Pictures from our Annual Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee Dinner. Our thanks to the photographer, Mr. James O'Connell.
Dr. JOEL BRIND, an American scientist who identified a link between abortion and breast cancer, to Speak at Annual Respect Life Dinner of Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee, Fri. Oct. 20th.
Contact: Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, Moderator-Spiritual Director, at (845) 514-3703 or ulsterrespectlifedeanerycmte@gmail.com
Plattekill, New York - October 17th, 2023 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
The endocrinologist and Baruch College professor Joel L. Brind, Ph.D. will be the guest speaker at the annual Respect Life Dinner of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee on Friday, October 20th at 7 p.m. at the Turtle Creek Golf Course, 219 Plattekill Ardonia Road, Plattekill, New York. Dr. Brind is a leading exponent of the hypothesis that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer. In this vein, he has strongly opposed the legalization of Mifepristone (a.k.a. RU-486), which is used in chemical abortions, including before the Food and Drug Administration in 1996 and the women's group Concerned Women for America in 2000. "As our Annual Respect Life Dinner is the premiere social event of the Catholic pro-life movement in Ulster County, our camaraderie will be edified by the remarks of this brave scientist, Dr. Joel Brind," stated Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, Moderator and Spiritual Director of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee.
In addition, our Committee is honoring veteran local pro-life activists Nancy A. Lancer (Kingston) and Barbara A. McCabe (Port Ewen) for their decades of grassroots involvement in the pro-life movement in Ulster County and the Hudson Valley. The annual dinner is drawing pro-life activists and supporters from Catholic parishes and groups throughout Ulster County as well as allies from the Bruderhof Communities and elsewhere. Although no sales of tickets will be made at the door, members of the press and media are welcome to cover the Annual Respect Life Dinner and the preceding Annual Respect Life Mass at the nearby Our Lady of Fatima Church, 1250 Plattekill Turnpike, Plattekill.
The annual Respect Life Dinner will follow the annual Respect Life Mass of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee, which is part of the longstanding annual practice of the Committee. The Mass will start at 5:30 p.m. and feature as main celebrant, Fr. Rojas, who is pastor of Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish at Port Ewen and Esopus New York (www.presentationsacredheart.org) as well as Moderator and Spiritual Director of the U.D.R.L.C. "We look forward to the concelebration of brother priests and deacons from Ulster County as well as the prayerful presence of Catholic and other pro-lifers of good will," announced Fr. Rojas. This is the first time that Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Fr. Omachi M. Arome, Pastor) has hosted the event as the Committee is seeking to expand its presence throughout Ulster County. No reservations are required for anyone of pro-life good will to attend the Mass and the press is welcome to cover the event.
"Faithful to the Magisterium (i.e. teaching on faith and morals) and the social doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee coordinates the prayerful and practical efforts of Catholics at Ulster County, New York towards the cultural, legal, and social respect of human life from conception until natural death." (from the Committee's website, http://www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org)
Respect Life Sunday: Life Chain at Presentation-Sacred Heart Church in Ulster County from The Good Newsroom on Vimeo.
On Sunday, October 1st—which was designated Respect Life Sunday by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops—approximately 200 persons participated in peaceful, prayerful Life Chains at several parishes throughout Ulster County, New York.
The Good Newsroom caught up with Father Arthur Rojas,Moderator of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee and pastor at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church at Port Ewen and Sacred Heart Church in Esopus, where two dozen parishioners stood in support of life.
See our report in the video above.
PRAYERFUL PRO-LIFE WITNESS
IN ULSTER COUNTY
Prayer Life Chains
on Respect Life Sunday, Oct. 1
On Sunday, October 1st, which was designated Respect Life Sunday by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, approximately 200 persons participated in peaceful, prayerful Life Chains at several parishes throughout Ulster County, New York. These numbers are supplemented by an additional Life Chain hosted by a local Bruderhof community at Ulster Park. .
One Life Chain, the one at Sacred Heart Church at Esopus, was filmed by The Good Newsroom, the successor of "Catholic New York," the news outlet of the Archdiocese of New York. "We thank God for a sunny day so that throughout our county, drivers and pedestrians may be reminded positively and prayerfully of the worth of every human being, whether preborn, disabled, or bed-ridden.," stated Fr. Arthur Rojas, Moderator of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee, who participated in the Life Chains at Port Ewen and Esopus.
Enjoy the following pictures from a number of our Life Chains throughout Ulster County!
Sunday, October 1st, 2023 - Respect Life Sunday - Ulster County will host the following Life Chains:
Our Lady of Fatima, Plattekill. 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - In front of the church along State Route 32.
Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish, 2 - 3 p.m. - At Port Ewen, along Broadway where Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union is located.
At Esopus, in front of Sacred Heart Church, 1055 Broadway (Route 9W).
St. Mary St. Peter, Kingston. 10:30 a.m. - 12 noon. - Along Broadway in front of St. Mary's Church.
St. Augustine, Highland. 1 - 3 p.m. - Meet in front of Hannaford's supermarket along Route 9W.
St. Catherine Laboure-St. Colman, Lake Katrine and East Kingston. 2 - 3 p.m. - Meet at parking lot of Mavis Tire at 1199 Ulster Avenue, Lake Kingston.
St. Joseph's Church in Kingston. 12:20 - 1:30 p.m. - Meet in front of the church, 242 Wall Street, Kingston.
