J.M.J. +
I am posting in regards to our next peaceful prayer vigil which will take place on Saturday, the 29th of March outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
I am also emailing to inform you that Monday, March 31st has been designated the Day of the Unborn Child by the Knights of Columbus. In commemoration of this day, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Hamden will have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 12 Noon to 5:30 PM followed by Rosary and Benediction for Life at 5:30 PM.
In great joy and thanksgiving to God I want to share with you that on Good Friday and Holy Saturday at Planned Parenthood two babies were saved! On Good Friday a young mother named Alicia came out to PP to abort her child. As we spoke to her we could see she was in pain, but our words seemed to not be reaching her. She actually said to me on her way in “I am sorry but I just cannot keep this baby” None the less we reassured her we could help and we would be here praying for her if she changed her mind. Then we prayed for a miracle as it was not looking good. We could not believe our eyes as she emerged from the building smiling almost unrecognizable as the woman who we had just spoken with. She drove over to us to let us know she changed her mind. “I could never go through with it she said, never”, quite a different tone than the girl who felt the desperation of the only choice Planned Parenthood gives-death. This story with Alicia is so important because it orchestrates how critical it is that each of us come out to pray. Our words were falling on deaf ears we could not reach her with our words, but God can work miracles and can reach inside the hearts of each of us. It was the spiritual combat of the prayers that was attacking the spiritual abortion which had already taken place within this woman’s heart. How very humbling He chooses to use each of us within His plan. It always is the prayer that saves us and that saved Alicia’s baby that day and that’s why we need you to come out to pray each Saturday. Alicia is doing well and had her first prenatal appointment yesterday. We are working on helping her find affordable housing. She revealed to me that her boyfriend was against her having the abortion and would not go with her to PP that day. She said he is a Christian and perhaps was praying from home. God certainly heard our prayers and answered his!
On Holy Saturday there were many of us praying on the sidewalk alongside the Crucifix of Our Lord. A young woman on foot was walking towards PP when Wendee and Brenda handed her some literature. She seemed like she did not want to hear what we were trying to say to her and kept walking. As we continued to pray the woman emerged from the building crying holding her head down and talking on the cell phone. She was visibly shaken. Phil said to her in a very gentle tone as she passed “it is ok honey we can help you”. She kept walking but appeared calmer. I met up with her and walked along side her and told her again it was ok and we were here to help. She hung up the cell phone and began to cry. She held on to me. I told her we understood if she was here something was very wrong but this was not going fix it for her. I asked her why she was here. She said she had tried to come for an abortion a week ago but she just could not do it and she left. So when she came today and we were there praying with Jesus on the Cross she knew it was not what she was supposed to do. She knew it was wrong. Minerva was afraid that with a second baby she would be unable to pay her rent. We are working with her now to get her the assistance that she needs. She has also set up her first prenatal appointment and was very grateful that we were there to help her. She kept saying to me “It is so kind of you, so kind of all of you to do this for me…” we all know what Minerva felt was the love of Christ and the kindness of His merciful heart. Thank You Jesus for allowing us to share your love and thank you Blessed Mother for interceding to your Son. Please keep Alicia and Minerva and their babies in your prayers.
Please join us on Saturday at PP where God is always working miracles whether we can see it or not, and where we can serve Him and bring glory to His name.
God bless you,
Mike and Kerry
The Eucharist
May the Heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
This Is My Body
J.M.J. +
I am posting at the request of many of you in regards to our next peaceful prayer vigil which will take place on Good Friday, the 21st of March outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
There will also be a prayer vigil, as usually scheduled, Holy Saturday on the 22nd of March which will take place outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion. Please make the sacrifice during this Holy Week to come out on either Friday or Saturday to pray for the Unborn and to join Our Savior at this modern day Calvary. Let us come out to pray and to console Him through His Passion and death.
As we draw ever closer to the Passion, death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this Holy Week and especially ever closer to Holy Thursday I wanted to share this reflection written by Fr. Frank Pavone. Even if you have read it before it can become all the more profound meditating on it this week.
May God bless you and your families with graces this Holy Week bringing you ever closer to Our Crucified Lord who will soon gloriously rise!
