Pro-Life Activities

Our parish Respect Life Program creates and sustains respect for human life at every stage of its existence and in every situation from conception until natural death. This includes:

• Sponsoring the bus trip to Washington DC in January for the March for Life
• Gathering to pray for the unborn at Planned Parenthood's downtown office (pictured above).
• Observing each October as Respect Life Month with a variety of activities including forming a Life Chain along Perry Highway (2022 event pictured above).
• Holding an annual flower sale, with the proceeds donated to organizations that offer supportive services to homeless women, children, and pregnant women. 
• Focusing on such issues as abortion, war, the death penalty, euthanasia, elder abuse, poverty and racism.
• Publishing a monthly Pro-Life Newsletter.

October is Respect Life Month, and there are several activities planned. Please call Dianne Machesney at 412-366-7869 for more information about any or all of these initiatives.

Diaper Drive | October
The Pro-Life Committee of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish is holding a diaper and wipe drive to benefit Genesis House during October—Respect Life Month.  Please drop off your donations at any worship site in the boxes or playpen marked “Diaper Drive.” The most needed sizes are three to five. Supporting mothers who choose to accept life is one of our missions. We appreciate your help in this work.

Literature and More in Church Narthexes | October
During the month of October, a table will be set up in the narthex of Saint Sebastian Church, where you can pick up free educational materials, bumper stickers, magnets and other pro-life items for free. Materials will be available in the other three parish church narthexes as well.

Respect Life Collection | October 7-8
The second collection at all Masses the weekend of October 7-8 will support the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Respect Life Committee.  Funds raised will help the Committee educate the parish on pro-life issues and more.  Please stop by the Respect Life table, located in the narthex of Saint Sebastian Church.  It will be in place during the month of October, as we celebrate Respect Life Month.  Thank you for your generosity.

Life Chain | Sunday, October 1
On Sunday, October 1 (Respect Life Sunday), from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., our parish Pro-Life Committee will participate in this event by meeting at the parking lot of the Great Hall ,1003 Perry Highway at 1:45 PM.  This chain will then line both sides of the highway and respond to passers-by with silent prayer. Please join us! Your witness tells drivers and passersby that you care about the unborn and the multiplicity of signs is striking and memorable. Signs will be available.

Praying Outside Planned Parenthood | October 23
As part of our 40 Days of Life observance in October, our parish Pro-Life Committee has committed to praying outside the Liberty Avenue Planned Parenthood on Monday October 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.  Won’t you join us? We will attend noon Mass at Saint Sebastian Church and then carpool into town. Or, you can meet us there.

This year's March is scheduled for Monday, October 16th. A bus has been reserved for those in the North Hills who would like to take part in this one-day event in Harrisburg. Download a flyer here (PDF) and plan to reserve your seats early.

40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion. The most visible component of 40 Days for Life is a constant prayer vigil outside a place where children are aborted, Planned Parenthood on Liberty Avenue downtown. Ours is a prayerful witness to the clinic's patients, employees and the entire community, that evil is in our midst and that with God's help, it will be defeated.

During this time, you’re invited to join other Christians for 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. You’re also invited to stand and peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood, 933 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, and to help spread the word about this important community outreach.

Note: Our parish Pro-Life Committee has committed to praying outside the Liberty Avenue Planned Parenthood on Monday October 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.  Won’t you join us? We will attend noon Mass at Saint Sebastian Church and then carpool into town. Or, you can meet us there. Please call Dianne at 412-366-7869 so we know to look for you.

Please download the resources below. If you’d like more information about the citywide initiative–and especially if you’d like to volunteer to help–please contact Nikki Bruni, [email protected], or Donna Goss at [email protected].

• 40 Days for Life Kickoff Mass and Procession (PDF)
• 40 Days for Life at Planned Parenthood (PDF)