Jim Pinto, Jr.|
Pastoral Associate, Priests for Life
National Coordinator, Lay Missionaries of the Gospel of Life

“Mobilizing the faithful in a grace filled consecration to promote the love of God and neighbor from the moment of conception to natural death.”

The fourth and final spiritual discipline of the Society is Apostolic Witness. This discipline flows from grace filled consecration and the three other spiritual disciplines: prayer, study, and community.  Members are empowered to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and sent (apostolic) to love (sacrificial witness) their neighbor as themselves.  Jesus said to his disciples then and now: “As the Father has sent me so I send you.”

The United States Catholic Bishops, in their document, Living the Gospel of Life, reiterate the teaching of our Lord and Holy Scripture, as they remind Catholics of their call to mission and ministry:

“Every Catholic, without exception, should remember that he or she is called by out Lord to proclaim his message.  Some proclaim it by word, some by action and all by example.  But every believer shares responsibility for the Gospel.  Every Catholic is a missionary of the Good News of human dignity redeemed through the cross…Each and every person baptized in the truth of the Catholic faith is a member of the “people of life” sent by God to evangelize.”

Members of the Society are expected to engage in relationships and ministries that promote the dignity of the person from the moment of conception to natural death.  One may come to the Apostolate already serving in a ministry to the least, or may choose from a host of ministries presented by the Apostolate.  Among the ministries and opportunities suggested:

Parish Pro-life Committee, Pregnancy Resource Center, Clinic Prayer Vigils, Sidewalk Counseling, Post Abortion Counseling, Chastity and Natural Family Planning, Media and Political Activism, Special Pro-Life Events, and a wide range of Mercy and Justice Ministries.

Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, send us to His people, that we might bear Apostolic Witness to the message and life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  John Paul II in his first words of the Encyclical Letter, “The Gospel of Life” elaborates upon this message: “The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ message.  Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as “good news” to the people of every age and culture.”  The Society exists to assist the Church in proclaiming and living this glorious message of life.

Now is the time for God’s people to unite in a deeper consecration to God and neighbor, especially “the least.” Contact us now and let us discern together your participation as a lay associate in the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. Contact missionary@priestsforlife.org.