Who We Are

Vision: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has set the following vision for life and family evangelization ministries in the Church:

• “Human life is a precious gift from God. Each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, self, and others. Society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence” (USCCB, Pastoral Plan for Pro– Life Activities, 2021).
• “God’s plan for marriage and family life corresponds to the deepest desires of men and women for lasting happiness and true joy. As sons and daughters of God, we are made for love, for God is love. The family, whose mission is ‘to guard, reveal and communicate love,’ is the common place where God’s love is first experienced and the joy of love is made present” (USCCB, Called to the Joy of Love, 2021).

In moving toward this vision, the Life and Family Evangelization Office (LiFE Office) of the Diocese of Rockford, under the guidance and direction of the Bishop of Rockford, bases its activities on the USCCB document, Pastoral Plan for Pro–Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life (PPPLA, 2001), and certain portions of the USCCB document, Called to the Joy of Love: National Pastoral Framework for Marriage and Family Life Ministry (CJL, 2001).

Goals:

1.) The LiFE Office, under the guidance and direction of the Bishop of Rockford, works to educate, encourage, and engage people to respect all human life at every stage of existence and to organize for its protection by:

• a.) Providing for Diocesan–wide Prayer
• b.) Building a Pro–Life Parish Network and Providing Parish Resources
• c.) Informing and Educating Catholics and the Public and Coordinating
  Diocesan Public Policy Efforts
• d.) Providing Pastoral Care Resources, including but not limited to Project Rachel
  ministry, training for sidewalk advocacy, direction and support of Walking
  with Moms in Need ministries, and relationships with pregnancy care centers.

2.) The LiFE Office, under the guidance and direction of the Bishop of Rockford, works to educate, encourage, and engage families to respond to God’s call to proclaim the Gospel of the family, the joy of love, and lead themselves and others to God’s love and mercy by:

• a.) Providing for Diocesan–wide Prayer
• b.) Building a Pro–Family Parish Network and Providing Parish Resources
• c.) Informing and Educating Catholics and the Public and Coordinating Diocesan Public Policy Efforts
• d.) Providing Family Pastoral Care Resources

3.) The Life and Family Evangelization Office of the Rockford Diocese, under the guidance and direction of the Bishop of Rockford, works to collaborate with the following organizations that share its vision and mission:

• a.) Holy See; USCCB; Catholic dioceses; Illinois Catholic Conference; offices of Rockford Diocese; priests, deacons, religious, lay persons of diocese
• b.) Catholic national/regional organizations, including National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers
• c.) Entities in the Department of Pastoral Services
• d.) Interreligious consultation and dialogue.