Amen Alleluia,
Mike and Kerry
This Is My Body
By Fr. Frank A. Pavone
Did you ever realize that the same four words that were used by the Lord Jesus to save the world are also used by some to promote abortion? "This is my body." The same simple words are spoken from opposite ends of the universe, with meanings that are directly contrary to each other.
Scripture tells us that on the night before He died to save all people, the Lord Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is My Body, which is given up for you." He was pointing to what would happen the next day, when He would give that same Body on the cross. He sacrifices Himself so that we may live. He gives up His Body so that He can destroy the power of sin and death. As a result, He welcomes us into His life, into His Kingdom. He makes us members of His Body!
On the other hand, abortion supporters say, "This is my body. So don't interfere with it! It's mine, so I can do what I want, even to the point of killing the life within it. All is secondary to my dominion over my body." In fact one abortion supporter has written, "I say their (pro-lifers') God is worth nothing compared to my body" (Michelle Goldberg, "Rant for Choice," in University of Buffalo student newspaper, 1995).
"This is my body." Same words, different results. Christ gives His body away so others might live; abortion supporters cling to their own bodies so others might die. In giving His Body, Christ teaches the meaning of love: I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion teaches the opposite of love: I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself!
"This is my body." If, indeed, our body is ours, then let's ask the next question: Why? The answer is so that we can give our body, our life, ourself, away in love to one another and to God. Christ declares, "Do this in memory of me." He calls us to do what He did, and that is precisely how we reverse the dynamic of abortion. Mom and Dad must say to their child, "This is my body, my life, given for you," rather than, "This is my body, my life, so go away!"
Human happiness and fulfillment are never found by pushing other people out of the way. They are found when we push ourselves out of the way. Pope John Paul II says as much in Evangelium Vitae #51: He who had come "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45), attains on the cross the heights of love: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15:13). And he died for us while we were yet sinners (cf. Rom. 5:8).
In this way Jesus proclaims that life finds its center, its meaning and its fulfillment when it is given up.
At this point our meditation becomes praise and thanksgiving, and at the same time urges us to imitate Christ and follow in his footsteps (cf. 1 Pt. 2:21).
We too are called to give our lives for our brothers and sisters, and thus to realize in the fullness of truth the meaning and destiny of our existence.
"This is my body." It is no accident that the same words are used for such different purposes. A spiritual conflict rages here. We win, in our own lives and in the world, by living these words in self-giving, life-giving love.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thisismy.html
I am posting at the request of many of you in regards to our next peaceful prayer vigil which will take place on Good Friday, the 21st of March outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
There will also be a prayer vigil, as usually scheduled, Holy Saturday on the 22nd of March which will take place outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion. Please make the sacrifice during this Holy Week to come out on either Friday or Saturday to pray for the Unborn and to join Our Savior at this modern day Calvary. Let us come out to pray and to console Him through His Passion and death.
As we draw ever closer to the Passion, death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this Holy Week and especially ever closer to Holy Thursday I wanted to share this reflection written by Fr. Frank Pavone. Even if you have read it before it can become all the more profound meditating on it this week.
May God bless you and your families with graces this Holy Week bringing you ever closer to Our Crucified Lord who will soon gloriously rise!
Amen Alleluia,
Mike and Kerry
This Is My Body
By Fr. Frank A. Pavone
Did you ever realize that the same four words that were used by the Lord Jesus to save the world are also used by some to promote abortion? "This is my body." The same simple words are spoken from opposite ends of the universe, with meanings that are directly contrary to each other.
Scripture tells us that on the night before He died to save all people, the Lord Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is My Body, which is given up for you." He was pointing to what would happen the next day, when He would give that same Body on the cross. He sacrifices Himself so that we may live. He gives up His Body so that He can destroy the power of sin and death. As a result, He welcomes us into His life, into His Kingdom. He makes us members of His Body!
On the other hand, abortion supporters say, "This is my body. So don't interfere with it! It's mine, so I can do what I want, even to the point of killing the life within it. All is secondary to my dominion over my body." In fact one abortion supporter has written, "I say their (pro-lifers') God is worth nothing compared to my body" (Michelle Goldberg, "Rant for Choice," in University of Buffalo student newspaper, 1995).
"This is my body." Same words, different results. Christ gives His body away so others might live; abortion supporters cling to their own bodies so others might die. In giving His Body, Christ teaches the meaning of love: I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion teaches the opposite of love: I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself!
