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respect life workshop draws people from across the diocese

Over 40 Respect Life parish contacts and “friends” of Respect Life gathered June 28 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Belleville for a “Hope and Trust in Life” workshop featuring a variety of speakers and a “note of appreciation.”

For the past several years Doug Lugge has been the bus captain for the local participants going to Washington D.C., for the annual “March for Life” in January. He explained that the rather arduous trip is a combination of prayer, advocacy, and education. A highlight of the trip is the annual youth rally and Mass, with over 20,000 people gathered sharing enthusiasm and reverence.

Denise Brown, director of adoption for Catholic Social Services spoke about the changing face of adoption and the steps in the process for both couples seeking to adopt a child and a woman seeking a family for her child. The themes of relationship building and respect were evident as foundational aspects of the services provided.

Celeste Cocheba, director of the Pregnancy Care Center of Belleville, gave an overview of the history of the center, expressing particular appreciation to the Belleville Area Right to Life and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for their instrumental roles. She also shared stories highlighting providential care in meeting needs over the years. The resources received have allowed them to provide clothing items not only for the mother but also for other young siblings of a growing unborn baby.

Pat Boien, volunteer coordinator and trainer for the Pregnancy Aid Hotline in Breese, spoke about the calls they receive from women in crisis pregnancies, needing someone to talk to, needing a referral for help, or calling inadvertently and benefitting from a chance to reconsider an intended abortion. Although the line is physically answered in Breese, the nature of the outreach would allow it to spread throughout the diocese with expanded referral guides and volunteers.

In a letter to the workshop participants, Bishop Edward K. Braxton expressed his prayerful support and reminded the group that in our diocese we work to make evident the dignity of every human person “especially when it may seem to be obscured by poverty, ignorance, violence, despair, and sinful moral choices.”

The gathering provided the opportunity for the diocese to present a “Certificate of Recognition for Witnessing to the Dignity of Human Life” to Esther Koch, Celeste Cocheba and Dorothy Feder.

Through education and advocacy, direct care, and prayerful support each was recognized as demonstrating “the ongoing lifelong commitment to be a witness to the truth that the human dignity of every person is inherent, from fertilization until natural death, and all stages in between, by virtue of having been created in the image of God.”
For all of those gathered a musical “Note of Appreciation” was performed by pianist Ben Hanley, from Althoff Catholic High School.

Finally, the occasion to celebrate life was given a special touch of joy, by made more special as the group honored Celeste Cocheba on her 90th birthday.

For information about Certificates of Recognition or to be added to the list of “Friends of Respect Life” please contact Laurie Edwards, Respect Life Coordinator, ledwards@diobelle.org or phone (618)235-9601, ext. 133.