5TH JANUARY 2012

-Diocesan Family Service Centre,
building happy, healthy and holy families since 1976

As we go along in our daily life, glance through the newspapers or view the various soap operas/TV serials, we find that respect for life is on the decline. The culture of death is promoted without considering its consequences. Killing of the Unborn and disregard for life is on the rise. There are more abortions than the number of deaths worldwide.
• WORLDWIDE (2008): Approximately 42 Million, i.e. approximately 115,000 per day, 3 every 2 secs.
• INDIA (2008) (TOI): 6.41 lakh abortions, i.e. 12/minute or 1/5secs. Daily 150,000 unborn children are slaughtered.
• In GOA (2008): 930 abortions i.e. 1/10hours.

And these are only official figures!
Some Consequences of Abortion
• Increase is breast cancer: 90% breast cancer is linked to abortion
• Placenta previa: loss of uterus in about 50% of induced abortion;
• Pre-term birth of subsequent conception;
• Maternal suicide : suicide rate after abortion is about 34.7% i.e. six times greater than suicides after full term pregnancy;
• Children born to mothers who already had abortion, experience variety of emotional and behaviour problems.
 

Some More Facts to ponder
• Increase in the number of consumption of emergency contraception tablets/abortion tablets
• Less Respect for Women/Aged.
• Increase in pre-marital sexual behaviour
• Coercive control by governments over number of children per family
• Loss of Respect for life on the Road… etc…
Hence, awakening the community is the need of the hour.
In his Pastoral letter 2011-12, Our Pastor, Archbishop Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrão, has invited us to reflect on nature and human life. The patron of our Archdiocese, Blessed Joseph Vaz, is an exemplary model, who dedicated himself to serve life and God. The Diocesan Family Service Centre (DFSC), are encouraged to actualize the call of our Pastor through our Pro-life Department.
Noting the urgency, the Diocesan Family Service Centre, for the first time in Goa, is organizing a Pro-life Rally, “March for Life”, on the 5th of January 2012, with the theme: “Jivit Devachem Dennem: Rakhum-ia”. Around 700 students from ABE Higher Secondary Schools of Chinchinim, Margao and Verna Deaneries will be participating in the same. The programme is as follows:
8.30 am : The students meet at Holy Spirit Church Grounds
9.00 am : “March for Life” commences from Holy Spirit Grounds to Fatorda    Church Hall (via old market-SPDA market- Fatorda Stadium-Fatorda Market).
10.30 am : Eucharistic Celebration presided by Rev. Dr. José Remedios Fernandes, Vicar General of our Archdiocese.
11.30 am to 1pm : Programme by various Higher Secondaries
We extend a cordial invitation to all the Clergy to participate in the programme of the day. Please confirm your participation via email (dfscgoa@gmail.com) or calling 2224140, so as to make the necessary arrangements.
We also request all the Clergy to concentise their parishioners about the Culture of Life and pray with them for the success of this “March for Life”.