New Pro-Life Ministry Office Opens

October 12, 2000. Meriden, Connecticut.

The Franciscan Life Center of Meriden, CT has opened an office to assist the Archdiocese of Hartford in its pro-life ministry. The new office will be known as Pro-Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford at the Franciscan Life Center.

Sister Suzanne Gross, FSE, M.P.A., will coordinate the ministry and work under the direction of Reverend James J. Cronin, Director of Pro-Life Activities for the Archdiocese.

The Pro-Life Ministry has four areas of focus:

• Education. Raising consciousness of the sacredness of human life and the societal and personal effects of pro-life values.

• Pastoral concerns. Meeting the pastoral needs related to human life issues in the 215 parishes of the Archdiocese through a network of persons.

• Advocacy. Promoting laws that protect life.

• Prayer. Placing all pro-life concerns in relationship with God from Whom the gift of life comes.

Sister Suzanne Gross has been active in the Franciscan Life Center's mission to foster respect for human life in every phase of development since the Center's founding in 1974. She has spearheaded numerous seminars and presentations on Humanae Vitae in Connecticut and throughout the United States and Canada. She has led a team of lay and religious professionals and married couples in presenting the Catholic Church's teaching on human life and sexuality to hundreds of persons over the past 26 years.

The new Pro-Life Ministry staff also includes Mrs. Janice Hunter of Cheshire, CT, and Mrs. Mary Lou Peters of Windsor, CT, as well as several volunteers. Sister Suzanne looks forward to the challenges presented by this ministry and is committed to "carry out with vigor this critical and vital mission for the Church." Sister is also the Administrator of Franciscan Home Care and Franciscan Hospice Care.

For more information, call Pro-Life Ministry at 203-639-0833.