Respecting Life from Conception until Natural Death
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Rev. Theodore J. Mens, Director 525 N. Broad Street Griffith, Indiana 46319 Telephone: 219-924-4163 FAX: 219-922-2291 E-Mail: stmarygriffith@comcast.net |
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized abortion. The Office of Pro-Life Activities for the Diocese of Gary, Indiana has implemented a pastoral plan for pro-life activities, a campaign in support of life, and is supported by the U.S. Catholic Bishops.
Ordained a priest in May of 1967, Rev. Theodore J. Mens has been the Director of Pro-Life Activities since 1973 and pastor of St. Mary Church in Griffith since 1993.
The program consists of:
I. Public Information and Education - includes the Catholic Community and the general public.
II. Pastoral Care - includes pregnancy services, post-abortion healing and reconciliation; care for those who are chronically ill, disabled or dying; care for prisoners, those on death row; and victims of violent crime.
III. Public Policy Program - includes laws less than perfect; working with the Indiana Catholic Conference.
IV. Prayer and Worship
Implementing the program with the help of the following:
Education in:
Websites (these links will open in a separate window/tab):
Recent information (these links will open in a separate window/tab):
Read the May 29, 2010 article "New foundation will fund pro-life activities: James Purcell family establishes charitable organization" at the Times newspaper website: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/article_a8a8f3e9-6b89-55d2-b3d5-bbfdab1fa2fb.html
Rev. Theodore J. Mens, Director of Pro-Life Activities for the Diocese of Gary, Indiana dedicates the Gabriel Project sign on the property of St. Mary Church in Griffith. The Gabriel Project helps women in crisis pregnancies, and their 24 hour toll free hot line is 877-734-2444.
Pro-Life Pictures
The Office of Pro-Life Activities for the Diocese of Gary attended the March for Life in Washington D.C. on January 22, 2014. Fifty people, including 31 8th graders from St. Mary School also took part in the March. They withstood 10 degree temperatures, 25 miles an hour winds, and marched on Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court, being a voice for the unborn babies that are aborted every year, 55 million since 1973. The group attended the Archdiocese of Washington Youth Rally and Mass the morning of the March with 10,000 other youth from across the country, and the pro-life vigil Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the eve of the March. The students also visited other attractions while in Washington including the White House, Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, and Arlington Cemetery where the students had the honor of placing the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witnessed the changing of the guard.
On January 25, 2013, Father Mens, Pro-Life Director for the Diocese of Gary, students and parents from St. Mary School and students from Bishop Noll Institute were among the estimated 500,000 people to take part in the 40th Annual March for Life in Washington DC. Braving 27 degree weather and blowing snow, the group were the voice of the 55 million babies that have been aborted since 1973 and the 4,000 babies that are aborted daily.
It was cold. It was rainy and they stood in mud but that didn't stop 53 people representing the Diocese of Gary at the 39th annual March for Life in Washington D.C. on Monday, January 23, 2012. Estimated crowds of 300,000 marched on Capitol Hill in peaceful, prayerful protest against abortion urging legislators to reverse Roe vs. Wade which allows abortion to be legal. Rev. Theodore Mens, Pro-Life director for the Diocese and members from St. Mary Church in Griffith, including St. Mary 8th graders, members of St. Patrick's Church in Chesterton and others from across NW Indiana also met with Senator Richard Lugar, the Chief of Staff of Senator Dan Coats, and Representative Pete Visclosky after the March in their offices near the Capitol. The group also attended the Archdiocese of Washington Youth Rally and Mass the morning of the March with approximately 10,000 others at the D.C. Armory.
The Diocese of Gary Indiana, led by pro-life director Rev. Theodore J. Mens, was well represented at the 38th annual March For Life on January 24, 2011 in Washington D.C. 46 people, including St. Mary School students and their parents, were in Washington standing as a voice for the unborn on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision making abortion legal in the United States. The group attended the Youth Rally and Mass sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington the morning of the March along with 10,000 other people. After the March, the group met with Senator Dan Coats and a prayer was said with Representative Pete Visclosky. Students stopped at the White House among other sights like Arlington Cemetery, the War Memorials, and Smithsonian Institute.
Led by Reverend Theodore Mens, 105 people including chaperones and eighth graders from St. Mary School in Griffith as well as 54 Knights of Columbus representatives from across Indiana left on January 20 to participate in the 37th annual March for Life in Washington, D. C. on January 22, 2010. While there, we also met with Congressmen Pete Visclosky (Indiana's First Congressional District) and Joe Donnelly (Indiana's Second Congressional District).
54 people including chaperones and 17 eighth graders from St. Mary School in Griffith attended the 36th annual March for Life in Washington, D. C. on January 22, 2009. We marched with 225,000 other people, and the teens also met with Senator Richard Lugar and Representative Joe Donnelly.
Led by Reverend Theodore Mens, the Pro-Life Director for the Diocese of Gary and Pastor of St. Mary Church, 57 people from across the Diocese and the 8th grade class fron St. Mary School in Griffith attended the 35th Annual March for Life in Washington DC. On January 22, 2008, the day 35 years ago that the Supreme Court ruled abortion as legal, this group marched with about 200,000 other people on Capitol Hill with the hopes of some day overturning the Roe vs. Wade decision. The group met with Representative Pete Visclosky on the steps of the Capitol. For some it was their first airplane ride.
