Each year, many parishes and schools hold commissioning
services for various ministerial groups: servers, catechists, choirs, and so
forth.
How about commissioning the respect life group? It is
certainly a ministry to promote the sacredness of life. It is a work which
especially requires fortitude and prudence.
A suggested format would be to call the members forward after
the homily, ask them some questions, say a prayer of blessing, and present them
with a symbol of their mission.
Questions could be:
-
Are you resolved to promote the church's teachings on the
dignity of human life, as outlined in The Gospel of Life?
-
Are you ready to work together with your pastor, under the
guidance of the Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro Life Activities, to pray,
educate, shape public policy, and provide concrete assistance to women in crisis
pregnancies?
The prayer of blessing can be:
Father of all life,
we thank you that you have called us into being
and made us the people of life.
Bless our brothers and sisters who dedicate themselves
to be a voice for the voiceless,
a defense for the defenseless.
By their example enable all of us
to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
The symbol given to members of the committee can be the
Precious Feet, the pro-life rose, or a copy of The Gospel of Life. Such a
ceremony could be done at any time of the year.