March 23, 2005, Amarillo, Texas. Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of
Priests for Life, officially announced today that he is founding a pro-life
community dedicated to the formation and training of priests, deacons, brothers
and seminarians who will devote themselves fully to the proclamation of the
Gospel of Life. This initiative will be based in the diocese of Amarillo, Texas,
under the authority and stewardship of Bishop John W. Yanta.
"It has been a dream of mine for over a decade to form a community that can
accept seminarians who want to devote their entire ministry to the defense of
the unborn," said Fr. Pavone. "While there are religious communities that give
special emphasis to the right to life, the Church has no 'institutional' society
of men whose exclusive focus is to protect innocent human life from the tragedy
of abortion and euthanasia. It is time for such a community. I am grateful to
Bishop Yanta for allowing me the opportunity to make this dream a reality."
Bishop Yanta, who has served on the Priests for Life Episcopal Board of
Advisors since 1998, and who has been particularly devoted to the pro-life cause
throughout his priesthood, has already offered several buildings in his diocese
that will serve as the center for the new apostolate. "I am excited about
supporting Fr. Pavone in venturing forth, with and through the Holy Spirit, in
the establishment of a Society of Apostolic Life for priests and seminarians
dedicated to pro-life ministry - an immense need at this time in history," said
Bishop Yanta today. "The Lord has provided several vacant buildings that once
served as a Christian Brothers High School with boarding facilities, a chapel,
gym, and spacious grounds. The Diocese of Amarillo is happy to make these
available (at no cost) to Priests for Life and the proposed Society of Apostolic
Life."
This society of apostolic life, while drawing on the spirit and mission of
the Priests for Life organization, will be a completely separate entity, known
as Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. Priests for Life will continue to
exist as an association of the Christian faithful under Canon Law, and Fr.
Pavone will continue to serve as its National Director. In order to initiate the
historic formation of this pro-life community of priests, deacons, brothers and
seminarians, Fr. Pavone has officially become a priest of the Diocese of
Amarillo, and will begin assembling a formation team for the community. Priests
for Life is also in the process of establishing a headquarters in the diocese,
but will continue to maintain its current offices and staff in New York,
Washington D.C., Virginia, California, and Rome, Italy.
"This is a pivotal moment in time," said Fr. Pavone. "Throughout the history
of the Church, God has intervened in times of great moral crisis and has raised
up within His Church the charisms necessary to address those crises. I have long
been convinced that God is raising up numerous disciples ready to devote their
entire lives to ending the tragedy of abortion, which the bishops have
identified as the 'fundamental human rights issue of our day.' I have no doubt
that we will see a tremendous and immediate response to this initiative."
Fr. Pavone announced that men considering joining this community can attend a
discernment retreat he will conduct on June 24-26 in Amarillo. There will also
be a seminarians' pro-life conference in Newark, NJ from August 16-21, during
which Fr. Pavone will also discuss the new community. Those interested in the
community may contact
vocations@priestsforlife.org.
Bishops from around the world praised the historic effort.
From Denver, Colorado, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said: "Under
Father Frank Pavone’s leadership, Priests for Life has been a tireless and
important national voice defending the sanctity of human life. In supporting Fr.
Pavone’s new initiative, Bishop Yanta and the people of the Diocese of Amarillo
are offering a vital service to Catholics throughout the United States."
From St. Louis, Missouri, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke said: "I have
received with great joy the news of the foundation of a priestly society of
apostolic life dedicated to the apostolate of the respect for human life. In
every time period, the Holy Spirit has inspired founders of institutes of the
consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, so that the spiritual needs of
the Church and world might be more fully addressed. Surely, there is a great
need in our time for a priestly society dedicated to the conversion of our
culture of death and the promotion of a civilization of life. The work of the
Priests for Life and its National Director, Father Frank Pavone, has surely
prepared the way for the timely foundation of the priestly society of apostolic
life. I commend Bishop John W. Yanta for his pastoral vision and generosity in
inviting Father Pavone to make the new foundation in the Diocese of Amarillo. I
pray that God will bless abundantly Bishop Yanta, Father Pavone and the new
foundation."
From Phoenix, Arizona, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted praised Priests for
Life: "[This organization] has offered a courageous and articulate proclamation
of the Gospel of Life for a number of years. While standing strong in the
defense of every human life, it has offered persuasive reasons for respecting
the dignity of each person, especially the most vulnerable and innocent among
us."
From Rome, Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace, said: " In today’s world, the idea of a new
religious community founded for the purpose of working to protect human life may
seem like a sign of contradiction—but it may just be what the world of today
needs! The call to protect life is not only a foundation of our faith as
Catholics, but it is the very basis of our recognition of human rights and the
right to life. The human dignity with which we have been endowed by God binds us
together as members of the one family."
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