Contact: Leslie Palma, Priests for Life, 347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Oct. 11, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- As the Church begins her observance of the Year of Faith today, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, announced initiatives to take place this year that will highlight the integral connections between the faith and the commitment to the pro-life cause.

In a statement released today, Fr. Pavone stated, "In his encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life, 1995), Blessed John Paul II reminded us, 'The Gospel of God's love for man, the Gospel of the dignity of the person and the Gospel of life are a single and indivisible Gospel' (EV, 2). Therefore, as the Church calls her children to embrace and proclaim with new vigor and joy the Gospel of Christ, this is at the same time a call to witness to, and to build, a Culture of Life."

The pastoral team of Priests for Life, which leads a worldwide family of interrelated ministries including Rachel's Vineyard and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, as well as the African-American outreach led by Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., will carry out a number of catechetical and other efforts to highlight the theme of the connection between faith and pro-life.

As part of the observance, Priests for Life will lead a pilgrimage to Rome from June 10-17, 2013 in order to take part in a celebration on June 16 with the Holy Father in Saint Peter's Square focused on the sanctity of life. The event is among the official items on the calendar for the Year of Faith released by the Vatican.

Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.