The Friends of the Gospel of Life is an Association which takes its inspiration from the encyclical of Pope John Paul II Evangelium Vitae.

Its objectives are:

* the study of this encyclical at local level
* the organisation of a "day for life" in each parish each year.

In Evangelium Vitae Pope John Paul II proposed this "day for life" as follows:

"I propose that a "Day for Life" be celebrated each year in every country, as already established by some Episcopal Conferences......The celebration of this Day should be planned and carried out with the active participation of all sectors of the local Church. Its primary purpose would be to foster in individual consciences, in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition" (No. 85).

Here in Elphin the Association is formed on a Parish/Diocesan structure, and works in cooperation with Bishop Jones. It takes as its patroness Mary, Mother of the Church, and encourages each member to pray daily for the purposes of the Association.

If you would like to know more please contact:

Friends of the Gospel of Life,
St. Martin,
PO 310,
Sligo.
Tel / Fax: 071 9147453
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copies of Evangilium Vitae may be downloaded from the Vatican web site www.vatican.va or can be got as a Microsoft Word document, via e-mail from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it