"This is my body." If, indeed, our body is ours, then let's ask the next question: Why? The answer is so that we can give our body, our life, ourself, away in love to one another and to God. Christ declares, "Do this in memory of me." He calls us to do what He did, and that is precisely how we reverse the dynamic of abortion. Mom and Dad must say to their child, "This is my body, my life, given for you," rather than, "This is my body, my life, so go away!"
Human happiness and fulfillment are never found by pushing other people out of the way. They are found when we push ourselves out of the way. Pope John Paul II says as much in Evangelium Vitae #51: He who had come "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45), attains on the cross the heights of love: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15:13). And he died for us while we were yet sinners (cf. Rom. 5:8).
In this way Jesus proclaims that life finds its center, its meaning and its fulfillment when it is given up.
At this point our meditation becomes praise and thanksgiving, and at the same time urges us to imitate Christ and follow in his footsteps (cf. 1 Pt. 2:21).
We too are called to give our lives for our brothers and sisters, and thus to realize in the fullness of truth the meaning and destiny of our existence.
"This is my body." It is no accident that the same words are used for such different purposes. A spiritual conflict rages here. We win, in our own lives and in the world, by living these words in self-giving, life-giving love.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thisismy.html
Monday, March 10, 2008
He Uses The Weak
J.M.J. +
I am posting in regards to this Saturday’s peaceful prayer vigil on the 15th of March which will take place outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
This past Saturday, while we kept vigil at Planned Parenthood a young man was walking down the sidewalk past us who appeared as a passerby. He smiled and said hello to us and Martin and Tim gave him some of our literature. It was truly Providential as they had no way of knowing that man was pondering a decision which would impact the life of his unborn child. As the man continued to walk towards the front of the building he became very engrossed in the literature. Then he slowed down and appeared to be walking back to us, stopping and then heading forward again. Tim responded to his behavior by catching up to him to see if he needed assistance. When he did the man began to cry explaining that his girlfriend was in their car in the parking lot ready to go in for an abortion. After speaking with Tim the young man and woman changed their minds and left Planned Parenthood!
Another young couple began to pull into the driveway where Phil and I were standing and proceeded to roll down the window where we gave them some literature. We spoke with the couple about choices and that we understood if couples were here at this place, they have very real problems in search of an answer; however this was not the right answer. This would not fix their situation or bring things back to how they were before. Choosing abortion today would only wound them and separate them from their baby. I went on to show them the picture of the 10 week old feet of an unborn child and how beautifully formed their own were at that age. I also showed the dad a picture of the danger his child would face if he allowed them to take his girl into Planned Parenthood. He appeared disturbed but moved at the same time. As I was speaking a car pulled up behind and began honking the horn. I told the couple that we would be here praying for them and if they changed their minds they could come back. The leader of the escorts came over shouting we were blocking the driveway and the couple was forced into the lot. We began to pray that the words spoken had been what God wanted and instilled in the hearts of these parents. We watched the couple proceed into the building. I walked over to Alton who was one of the prayers on that particular hour and asked him to pray especially for this young couple. Then Phil and I continued to pray unsure of what was to happen. As I starred at the pavement in prayer Phil said “Kerry, Look! They are coming back!” We just kept saying the Hail Mary as the young couple walked back over to us with smiles on their faces. The grace and joy could be felt by all those who were on the sidewalk as the young couple walked over to tell us they had changed their mind and cancelled the abortion. Phil and I embraced them with great joy and they thanked us for helping them to see they were making a decision they would regret forever. Fallon and John went on to tell us that they did not want to abort their baby, but were wracked with fear that they would not have enough to provide for him or her. When they heard us tell them upon arrival that we could offer them the true help they needed especially for the baby they said that fear was alleviated. I asked Fallon how far long she was and she joyfully and tearfully stated “Ten weeks just like the picture you showed me!” The couple said they were deeply moved to see the picture of their babies feet and how beautifully formed they were. We talked with them for quite some time and rejoiced in the joy and grace of God. It was a good day at Planned Parenthood New Haven indeed!
On Sunday I followed up with Fallon by phone who told me she had scheduled her first prenatal visit and had called one of the crisis pregnancy centers on the literature I had given her. She went on to say that she knows if we had not been there that she and John would have chosen abortion and regretted it for the rest of their lives. She went on to say “Thank you for being there yesterday you guys saved my baby’s life please don’t ever stop doing that.” She then asked if she and John could come out to pray with us. What an awesome gift. Thank you Jesus and Mary!