St. Mary-St. Andrew's Parish, Ellenville. - Ellenville: Along route 209 in front of St. Mary-St. Andrew's Church, 137 South Main Street, Ellenville. 1 - 3 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes mission. 6078 Route 209 in Kerhonkson. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Our booth at the Ellenville Blueberry Festival!
08/12/23 - 9AM to 4PM
Once again...Almighty God blessed us with a beautiful day and a busy street in lovely Ellenville, NY. Thanks be to God.
“ASSEMBLYMAN BRIAN MAHER VISITS OUR OUTREACH BOOTH AT BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL AT ELLENVILLE” Aug. 12, 2023 (Ellenville, N.Y.) At the annual Blueberry Festival celebrated in downtown Ellenville, N.Y.S. Assemblyman Brian Maher, who represents southwestern Ulster County, stopped by our outreach booth amicably with two of his children. “In his first term in the Legislature, we have been pleased by Mr. Maher’s growing prolife consciousness not only at Albany but also locally,” observed Fr. Arthur Rojas, moderator and spiritual director of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee. This is the second consecutive year that the Committee has reached out to Ulster residents and visitors at the Blueberry Festival at Ellenville, which is celebrated in August. We are grateful to Dcn. John Carr and his team of volunteers as well as the cooperation of St. Mary-St. Andrew’s Church at Ellenville (Fr. Kenneth Riello, Pastor) for making this outreach possible. Thanks to Ms. Catherine Parrinello for the photo. For more information about our Committee, kindly contact Fr. Rojas at 845/331-0053 or ulsterrespectlifedeanerycmte@gmail.com
First Anniversary of Dobbs Decision - June 24th!
Let us thank God for this momentous decision!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You!
On June 24, 2022, which last year was the date of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the United States Supreme Court blessedly overruled “Roe v. Wade” (1973) and returned the issue of abortion to the states via the “Dobbs v. Jackson” ruling. While the decision did not go as far as we would have preferred, nevertheless “Dobbs” was a major advance for protecting preborn children.
The Medical Aid in Dying Act, bill A.995/S.2445 (The Assisted Suicide bill) has reached its end...defeated by the closing of the legislative session! Thanks be to God! To God the glory! Many thanks to our clergy, parishioners and allies for their prayers, lobbying and cooperation. We will resolve to be vigilant when, next year, the pro-euthanasia forces will try again. God Bless You All!
05/21/23 - BILLBOARD VANDALIZED AGAIN! THREE TIMES!
Dear friends in Christ, our message is being seen and heard. These tactics will not stop us. We will not be stopped. We pray for the conversion of the people who are vandalizing a message of life and of hope...that they will come to see that human life is sacred and that its dignity should be protected and not snuffed out.
ULSTER DEANERY RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE,
Port Ewen-Esopus, New York
www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org
PRESS RELEASE (for Immediate Release)
INTOLERANCE FLARES IN ESOPUS AS PRO-LIFE BILLBOARD OF THE ULSTER DEANERY RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE ON ROUTE 9W IS VANDALIZED AGAIN
Nov. 14, 2022 (Esopus, New York) - In the wake of an emotionally charged period of elections, a grim discovery was made on the afternoon of November 14 of deplatforming the peaceful expression of free speech and a pro-life message via the vandalism and destruction of a pro-life billboard placed on the southbound side of Route 9W at Esopus. The picture of the tattered remains of the billboard along with pro-abortion graffiti is attached.
Fr. Arthur Rojas, the Moderator and Spiritual Director of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee, which coordinates efforts by local Catholics and allies for the pro-life cause in Ulster County (www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org), made the discovery as he drove northbound on Route 9W this afternoon. Upon seeing the tattered, wretched remains of the pro-life poster on the billboard, at once he went over to take pictures of the scene and to contact the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, which sent a deputy to meet Fr. Rojas and to commence the investigation.
"This is the second incident of attempted intimidation and silencing of the local pro-life voice in Esopus," stated Fr. Rojas. He added, "We are grateful for the professionalism shown by the Ulster County Sheriff's Office as we seek a thorough investigation into the matter, which itself casts a shadow on freedom of expression and democratic debate in our community."
As with the first incident of vandalism in June 2022, the Moderator of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee promised that the Committee would not flinch from renewing the poster on the billboard as part of the Committee's peaceful, prayerful, and persistent pro-life advocacy. "We are neither intimidated nor we will be silenced. This attack demonstrates that our billboard is touching consciences and raising awareness. The pro-life billboard is exactly where it should be and it will stay there.," declared Fr. Rojas.
The Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee is composed of affiliates from various Catholic parishes and groups in Ulster County. The Committee is also working with the local Bruderhof on pro-life issues of mutual concord.
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* Below is a link of the article on the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee and the billboard incident on page 22 of the latest issue of “Catholic New York”.*
Pro-Life Billboards Vandalized in Esopus.
* Below is a link to an article on the billboard incident in the Kingston Daily Freeman.*
* Below is a link to the most recent article, 11/17/22, on the billboard vandalismincident in the Kingston Daily Freeman.*
/ulster-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-vandalism-at-anti-abortion-billboard-in-esopus/
October 21st, 2022
Ulster Deanery respect Life Dinner
October 2nd, 2022
Life Chains Throughout Ulster County
Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee © All rights reserved © 05/19/2022