What is this year’s theme?

‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit’ is the theme for this year’s Day for Life – the day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.

Day for Life 2008 will focus on 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. Mental ill-health can happen to anyone - 1 in 4 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:

"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."

With every blessing,

S.E. Mons. E. Sgreccia,
(President of the Pontifical Academy for Life)

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 & 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.

When is Day for Life 2008?

The Bishops' Conferences in Britain and Ireland celebrate Day for Life on the following days this year:

• Scottish Day for Life - 31 May 2008
• English and Welsh Day for Life - 6 July 2008
• Irish Day for Life - 5 October 2008

Contact us

Scotland
5 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2DH

Ireland
Catholic Communications Office, Irish Bishops' Conference, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

England & Wales
Day for Life, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX

To contact those who created this website and its associated video and podcast media, please visit our credits page.

Finance

The Day for Life Income & Expenditure Account for the year ended 31st December 2006 is available to download.

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