Day for Life 2008

26 June 2008

Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to celebrating the sacredness of life.  This year it will focus on the theme of mental health. It will help raise awareness of the needs of those affected by mental ill-health, their friends, their family and their carers, and the support that the parish community can bring.  It is celebrated on Sunday 6 July.

Mental ill-health can happen to anyone - one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some stage in their life.    Millions of people across Britain and Ireland are either living with or know someone close to them who has been affected by depression, schizophrenia, suicide, self-harm, bereavement, substance misuse or mental health difficulties at some stage in their lives.

Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, has sent the following message of encouragement to the organisers and to all involved in the celebration of Day for Life 2008.  He said, “The Pontifical Academy for Life welcomes the theme chosen by the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales for Day for Life this year.

“Mental health problems touch the lives of so many people - those who suffer need our understanding and our acceptance. Day for Life 2008 will help raise awareness of the needs of those affected, their friends, family and carers and offer the support that the parish community can bring.”

Day for Life was initiated by the late Pope John Paul II, to encourage the Catholic Church worldwide to celebrate the sanctity of life. In Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales, the Bishops' Conferences work closely together each year. For 2008, they have chosen ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit’ as the theme.

More details and top quality resources from the beautifully designed Day for Life website.