In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month. To support this annual observance, the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities provides materials to help Catholics understand and value the gift of human life and help build a culture that cherishes and protects it. These resources may be downloaded, printed, and reproduced for use in your parish, school, or ministry:
https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month
See the October Word of Life Newsletter for pulpit announcements, prayers of the faithful, and bulletin quotes. See the “Respect Life Month” section of the Shared Publicity Folder: https://bit.ly/oct2026sharedoy
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Any Weekend in October
Celebrate Respect Life Month
Join Catholics nationwide in celebrating Respect Life Month! We consider more deeply why every human life is valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death. Learn more at respectlife.org/celebrate
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October 3/4:
Today is Respect Life Sunday!
Today is Respect Life Sunday, which kicks off Respect Life Month. We consider more deeply why every human life is valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death. See respectlife.org/celebrate
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October 10/11:
Respecting the End of Life
During Respect Life Month, we affirm that every human life is valuable until natural death. When family members or friends approach life’s end, here are some concrete ways we can compassionately care for them: usccb.org/end-of-life-care
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October 17/18:
Respect Life Month Novena
Join thousands of Catholics praying a Respect Life Month novena Thursday, October 22 – Friday, October 30. Get daily prayers, reflections, and more. Sign up at respectlife.org/celebrate
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October 24/25:
Subscribe to Respect Life Prayer & Action
During Respect Life Month, you can sign up for year-round emails or texts about Respect Life Prayer & Action. You will receive prayers, action alerts to contact Congress and government leaders, ways to strengthen a culture of life in your community, and more! respectlife.org/prayer-and-action
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October 31/November 1:
Pray for a Culture of Life in Ohio
Join the Catholic Conference of Ohio for a monthly Zoom event to pray the Divine Office, delve into Church teaching on important Respect Life issues, and learn how you can get involved! The next meeting is November 6 at 11-11:45 AM. Sign up at ohiocathconf.org
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MASS & MARCH FOR LIFE
Join Archbishop Casey of Cincinnati, Bishop Fernandes of Columbus, and Bishop Thomas of Toledo as they celebrate the Mass for Life at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Columbus.
Friday, October 2, 9:00 am, St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus
Promotional materials, including bulletin covers, ads, newsletter copy, and a social media post image are available for download from the OH Mass for Life Google Drive.
Due to limited space, register for the Mass at https://columbuscatholic.org/ohio-mass-march-for-life/
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The Ohio March for Life will follow Mass at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
10:00 a.m. Pre-Rally Concert
11:00 a.m. Rally
12:00 p.m. March
Details, RSVP and download promo resources at https://marchforlife.org/ohio/
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10:45 a.m. Diocese of Youngstown Photo on October 2, 2026
People of all types and from all over Ohio will join together at the March for Life. Catholics from the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown are invited to join Meagen Farrell for a photo at 10:45 a.m. near the Peace Statue on E Broad St (Google Maps Street View). This will (hopefully) get us back to the Rally for Archbishop Casey’s opening prayer at 11:00 a.m. Just show up, or contact me in advance at mfarrell@youngstowndiocese.org. I’ll be wearing a polo or jacket with the Diocese of Youngstown logo on it (depending on the weather!).
The Office of Peace and Justice, Diocese of Youngstown
Contact: Meagen Farrell, CRS Diocesan Director at 330-744-8451, or mfarrell@youngstowndiocese.org
