Pastoral Ministries

Respect Life Office

This was the beginning of the Gabriel Project. In 1990, Cathy McConn from St. Cecilia Parish and her friend, Rex Moses from Corpus Christi, saw the sign, and the Gabriel Project was developed throughout the Galveston-Houston and the Corpus Christi dioceses.

The Gabriel Project is now throughout the U.S. and Canada. May God bless these wonderful people.

Mission Statement

Indeed, the Lord Jesus, when He prayed to the Father, “that all may be one…as we are one”(Jn 17:21-22) opened up vistas closed to human reason, for He implied a certain likeness between the union of the divine Persons, and the unity of God’s sons in truth and charity.  This likeness reveals that man, who is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.

Gaudium et Spes (24)

The Gabriel Project is a Pro-Life movement offering parish-based pastoral care to women in a crisis pregnancy. Gabriel volunteers

·      Understand their apostolate as a work of Evangelization, meeting those who suffer where they are, helping them to come to the Church for help and support. The Volunteer brings Christ to Mom in their own person.  The volunteer meets Christ in Mom's person.

·      Illustrate and live out the like-with-like apostolate of the laity through an apostolate of friendship and of presence, relying on their own special gifts.  Apostolicam actulsitatem, Decree of the Apostolate of Lay People. Vatican II

·      Encourage collaborative ministry working in solidarity with all the other ministries and apostolates in the parish and Diocese, i.e., parish social ministry, Catholic Charities, CHRISTUS HealthCare, etc.

·      Are drawn closer to God, through acts of self giving to others and through a greater reliance on prayer and worship in their own lives.

·      Offer the opportunity for personal and sacramental reconciliation and healing so needed by so many today. Dives in Meseracordia, John Paul II

·      Implement The Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities:  A Campaign in Support of Life through this pastoral response to pregnant mothers in need and their unborn children.
 

Evangelization and Respect Life

In response to the current disregard for the value of human life, the Bishops’ document “The Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities” 1975, revised 1985 is the guideline for implementing, in dioceses and parishes, all the programs in education, pastoral care and legislative change needed to overcome this evil.

Respecting life is a work of evangelization where the church, in truth and love, presents a challenge to the moral disorder of our time and the terrible suffering of so many caught up in a way of life unfit for the human person.

The majority of the programs are parish based to encourage solidarity, subsidarity, and collaborative ministry among parishioners.  Respect for life is for all people and all groups in the parish which leads to multiple programs/activities all with one end.  An outreach through pastoral care programs, meeting people where they suffer, offering them hope and healing is the primary endeavor. Education and legislative change follow.
 

Prayer & Worship

Word of Life Series.  Intercessory prayers, bulletin inserts for parish use weekly.  In Clergy Mailout each month.  Works with the Respect Life Program liturgy guide.  See enclosed example.  Call 713-741-8728,

Annual Mass for Life, Justice and Peace held on the Saturday nearest January 22 with the Bishop presiding.  “If you want peace work for justice, if you want justice, America, defend life.”  John Paul II.

Helpers of God’s Precious Infants

·      Mass, Rosary procession and Benediction to abortion site.  Peaceful, prayerful witness no signs or protest.  Call Christine Melchor 281-447-7760.

·      Peaceful prayer vigils and sidewalk counseling at abortion sites weekly.  Call Christine Melchor 281-447-7760.

·      Execution Vigils on the evening of execution from 5:30-6:30pm at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.  Call David Attwood 713-529-2826.
 

Pastoral Care

Practical Help

§      Gabriel Project.  Parish based crisis pregnancy intervention.  The parish adopts and takes personal interest in and care of a pregnant mother. Call 713-225-5826.  See brochures in English and Spanish.

§      Mother and Baby Assistance. Parish showers for mothers in need held in each parish.   Collect material goods for mother and baby, cribs, car seats, clothing, layettes, etc. Adjunct to the Gabriel Project. Call 713-225-5826.  See brochures in English and Spanish.

§      Project Rachel Confidential outreach and care for women and men who have had or been involved in abortion.  Offers reconciliation and healing and hope.  Five post-abortion support groups in place. Call 713-741-8728.  See brochure.

§      Courage Confidential spiritual support group helping men and women to live chaste lives in accordance with the Church’s pastoral teaching on homosexuality.  For more information call 713-741-8728.

§      EnCourage confidential spiritual support group for the parents and families of homosexuals.  For more information call 713-741-8728.

§      Natural Family Planning offers couples knowledge of their own fertility so that together they may plan their families in accordance with God’s law of love and life. NFP is 99% effective in achieving or avoiding pregnancy, the most effective method available.  Call Joe DeVet 713-683-8544.  See brochures in English and Spanish. 

§      Youth for Life, Justice and Peace service projects for parish youth groups, high school and confirmation groups. Helps the unborn, pregnant women, mother and babies, immigrants and refugees, the mentally ill, the indigent, the aged, the homeless, the imprisoned and the dying.  Call 713-741-8728.  See appendix for description and brochure.