The Catholic Spirit

January 22, 2021

USCCB President Prays God Grants Biden �...

CNS Photo/Andrew Harnik, pool via Reuters Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Biden’s ...
January 22, 2021

By Colleen Rowan Growing up in Maryland in the 1950s and 1960s, Bishop Mark Brennan witnessed the injustice of segregation. He recalled that in his yo...
January 22, 2021

Weirton’s St. Joseph the Worker Parish...

WEIRTON—St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Weirton is pleased to announce that the parish now has a free app. The parish hopes this will help spread th...
January 22, 2021

St. Francis, Morgantown, Video Offers In...

By Colleen Rowan MORGANTOWN—St. Francis de Sales Parish in Morgantown offers an inspirational message of peace through song to visitors of its Faceb...
January 22, 2021

The Value of Providing Service to Others...

By Katie Hinerman Klug, Catholic Charities West Virginia Marketing Communications Specialist Every year, Catholic Charities West Virginia serves tens ...

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Biden Signs Flurry of Executive Orders, Undo...

January 22 - Comments Off on Biden Signs Flurry of Executive Orders, Undoing Trump-Era Policies

By Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — On his first day in office, President J...
‘9 Days for Life’ Novena for the Protect...

January 22 - Comments Off on ‘9 Days for Life’ Novena for the Protection of Human Life Set for Jan. 21-29By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholics across the country are invited to take part in the “9 Days for Life” novena Jan. 21-29 for the protection of human life. Each day’s intercession is accompanied by prayers, a short reflection and one or more suggested actions for novena participants to take to help build a culture of life, such as pledging to participate in a parish-based program called Walking With Moms in Need. Participants can go to the website www.9days forlife.com to sign up for emails or texts about each day’s intercession, in English and Spanish. The site also has a link to materials for the novena as well as resources for parishes. The pro-life novena, sponsored by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, encompasses the annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Jan. 22, the day the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Roe and its companion case, Doe v. Bolton. It coincides with the annual March for Life usually held in Washington every January to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. This year’s national rally and march is planned for Jan. 29, but it will be livestreamed, with pro-life advocates across the country asked to participate virtually. Many of the bus caravans from the Midwest, long a staple of the event, were canceled last fall as a result of the pandemic, and the assault on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 and threats of subsequent violence by domestic terrorist groups, as reported by the FBI, made security impossible. On Jan. 15, Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Defense and Education Fund, announced the changes in the event. She said she and a small group of other pro-life advocates, including clergy, maybe some politicians and a handful of Knights of Columbus, will walk from the National Mall to the Supreme Court to carry out the march portion of the national March for Life. An example of the novena intercessions is: “May the tragic practice of abortion end,” for Day One, followed by the Our Father, three Hail Marys and the Glory Be. The reflection for the day says in part: “At every stage and in every circumstance, we are held in existence by God’s love. … Christ invites us to embrace our own lives and the lives of others as true gifts. Abortion tragically rejects the truth that every life is a good and perfect gift, deserving protection.” The suggested “acts of reparation” for the first day are: Take a break from television and movies and consider spending some of that time praying with the day’s reflection. Or pray the short prayer “Every Life Is Worth Living,” reflecting on the gift of human life. Or offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for the day’s intention. For “one step further,” novena participants are encouraged to read more about abortion, in particular the article “Another Look at Abortion,” available at www.respectlife.org/another-look-at- abortion, which provides a basic overview and summarizes key points. “This article will help you be better prepared to witness to the sanctity of human life,” it says. On Jan. 15, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring Jan. 22, the Roe anniversary, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. “Every human life is a gift to the world. Whether born or unborn, young or old, healthy or sick, every person is made in the holy image of God,” he stated. “The Almighty Creator gives unique talents, beautiful dreams, and a great purpose to every person,” he said. “On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonder of human existence and renew our resolve to build a culture of life where every person of every age is protected, valued, and cherish- ed.” Trump also called on Congress to protect and defend “the dignity of every human life, including those not yet born” and urged all Americans “to continue to care for women in unexpected pregnancies and to support adoption and foster care in a more meaningful way, so every child can have a loving home.” “Finally, I ask every citizen of this great nation to listen to the sound of silence caused by a generation lost to us, and then to raise their voices for all affected by abortion, both seen and unseen,” he added.

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholics across the country are invited to take part ...
Prayer, Witness for Life, Even if Virtual th...

January 22 - Comments Off on Prayer, Witness for Life, Even if Virtual this Year, Seen as Important as Ever

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Even though “peaceful prayer and witness” will tak...
Norms for Reopening Parish Facilities for Me...

January 22 - Comments Off on Norms for Reopening Parish Facilities for Meetings and Gatherings

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Version 1: June 29, 2020 Version 2: September 23, 2020 Version 3: Jan...
Parishioner Has Chalices, Patens Restored fo...

January 22 - Comments Off on Parishioner Has Chalices, Patens Restored for St. Vincent’s, New Martinsville

By Colleen Rowan NEW MARTINSVILLE—Two chalices with patens have been restored and given to St. Vin...
Rosary for Life to be Prayed at St. James, C...

January 22 - Comments Off on Rosary for Life to be Prayed at St. James, Charles Town

CHARLES TOWN—St. James the Greater Parish in Charles Town invites all to pray the rosary for life ...
St. Joseph Eighth-Graders Extend Outreach Pr...

January 22 - Comments Off on St. Joseph Eighth-Graders Extend Outreach Project to Help the Homeless in Martinsburg

MARTINSBURG—Every year at St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, the eighth-grade class does a service ...
Young Adult Group is Forming at Holy Rosary ...

January 22 - Comments Off on Young Adult Group is Forming at Holy Rosary Parish, Buckhannon

BUCKHANNON—Holy Rosary Parish in Buckhannon is looking for men and women between the ages of 18 to...
Praying Through Lent Zoom Gathering Offered ...

January 22 - Comments Off on Praying Through Lent Zoom Gathering Offered by West Virginia Institute for Spirituality

CHARLESTON—The West Virginia Institute for Spirituality invites all to join in a five-week prayerf...
Ongoing Efforts at Shepherdstown Parish Help...

January 22 - Comments Off on Ongoing Efforts at Shepherdstown Parish Helps Meet Needs in Community

SHEPHERDSTOWN—On an ongoing basis St. Agnes Parish in Shepherdstown provides sleeping bags for the...

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