We will continue to be there every week because we know that people like Fallon and John and their baby need our prayers. They need your prayers. Please come out and pray with us this Saturday and help these couples know they are never alone with the love of Christ. Phil you said it best... He uses the weak.
God bless you,
Mike and Kerry
I am posting in regards to this Saturday’s peaceful prayer vigil on the 15th of March which will take place outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
This past Saturday, while we kept vigil at Planned Parenthood a young man was walking down the sidewalk past us who appeared as a passerby. He smiled and said hello to us and Martin and Tim gave him some of our literature. It was truly Providential as they had no way of knowing that man was pondering a decision which would impact the life of his unborn child. As the man continued to walk towards the front of the building he became very engrossed in the literature. Then he slowed down and appeared to be walking back to us, stopping and then heading forward again. Tim responded to his behavior by catching up to him to see if he needed assistance. When he did the man began to cry explaining that his girlfriend was in their car in the parking lot ready to go in for an abortion. After speaking with Tim the young man and woman changed their minds and left Planned Parenthood!
Another young couple began to pull into the driveway where Phil and I were standing and proceeded to roll down the window where we gave them some literature. We spoke with the couple about choices and that we understood if couples were here at this place, they have very real problems in search of an answer; however this was not the right answer. This would not fix their situation or bring things back to how they were before. Choosing abortion today would only wound them and separate them from their baby. I went on to show them the picture of the 10 week old feet of an unborn child and how beautifully formed their own were at that age. I also showed the dad a picture of the danger his child would face if he allowed them to take his girl into Planned Parenthood. He appeared disturbed but moved at the same time. As I was speaking a car pulled up behind and began honking the horn. I told the couple that we would be here praying for them and if they changed their minds they could come back. The leader of the escorts came over shouting we were blocking the driveway and the couple was forced into the lot. We began to pray that the words spoken had been what God wanted and instilled in the hearts of these parents. We watched the couple proceed into the building. I walked over to Alton who was one of the prayers on that particular hour and asked him to pray especially for this young couple. Then Phil and I continued to pray unsure of what was to happen. As I starred at the pavement in prayer Phil said “Kerry, Look! They are coming back!” We just kept saying the Hail Mary as the young couple walked back over to us with smiles on their faces. The grace and joy could be felt by all those who were on the sidewalk as the young couple walked over to tell us they had changed their mind and cancelled the abortion. Phil and I embraced them with great joy and they thanked us for helping them to see they were making a decision they would regret forever. Fallon and John went on to tell us that they did not want to abort their baby, but were wracked with fear that they would not have enough to provide for him or her. When they heard us tell them upon arrival that we could offer them the true help they needed especially for the baby they said that fear was alleviated. I asked Fallon how far long she was and she joyfully and tearfully stated “Ten weeks just like the picture you showed me!” The couple said they were deeply moved to see the picture of their babies feet and how beautifully formed they were. We talked with them for quite some time and rejoiced in the joy and grace of God. It was a good day at Planned Parenthood New Haven indeed!
On Sunday I followed up with Fallon by phone who told me she had scheduled her first prenatal visit and had called one of the crisis pregnancy centers on the literature I had given her. She went on to say that she knows if we had not been there that she and John would have chosen abortion and regretted it for the rest of their lives. She went on to say “Thank you for being there yesterday you guys saved my baby’s life please don’t ever stop doing that.” She then asked if she and John could come out to pray with us. What an awesome gift. Thank you Jesus and Mary!
We will continue to be there every week because we know that people like Fallon and John and their baby need our prayers. They need your prayers. Please come out and pray with us this Saturday and help these couples know they are never alone with the love of Christ. Phil you said it best... He uses the weak.
