholic Conference – www.macatholic.org
- The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment – www.nchla.org
- The Vatican – www.vatican.va
- Natural Family Planning