PRO-LIFE PROGRAMS
PREGNANCY CENTER SUPPORT
"I certainly supported a woman’s right to choose, but to my mind the time to choose was before, not after the fact."
—Ann B. Ross
A Higher Purpose
Change hearts and minds about abortion by showing that the Knights of Columbus loves both mother and child before and after birth. Councils can provide material, financial, labor and other support to pro-life pregnancy centers that help women during pregnancy and following the birth of their newborn children.
Overview
More than 3000 pro-life pregnancy centers now operate throughout territories of the Knights of Columbus. By the very nature of its founding, the Knights of Columbus is called to care for the widow and orphan. Abortion-vulnerable unborn children and mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies certainly fall within that mandate. With aid from the Knights, pregnancy centers can offer support to help women choose life. Councils can “adopt” a pregnancy center and provide material, labor, and spiritual support throughout the year.
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Details
The Father O'Neill Council supports the Pregnancy Center North through various fund raising activities to include the "Baby Bottle Campaign" annually. Portions of the Father O'Neill Charities is also donated annually to the Pregnancy Center North. Members of the council are also volunteers at the Pregnancy Center North to help young fathers realize their potential.
March For Life
A Higher Purpose
Show public support for the right to life. Knights of Columbus councils are encouraged to participate in or sponsor local, state/province, regional or national Marches for Life. Councils that coordinate at least 50 participants or who organize a local March for Life will receive credit for this program.
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Overview
The Knights of Columbus encourages others to choose life through public support of the pro-life cause. Knights can organize and participate in local/state/province/regional Marches for Life and/or organize participation of Knights/parishioners/students/etc., in bus trips to the national Marches in Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Mexico City, throughout the Philippines, or in other countries.
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Details
The Father O'Neill Council and its members annually make the trip to DC to march in the National March for Life. In partnership with Immaculate Conception, St. Josephs Parish, and Christ the King Church, the community and council stand for the Pro-Life movement and the end to needless abortions.
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Featured Program Requirements
Councils are required to organize a minimum of 50 marchers to participate in a national, state, or local March for Life or councils must themselves organize a March for Life. Report activity using the March for Life Report Form (#10697).
“The hairsplitting difference between formed and unformed makes no difference to us. Whoever deliberately commits abortion is subject to the penalty for homicide.”
–Saint Basil
"The wisdom of God is reflected in the face of the soul: she will see God as he is, and she will know as she is known." - St Anthony of Padua
Novena For Life
A Higher Purpose
Lead your community in the spiritual fight to establish a culture of life in our nations. Knights and their families will come together in both public and private acts of prayer to promote the protection of life.
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Overview
The protection of life is a sustained prayer intention of the Church, and in particular of the Knights of Columbus. Knights remain firmly committed to defending the right to life of every human being – from the moment of conception to natural death. To commemorate and bolster this important cause, councils will promote a novena, nine days of sustained prayer, to build up a culture of life in our parishes, homes and wider community.
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Details
The Father O'Neill Council performs the Novena for Life starting on the 2nd Wednesday of January. This allows the Novena for Life to occur during the March for Life and to conclude on, or around, the anniversary of the decision of Roe v Wade.
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Required Program
A council must conduct this required program in the Life category to be eligible to receive the Columbian Award.
Silver Rose Program
A Higher Purpose
Share the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and promote respect for life by participating in this meaningful pilgrimage. The Silver Rose program demonstrates the unity between Knights of Columbus in Canada, the United States and Mexico, through a series of prayer services promoting the dignity of all human life and honoring Our Lady.
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Overview
Each year, from early March through mid-December, Silver Roses are stewarded by Knights of Columbus councils along routes from Canada to Mexico. Every stop the Silver Rose makes throughout the pilgrimage is a rosary-centered occasion for Knights, parishioners and community members to pray for respect for life, for the spiritual renewal of each nation, and for the advancement of the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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Details
Occasionally, the Father O'Neill Council is host to the Silve Rose. This honor is instilled to only a few councils each year who are required to maintain and present the Silver Rose.
“I am truly your merciful Mother, yours and all the people who live united in this land and of all the other people of different ancestries, my lovers, who love me, those who seek me, those who trust in me. Here I will hear their weeping, their complaints and heal all their sorrows, hardships and sufferings.” —Our Lady of Guadalupe