St Albert the Great Catholic Church

Burbank, IL

Pro-Life Committee

Prayers for Life

“In His name you are also called to pray for an end to abortion in the United States and throughout the world. Roe versus Wade is incompatible with human dignity. It must not stand. It cannot stand. It will not stand.”
Cardinal Justin Rigali, homily at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. January 21, 2008

“Choose Life”

St. Albert the Great Pro-Life Committee was established in May 2004. We started with 4 people and now have 11 dedicated pro-lifers.

During this time we hold:

  • Pro – life Holy Hour – every Thursday at 7:30 PM -8:30 PM in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Adoration Chapel
  • Masses in Reparation for abortions
  • Fund raisers such as: Selling Mother’s Day flowers, Baby Bottle distribution, Selling Paczki’s

Our Pro-life committee went to Women Care Service a pregnancy crisis center that saved many babies every year.

If you want to become a Pro-Life member please contact our coordinator Bernadette Strezo at (708) 423-0321

Illinois Right to Life Action would like to thank for the unprecedented number of witness slips and calls in opposition to the two extreme abortion bils, HB 2495 and HB 2467. HB 2495 and HB 2467 were not heard at the scheduled hearing, instead they have been moved out of the Human Services Committee and into the Informed Consent Subcommittee. Please go to www.stophb2495.com

Prayer for Protection of Human Life at its Beginning

God our Father, you lovingly knit us in our mothers’ womb. Grant that each human embryo will be respected as a human being, and not dismissed as a product to be manipulated or destroyed. Grant us the courage and conviction to be your voice for our sisters and brothers at the very earliest stages of their development, and for all defenseless unborn children.

Jesus, Divine Healer, foster in those conducting medical research a commitment to finding cures in ways that respect these little ones and all your vulnerable children.

Holy Spirit, grant us the wisdom to develop morally sound treatments for conditions now thought to be incurable. Help us persevere in defending human life while alleviating suffering.

Show mercy to all who have cooperated in killing our tiniest brothers and sisters. Bring them and all who support destructive embryo research to true conversion. Grant them the ability to see the immeasurable dignity of all human beings even in the first days of life.

Father, we ask this in Jesus’ name, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Respect Life Sunday (PDF)

Project Rachel

A Journey of Hope and Healing for Those Suffering the Effects of Abortion

Project Rachel is a sensitive, private, free and confidential experience with a network of specially trained priests and caring people who understand the painful road back from abortion. It is open to Catholics and those of other faiths. View the Project Rachel Brochure.

How does Project Rachel work?

Project Rachel Ministry begins with a phone call to the Project Rachel hotline, 312.337.1962; or 1.888.456.HOPE. A compassionate counselor takes the call, guiding the woman or man suffering from abortion through the initial steps on the road to healing.

The church, through its sacramental life, offers those who have been traumatized by abortion a powerful way to encounter the healing and reconciling love of God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and especially the Eucharist. By meeting with a priest or counselor, those seeking healing will prepare for Reconciliation. Forgiveness in the Catholic tradition is not forgetting what happened, or simply relief from guilt or punishment. Forgiveness means being restored by the God who knows and cares, and being transformed in the heart and created anew.

Although the journey of forgiveness can be painful and frightening, each step that you make toward home is ever more freeing and life-giving. Forgiveness for the parents of an aborted child will take place with God, with others who were part of the decision, with the child and finally with oneself.

Let the Healing Begin…

To find out how you can give of your time to this powerful, vital ministry, please contact Margie Manczko Breen at the Respect Life Office, 312.534.5355.

“Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord; Cease your cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is hope for your future.” ~Jeremiah 31:15-17

Our Mission

In conjunction with the Archdioceses of Chicago’s Respect Life office, our mission is to transform society into a Culture of Life where every human being is valued and protected from the moment of conception until natural death. We seek to convert hearts and minds on all life issues.

Abortion: “The right to life does not depend, and must be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign”
– Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Post-abortion aftermath: “I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion … do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope … The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”
– John Paul II

Charity: “Charity presupposes respect for the rights of the person, in particular the right to receive information and an education that respect the moral and spiritual dimensions of human life.”
– Catechism of the Catholic Church

Capital Punishment: “The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life … A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who had done great evil.”
– John Paul II

Artificial contraception: “Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward the begetting and educating of children. Children are reallt the supreme gift of marriage and contribute very substantially to the welfare of their parents”
– Second Vatican Council

Euthanasia: “…suffering, especially suffering in the last moments of life, has a special place in God’s saving plan; it is in fact a sharing in Christ’s passion and a union with the redeeming sacrifice which He offered in obedience to the Father’s will.”
– Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Embryonic stem cell research and Human cloning: “No objective, even though noble in itself, such as a foreseeable advantage to science, to other human beings, or to society, can in any way justify experimentation on living human embryos or fetuses, whether viable or not, either inside or outside the mother’s body.”
– Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Vaccines developed from the tissue of aborted babies: “By his reason, man recognizes the voice of God, which urges him to do what is right and avoid what is evil”
– Catechism of the Catholic Church

Catholic Teaching

Printable Resources

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