Exemplary Pro-Lifers To be Honored

Details: 14 October 2011

The Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro Life Activities, the official pro-life program of the Catholic Church in the U.S., calls for pro-life organization and activity at the national, state, diocesan and parish levels. In Nebraska, we are blessed to have about 375 parish pro-life coordinators who implement the Pastoral Plan in their respective parishes.

The pro-life efforts by these parish coordinators are critically important to the Church’s mission of building a culture of life and love. And the amazing dedication and enthusiasm of parish coordinators is a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to me and, undoubtedly, to many others.

In 2007, my office initiated the Gospel of Life Award to recognize the exemplary efforts by parish coordinators or other Catholics to promote the Gospel of Life in their parish and community. One individual is chosen annually from each of the three dioceses in Nebraska and honored at the Bishops Pro Life Conference banquet in October.

At this year’s pro-life conference banquet Oct. 15, the following individuals will be presented with the 2011 Gospel of Life award:

JoDee Westling, from Holy Spirit Parish in North Platte, will receive the award for the Diocese of Grand Island. Since 1989, JoDee has been involved with the Women’s Resource Center, a pregnancy center in North Platte, where she has served as a board member and peer counselor.

JoDee and her husband Steve have opened their home to women and children who had no other place to go and opened their hearts with love as adoptive parents. JoDee has also been actively involved as a pro-life coordinator for her parish for the better part of 20 years, initiating such programs as the spiritual adoption of unborn children, the collection of needed items for mothers and their babies and Life Chain.

Carolyn LaGreca, from St. Patrick Parish in Omaha will receive the award for the Archdiocese of Omaha. Carolyn was one of the first parish and diocesan pro-life leaders I met after being hired as the pro-life director for the Bishops of Nebraska. At that time she was a parishioner of St. Thomas More Parish where she assisted Father John Vernon who was the Archdiocesan Pro Life Director.

In addition to providing pro-life leadership at the parish and archdiocesan level for more than 20 years, Carolyn served for many years on the board of Nebraskans United for Life where she chaired the Celebration of Life banquet, edited the newsletter and coordinated trips to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Carolyn and her husband Steve have faithfully prayed at the abortion centers in Omaha and opened their home for pregnant women.

Sondra Jonson, from St. John Parish in Cambridge, will receive the award for the Diocese of Lincoln. Sondra has served as pro-life coordinator for St. John for many years where she organized Life Chain, Respect Life Month events, letter-writing to elected officials, and various educational projects.

Ms. Jonson passionately strives to involve young people in pro-life activities, often taking students to pray at the abortion center in Lincoln and to the annual Walk for Life. And as a high school catechist, Sondra has incorporated many pro-life activities into her teaching.

Ms. Jonson’s pro-life leadership extends beyond her parish as she has organized regional pro-life presentations in McCook, placed ads for Project Rachel in her local paper and organized pro-life billboards in the Cambridge area. And as a professional sculptor, Sondra produced a "Rachel Weeping" statue about 10 years ago which serves as a beautiful symbol for Project Rachel, the Church’s outreach of hope and healing to post-abortive women and men.

On behalf of the Bishops of Nebraska and the entire Church, I extend our gratitude and admiration to these three women for their exemplary commitment to the Gospel of Life and to the Church’s mission of building a culture of life and love.

You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.