Every human life is a gift created in love, known by God, and worthy of dignity from conception until natural death. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Respect Life Ministry is a place for parishioners who feel called to protect that gift, not from a distance, but together, in community.
This isn’t just a cause. It’s a relationship:
Whether you’re just beginning to explore what it means to stand for life, or you’ve been passionate about it for years, there is a place for you here at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
We come together in three simple but powerful ways:
While OLBS Respect Life Ministry is active year-round, there are seasons when the whole parish leans in together:
These moments create natural on-ramps to get involved—but you’re always welcome, anytime.
There’s no single way to participate, just the way that fits you:
Some serve quietly. Some take visible roles. All make a difference.
Catholic Charities. We are the face of hope! Did you know that every 30 seconds someone comes to Catholic Charities in need of help? Established in 1917, Catholic Charities Chicago is one of the largest non-profit, social services agencies in the Midwest. They operate 153 programs from 150 locations across Cook and Lake Counties to help those most in need without regard to race, religion or background.
OLBS Good Samaritans. Once a month, parishioners from OLBS Good Samaritan Ministry bring and serve dinner for Catholic Charities guests in Des Plaines. Before March of 2020, the average attendance was between 50 and 60 guests. Over the course of the pandemic that attendance has continued to trend up. Thanks to your generous donations to the Poor Box, OLBS is currently helping to feed 150 guests per month. Discover more (scroll down to Good Samaritan Ministry).
TLC Pregnancy Services. Our support saves. TLC is a multi-service facility reaching out to the community with the love of Christ, bringing light to the darkness. They provide free medical, material, emotional & spiritual support to local women facing unplanned pregnancy situations. Financial and in-kind gifts have helped TLC not only keep its doors open during this challenging time, but expand to 3 locations and a mobile unit. They are reaching more women than ever.
Celebrate Life. A young woman and her two-year old son came into TLC's Schaumburg location. The little boy was very polite and you could tell he was very well cared for. His mom had just moved back to Illinois from another state and was living with a friend. Upon returning, she got together with her old boyfriend and became pregnant. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do. Not only was she now unexpectedly pregnant, but she had also learned her boyfriend got married after they got back together and then, a few weeks later, had been shot and killed. Read this young lady's complete story.
Illinois Right to Life. More than 10,000 lives saved, and they're just getting started! A non-profit using a grass-roots approach to creating a culture of life in Illinois through education, research, legislation and support to men and women in unplanned or crisis pregnancy situations. Project Love is a grant program of Illinois Right to Life, founded in 1996 by the late Mary Bliss to support women through unplanned or crisis pregnancies. Many grant recipients are facing eviction, large medical bills, or are about to have their heat or water shut off. Project Love extends a helping hand to those families in need.
Meet Tanya. Tanya worked as a caregiver for an elderly patient, but when she was seven months pregnant, she could no longer continue to work. Just before her baby was due, Tanya fell behind on paying her rent and was left with no money to buy food. With an empty fridge and bills piling up, Tanya called Illinois Right to Life for help. See how Project Love helped Tanya.
The Women's Center. Supporting the Women's Center can help provide answers...and hope as it has done for more than 63,000 clients over the past 30 years. Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be extremely stressful. Women may experience feelings of panic. Maybe they don’t have anyone to confide in or don’t know where to go for help. The Women’s Center is here for them and cares about the physical and emotional health of each one of its clients. Free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds and free supportive counseling.
Hannah B. says the person she spoke with was very good at listening. Read Hannah's and other's testimonials.
Project Rachel. After more than four decades of legalized abortion, many children’s lives have been ended, and many parents and family members suffer that loss—often in silence. Yet God’s greatest desire is to forgive. No matter how far we have strayed from His side, He says to us, “Don’t be afraid. Draw close to my heart.”
Meet Karen. She is 23 years old and finished college last year and landed the job of her dreams in graphic arts. The work is creative and challenging. Karen is pretty and has many friends so she is frequently included in the party circuit at work. She should be happy and excited. After all, her life is beginning just as she carefully planned it. But instead, she feels dead and dull inside. She keeps up with her job, but it doesn’t bring the joy she thought it would. She feels distant from its satisfactions. She doesn’t feel as creative as she once was, and doesn’t understand the dull distant sorrowing she feels despite her accomplishments. Karen had an abortion in college. Read Karen's full story.
Aid for Women. In the Chicago metropolitan area, one out of four pregnancies ends in abortion. Aid for Women helps thousands of women each year in the Chicago metropolitan area who find themselves facing unexpected pregnancy. Each woman is provided with the emotional, practical and spiritual support that she needs to choose life for her unborn baby and to provide a better future for her and her child. Their life-affirming services are offered free-of-charge.
Meet Janessa. She was 19 years old when she learned she was pregnant. She didn't have a support system to help her through this. Aid for Women moved Janessa into Heather's House where she found her support system in the other young mothers going through the same thing. She is currently enrolled in college, preparing a better life for herself and her baby. See Janessa's complete story.
OLBS Domestic Violence Awareness. Did you know that approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner? Domestic Violence Awareness Ministers help to bring attention to this important issue. Discover more (scroll down to Domestic Violence Awareness Ministry).
Because life is worth showing up for. Because your voice, your presence, your prayers matter.
Because you don’t have to care about this alone.
Come as you are. Grow at your own pace. Walk with others who believe that every life is a precious gift from God.
Get involved. Contact the parish office at (847) 979-0901 or sgoranson@archchicago.org to be connected with Respect Life Ministry.
Imagine meaningful opportunities to offer comfort, encouragement, healing, and hope to those in need.