Dignity of Life in a Year of Mercy retreat is open to all in the diocese

Friday, Dec. 25, 2015

SANDY — During the past several years the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Office of Marriage and Family Life has been putting together different events to reflect the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding the respect for and dignity of life.

“This year, trying to incorporate all aspects of life and tying them to the Year of Mercy, we decided to offer the Respect for the Dignity of Life in a Year of Mercy retreat,” said Veola Burchett, director of the marriage and family office.

The half-day retreat on Jan. 16  will feature three local speakers who will present on different topics: Father John Evans, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish; Jean Hill, the diocese’s government liaison and director of the Peace and Justice Commission;  and James Kerr, director of the Pregnancy Resource Center.

“We cover from moment of conception to the moment of natural death … so I tried to take issues from the day that are important and relevant to what is happening right now,” said Burchett, adding that they also wanted to incorporate the theme of mercy in all the topics.

The Ministry of Forgiveness: Project Rachel, Annulment, will be presented by Fr. Evans. 

Project Rachel is the Catholic Church’s ministry to those who have been involved in abortion.

“When I called Fr. Evans to ask him if he could present Project Rachel, he suggested that he would also like to include marriage and mercy in the annulment [process]. … Mercy is so important. Even in the best of marriages we have to show mercy to one another,” said Burchett.

Jean Hill will be presenting “Euthanasia Legislation and What We Can Do.”

A Utah legislator intends to propose a bill next year that “basically is assisted suicide,” Burchett said. “What better time, with the upcoming legislature happening and being in the Year of Mercy, to have Jean Hill come and talk about why we need to advocate for the dignity for life?” 

Catholics are called to advocate for those who are the most vulnerable, she added.

 James Kerr, director of the Pregnancy Resource Center, will be presenting “The Role of Crisis Pregnancy Centers.”

“He is going to talk about what they do – why it is important that we join together to assist those women that find themselves in difficult or problematic pregnancies, and why is important that we maintain a strong presence,” said Burchett, adding that  Catholics are not only using resources such as prayer, but also “we are using resources such as putting our faith in action.”

Burchett said that the pregnancy resource center helps women choose to continue to carry their child to full term rather than opt for an abortion; they also help women who have suffered an abortion find grace in their lives.

The Respect for the Dignity of Life in a Year of Mercy retreat is open to everyone. Burchett suggests people register before Jan. 13.

WHAT: Respect for the Dignity of Life retreat

WHEN: Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: St. Thomas More Parish, 3015 E. Creek Road, Sandy

COST:  $15 per person, continental breakfast included.

Register at https://www.dioslc.org/events/registration/step1?event=2263.