Culture of Life Committee
A year ago, a group of teachers and
administrators from within the secondary schools and the board in
conjunction with the Diocesan Office of Family Ministry came together
to form a Culture of Life Committee. The committee has been working
over the past year to discuss and devise a series of initiatives
aimed at furthering the promotion of reverence for human life among
Secondary School students and staff within the HWCDSB. The Committee
plans to further the Culture of Life within the high schools by
supporting and enhancing the education of students and staff about
pro-life issues, especially those issues surrounding the beginning
and end of life, in particular abortion and euthanasia.
Already this year many students and staff
from Cardinal Newman, along with students from the other Hamilton
Catholic high schools have participated in a number of activities
where they have given witness to their baptismal call to respect the
sacredness of all human life. These activities included a Culture of
Life Leadership Conference at Mt. Mary Retreat Center in Ancaster in
February where students attended workshops over the course of two
days on issues such as abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia,
embryonic stem cell research, and culture and the media. In May,
Cardinal Newman students accompanied teachers and students from each
of the other HWCDSB high schools to Ottawa to participate in the 9th
Annual March for Life Rally and Campaign Life Youth Conference. The
Cardinal Newman school community also raised $1800 for the expansion
of the facilities and services of St. Martin’s Manor, a
resource centre here in Hamilton which provides much needed support
for teenage parents and their babies.
Encouraged by the success of this
year’s activities, we here at CN and those on the Culture of
Life board committee are looking forward to building on the progress
which has been made this year. Plans are already underway for next
year’s Culture of Life events. In September, CN will inaugurate
a Culture of Life Student Group. All those students who are
interested in learning about how they can continue to build a
culture of life within our community and who would also like to
attend next year’s annual March for Life in Ottawa are welcome.
Any parents who have any questions regarding the Culture of Life
Committee’s work or who would like to lend their assistance are
invited to call Mrs. Bolger at the school.
Many thanks to those students, staff and
parents who have supported and strengthened the Culture of Life
cause.
E. Bolger (Religion Teacher, Culture of
Life Committee Member)