RESPECT LIFE MONTH
In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday.
Pastoral Care & Support
Pastoral care at St. Robert is a ministry of compassion, accompaniment and support for parishioners and the broader community. This ministry includes support and being a listening presence for adults, teens, and children suffering from physical, emotional or mental health issues.
If you are struggling and in need of support, please contact Katie Mendenhall, pastoral care director, KMendenhall@strobertchurch.org or (616) 676-9111, ext. 121.
Respect Life Month – Prayer & Action
40 Days for Life – St. Robert’s Day to Pray is Thursday, Oct. 8 (see below for sign up info)
40 Days for Life is a pro-life effort that includes 40 days of prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil in front of an abortion facility. The fall campaign will take place in front of Planned Parenthood (425 Cherry St., GR). St. Robert’s day to pray is Thursday, Oct. 8. Sign ups will take place in the narthex the weekend of Oct. 3/4.
Last year, we had 100% coverage every hour with at least two people praying. Won’t you join us this year?
Questions? Please contact Cheryl Heise (260) 615-1860. More information at https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/grandrapids
St. Robert School Baby Bottle Change Drive
The Baby Bottle Change Drive is entering its fourth year. During Respect Life Month, the students collect spare change for approximately two weeks, this year between Oct. 5-16. The Respect Life Committee then counts the donations and presents the proceeds to HELP Pregnancy Aid, which follows up with a thank you to the school. The goal of this effort is to help the children understand and appreciate the dignity of human life—from conception to natural death. This tradition first began about 10 years ago. Before partnering with the school, our parish conducted the baby bottle change drive during Lent or in October in honor of Respect Life Month.
Ministries that promote and support human life and dignity
So many of the ministries at St. Robert promote and support a culture of life! Ministries engaged in pastoral care, service and outreach, liturgical ministries such as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion who bring the Eucharist to the homebound and hospitalized, the Knights of Columbus, and others are all engaged in some way in protecting, honoring and upholding the dignity of human life. If you’d like to get involved in these or other ministries at St. Robert engaged in this important work, click here to explore
Additional Resources for Respect Life Month:
From the USCCB: In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday. To support these annual observances, the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities provides materials to help Catholics understand and value the gift of human life and help build a culture that cherishes and protects it.
The theme for 2026 is “Mary, Mother of Life,” which demonstrates how the life of the Blessed Mother teaches us to respect each human life in every stage and circumstance.
Resources include: A reflection, prayer card, statement, webinar, action guide and more. View Respect Life Month resources from the USCCB.
Pray the Respect Life Novena Oct. 22-30, 2026.
Join the novena on Hallow, or subscribe here to receive the daily prayers by email or text.
From the Diocese of Grand Rapids:
Click here to read Bishop Walkowiak’s letter to parishioners and discover resources to pray for and promote a culture of life through ministries and organizations in our diocese and beyond.
The Respect Life Committee promotes reverence and protection for all stages of life, from conception to natural death, through prayer, education, and events. One outreach example is supporting HELP Pregnancy Aid, a local Catholic crisis pregnancy center that encourages choosing life and supports mothers and children up to age 3, as well as women healing from miscarriages and abortions.
Our Respect Life Committee leads the following events and campaigns throughout the year:
- 40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign twice per year (once in the spring and once in the fall)
- Baby Bottle Collection every October for Respect Life Month
- Baby clothing drive every Advent to benefit HELP Pregnancy Aid
- Educational campaigns for Down Syndrome awareness and recognition of World Down Syndrome Day
- Promotion of the USCCB’s Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
- And many more!
Contact: Cheryl Heise
caheise17@gmail.com
Walking with Moms in Need – An initiative of the USCCB
Find life-giving hope and support, or get involved (Diocese of Grand Rapids website)
Local businesses that support people with disabilities:
Brody’s Be Cafe – Ada, Michigan
Ability Weavers – Lowell, Michigan
Stir It Up Bakery – Hudsonville, Michigan
Beer City Dog Biscuits – Grand Rapids, Michigan