DYER, Indiana - More than 500 students from Catholic schools across Northwest Indiana and Chicago's South Suburbs gathered at Franciscan Health Dyer Wednesday morning for the 32nd annual Respect Life Celebration.

The event, co-hosted by Franciscan Health and the Diocese of Gary during Respect Life Month, aims to celebrate all life at all stages with an emphasis on individual life, with the goal of drawing attention to the lives lost to abortion. The theme for this year's Respect Life Month is "Life, Our Sign of Hope."

The Very Rev. Christopher M. Stanish, vicar general/moderator of the curia/chancellor of the Diocese of Gary, presided over the prayer service. Fr. Stanish said, "Life itself is God's greatest sign of hope."

"Small actions rooted in hope, that's what can save lives," he said. "Maybe it's standing up for someone who is being left out. Maybe it's joining a diaper drive. Maybe it's writing a note to someone who is hurting, or maybe it's just reminding a friend that their life has meaning. These acts may seem small, but God can make them grow into something huge."

Sister Josetta Rose, director of mission services for Franciscan Health Dyer-Munster, encouraged the young people in attendance to see God's love in their own lives.

"Each one of you exists because God wants you to exist," she said. "Let God reveal your dignity that you may see more clearly the dignity of others around you."

Speakers encouraged students to respect life at all stages.

"Celebrate the right to life of every person, whether they're very young in a mother's womb during her pregnancy, whether they're very old approaching the end of this life or whether they're at any stage in between," said the Rev. Richard Holy, pastor of St. Edward Parish in Lowell and coordinator of pro-life activities for the Diocese of Gary.

As part of the event, students in attendance placed crosses on the lawn of the hospital at 24 Joliet Street, just east of the Indiana/Illinois border on U.S. 30 in Dyer, to represent lives lost to abortion.

"Brothers and sisters, my young friends, as members of Catholic parishes and schools in our Diocese of Gary, we are doing so much to help moms who find themselves needing love and care during their pregnancy so that they can keep their babies," Fr. Holy said.

He referenced programs to assist pregnant women in need, including the Franciscan Prenatal Assistance Program, Diaper Pantries, the Diocese of Gary's Project Rachel ministry, the national Walking with Moms in Need initiative, Safe Haven baby boxes, and others. More information on the Franciscan programs is available by calling 1-877-PRE-NATL (1-877-773-6285). More information on Building a Culture of Life is available on the diocesan website at https://dcgary.org/culture-of-life. 

The event included Catholic school students from Andrean High School in Merrillville, Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Marquette High School in Michigan City, Notre Dame Catholic School in Michigan City, Our Lady of Grace School in Highland, St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Whiting, St. John the Evangelist School in St. John, St. Mary in Crown Point, St. Mary Catholic Community School in Griffith, St. Michael Catholic School in Schererville, St. Stanislaus Elementary School in East Chicago, St. Stanislaus Kostka in Michigan City, Queen of All Saints Catholic School in Michigan City and the St. Francis Center at Franciscan Health Dyer.

This year marked the 32nd anniversary of the first Respect Life Celebration.



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