Brief Overview of St. Joseph Catholic Church Respect Life Activities
40 Days for Life Program – The program runs both in the Spring and in the Fall.  St. Joseph’s participates by trying to encourage parishioners to pray before an abortion clinic to help end abortion.  Other denominations participate in this as well.  The purpose is to cover the abortion clinics with prayer for 40 days.  We distribute flyers and have a sign-up table usually for 2 weeks prior to our scheduled time. 
 
Gabriel Project Arlington – St. Joseph Catholic Church is part of Gabriel Project whereby volunteers and other parishioners participate in helping a pregnant mom (married or single) with her material, spiritual and physical needs through her pregnancy and often after delivery of the child.  An “angel” is assigned to the woman who will offer assistance and support, especially answering questions or providing spiritual resources and/or support.  We usually advertise the needs of a new Gabriel mom in the church bulletins and collect whatever is donated. 

Diocesan Pro-Life Advent Program entitled “Gift of Life” which benefits both the Gabriel Project and Project Rachel Ministries.  We set up a table in church foyer, with a small lighted Christmas Tree and attach pre-addressed envelopes to Gabriel Project at the Arlington diocesan office.   Enclosed in the envelopes is a card listing suggested donations toward services provided by the Diocese.   Checks are to be made payable to “Gabriel Project/Project Rachel”  for helping mothers with Medical Bills, and maternity needs (Gabriel Project) or to Project Rachel which ministers to post-abortive women.  This display is set up sometime in early Advent and runs for 2 weeks.  The people take an envelope from the Gift of Life Tree, and mail in their donations.