Director to juggle life issues

Laura Weber will be helping to weave a seamless garment in her new job. That garment is one of life.

Mrs. Weber is the recently appointed associate director of the Family Life Office, responsible for coordinating respect life issues for the Albany Diocese.

"The Church has a very strong and consistent teaching with regard to life issues, and I firmly support and believe in them," Mrs. Weber said.

Life skills

She is looking forward to combining several skills in her new position. Mrs. Weber was most recently director of faith formation at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Ballston Lake. Prior to that, she was a social worker.

"This ministry will allow me to use my social work background and my parish background to advocate and educate," she said.

Another job she holds will also help her. Last June, Mrs. Weber and her husband Chris became first-time parents with the birth of their daughter Ellen. Mr. Weber is associate director for catechist formation in the diocesan Office of Religious Education.

"I have always known that life is a precious miracle," Mrs. Weber said. "The birth of my daughter affirmed my belief. I continue to marvel at my daughter's growth and development each day. She is a valuable gift to my husband and me, and is precious to us."

Range of issues

In her new position, Mrs. Weber will focus on educating parishes on life issues as well as public policy. She said the education component is important because there are a multitude of life issues.

"The biggest challenge will be helping people see the range of life issues," Mrs. Weber said. "Social justice issues are life issues. Life is valuable from the moment of conception to natural death. Respect for life includes quality-of-life issues."

In working with parishes, she will help them address several questions, such as: "How can we enable people to respect life every day? How do we live life daily and respect it in our families, at work, in the legislature, in the way we live our lives?"

Counter-cultural

Respecting the continuum of life is often a position that is counter-cultural.

"This position comes into conflict with a society that seeks the immediate, glorifies youth, and wants to be free and unencumbered," she explained. "It comes into conflict with the wonder of science that is ever-changing, science that is capable of extending and enhancing life but also altering or ending human life. We live in a very complex world. Even our own lives are entwined with difficult life decisions that do not always seem clear-cut.

"The Catholic Church has a very strong, clear teaching on life issues," she explained. "We need to support people in this. It's one thing to say it; we need to live it. It's one thing to have a teaching; it's another to be pastoral. We need to help people live a life that is dignified, of substance and quality."

Personal experience

Her own experience has helped reinforce Mrs. Weber's belief in the importance of respect for life. Months after her birth, her daughter Ellen was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer.

"In her six-and-a-half months of life, Ellen has touched and been prayed for by thousands of people," Mrs. Weber said. "I am amazed by her ability to enjoy life and face these difficult health issues. She battles them strongly and is bright and alive.

"No matter the challenges we were presented with her health, I would do it again, go through the pain and more, just for the privilege of being Ellen's mother."

(To reach Mrs. Weber, call the Family Life Office at 453-6677.)

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