God bless you,
Mike and Kerry
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Uniting Our Cross to His
J.M.J.+
I am emailing in regards to this Saturday’s peaceful prayer vigil on the 8th of March which will take place outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
We frequently hear the expression “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
How very often this statement applies to our lives and those who are closest to us. In bad situations we often do not want to draw attention to ourselves by confronting a friend or family member we may know is in trouble or need because we may feel others think it is simply none of our business. How often we commit sins of omission because we are afraid to stand up for what we know is right, good, and true, what we know in our heart God would want us to do. Often it is not easy to do the right thing and many times we will be ostracized or persecuted by those who may not yet have accepted Jesus as the Truth, the Way, and the Life. However we know regardless of what opposition we face in order to truly love Christ we must take up our Cross and follow Him no matter where that may lead us, even if that takes us to the sidewalk of the abortion mill. When we come out to pray at Planned Parenthood we are truly being a disciple of Jesus, for we know it is there where our crosses become united to His.
May God bless you,
Mike and Kerry
Today's devotional is by Father Frank Pavone, the
national director of Priests for Life...sent to me by the 40 Days For Life Campaign
http://www.40daysforlife.com/norwich
Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow
me cannot be my disciple.
--Luke 14:27
--------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------
To stand up for what is right means we stand
against what is wrong, and that means that those
who love what is wrong will oppose us, just as
they opposed Christ. Taking up the cross means we
continue speaking and standing for the right even
when that opposition comes.
We experience this, in particular, when we are out
on the streets, where people are not expecting the
pro-life message and where they did not go to hear
it. We must remember to never take the opposition
personally.
When people ridicule or yell at us, we might get a
guilty feeling or be tempted to think we did
something wrong. We did not.
The insults are not being hurled at us personally,
but rather at the truth of what we are standing
for, and at the demands of the moral law.
There are many who are trying to run away from
those demands, or who have managed to tuck the
abortion problem away into a distant corner of
their minds where it can no longer disturb them.
By standing publicly for the cause of life, we
have short-circuited that denial and frustrated
those efforts to ignore the issue. Therefore, some
will be angry, perhaps not fully realizing why.
--------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------
Lord, thank you for the grace of being pro-life,
and of standing strong when others may ridicule or
oppose me.
During this 40 Day campaign, may your peace fill
my soul, especially when I may endure the
opposition of others, and may I become more like
your crucified and risen Son. Amen.
I am emailing in regards to this Saturday’s peaceful prayer vigil on the 8th of March which will take place outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.
We frequently hear the expression “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
How very often this statement applies to our lives and those who are closest to us. In bad situations we often do not want to draw attention to ourselves by confronting a friend or family member we may know is in trouble or need because we may feel others think it is simply none of our business. How often we commit sins of omission because we are afraid to stand up for what we know is right, good, and true, what we know in our heart God would want us to do. Often it is not easy to do the right thing and many times we will be ostracized or persecuted by those who may not yet have accepted Jesus as the Truth, the Way, and the Life. However we know regardless of what opposition we face in order to truly love Christ we must take up our Cross and follow Him no matter where that may lead us, even if that takes us to the sidewalk of the abortion mill. When we come out to pray at Planned Parenthood we are truly being a disciple of Jesus, for we know it is there where our crosses become united to His.
May God bless you,
Mike and Kerry
Today's devotional is by Father Frank Pavone, the
national director of Priests for Life...sent to me by the 40 Days For Life Campaign
http://www.40daysforlife.com/norwich
Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow
me cannot be my disciple.
--Luke 14:27
--------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------
To stand up for what is right means we stand
against what is wrong, and that means that those
who love what is wrong will oppose us, just as
they opposed Christ. Taking up the cross means we
continue speaking and standing for the right even
when that opposition comes.
We experience this, in particular, when we are out
on the streets, where people are not expecting the
pro-life message and where they did not go to hear
it. We must remember to never take the opposition
personally.
When people ridicule or yell at us, we might get a
guilty feeling or be tempted to think we did
something wrong. We did not.
The insults are not being hurled at us personally,
but rather at the truth of what we are standing
for, and at the demands of the moral law.
There are many who are trying to run away from
those demands, or who have managed to tuck the
abortion problem away into a distant corner of
their minds where it can no longer disturb them.
By standing publicly for the cause of life, we
have short-circuited that denial and frustrated
those efforts to ignore the issue. Therefore, some
will be angry, perhaps not fully realizing why.
--------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------
Lord, thank you for the grace of being pro-life,
and of standing strong when others may ridicule or
oppose me.
During this 40 Day campaign, may your peace fill
my soul, especially when I may endure the
opposition of others, and may I become more like
your crucified and risen Son. Amen.
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