40 Pro-lifers took part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12th.
The weather was perfect with spring-like temperatures. Those who marched wore green scarves. This has been an annual tradition going back to the leadership of the late John Stanton.
Even many of the attendees cheered on pro-lifers along Market Street.
It was a day to honor a great saint who emphasized the trinity with the shamrock and ensured the pro-life message was spread to the thousands who were in attendance
THE FOLLOWING IS A RELEASE SENT BY EMAIL FROM TOM STEVENS, PRESIDENT OF THE PRO-LIFE UNION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
In 2021 there were 3% more abortions in Pennsylvania than in the previous year. The total, 33,206, is the highest number of abortions reported in the past ten years. Half, 16,542, of those abortions occur right in our backyard, the five-county Philadelphia area.
To help understand the sheer magnitude, imagine 16,542 moms or dads pushing a baby in a stroller in a single file. It would be a line that stretches nearly sixteen miles! Imagine one of them being your grandchild or child, nephew or niece.
This is why the Pro-Life Union believes that we can’t protect the right to life as a single organization. Instead, we need to support our associate member organizations, work with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and independent churches, and anyone who will join us in the effort. Pregnancy resource centers like Hope Pregnancy and AlphaCare are part of the solution.
The Pro-Life Union and Catholic Social Services partnership at the Cenacle in Frankford serving more than one thousand vulnerable families is part of the answer. Adoption is a Loving Option, Culture Project, Students for Life, and other groups reaching out to students are a significant part of the effort. Forty Days for Life, Sidewalk Servants, and others organizing volunteers to serve in front of abortion centers are rescuing babies (and women) in another way.
Chester County Pro-Life Coalition and their March for Life and sponsorship of the name? ‘TOB for young women’ is another part of the prevention. You can meet many of these resource providers on April 1st at the Life Advocate Resource Conference. Many churches working together to provide solutions will also be present.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5
Happy New Year!
We tend to create a list of things to accomplish during the year. For the pro-life cause, it is no different. Here is a list of things to do in 2023.
Make 2023 a life-saving year
The following is from Barbara Rose, Please consider supporting them with #GivingTuesday approaching on November 29th.
The Gianna Center of Philadelphia is entering its fourth year at the Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton, providing much needed early pregnancy medical care and referrals for material support to all women in the Greater Philadelphia area. Dr. Delia Larrauri, like Dr. Monique Ruberu, practices authentic Catholic health care for women, diagnosing and treating them with the NaProTechnology protocols developed at the Pope Paul VI Institute. Dr. Larrauri has one other talent – and that is a proficiency in speaking Spanish 🙂
As you know, authentic pro-life health care for women is practically non-existent in our area.
That is why we are participating in #iGiveCatholic – on Giving Tuesday (first Tuesday after Thanksgiving). Advanced giving is happening now
For details, please see this link
Please remember that the Gianna Center is not just a medical clinic – it is truly a center. A center for pro-life health care and a health educational center. In October, we conducted an educational program for mothers and daughters aged 10 go 13. For photos, please see this link. This is needed more then ever today. We have also purchased a program from the Diocese of St. Louis called the Wonder of Eve for teenagers. We hope to do this by zoom a few times a year.
I can never thank you adequately for all of your support! I realize you have done so much already, but I am humbly asking that, if you have facebook, please go to the Gianna facebook page and share the link to the #iGiveCatholic.
The following is from an email blast sent by Dr. Monique Ruberu
Abortion is the evilest sin of all time. Ending the life of an innocent child, harming the mother and father in the process, ending the lifeline of people that were intended to come from that child – there is no good… the only chance of good comes from repentance, compassion, the love, the courage that we respond with through the grace of God alone.
When we are out there yes we will be persecuted, yes people will say unkind things to us, yes they may try to provoke us into responding with anger. We can choose to respond with pity, with prayer, with love.
In the midst of this persecution, there are beautiful moments… like today at 777 when a young African American young man who was biking food around the city stopped and watched for a long time with tear-filled eyes… after about 30 minutes I approached him… “you’ve been standing here a long time… are you ok? I know it’s a hard place to be…” he responded with tears in his eyes, “this is truly spiritual warfare” Yes it is… but we know that God wins in the end. He got it…
Recently we have had a few incidents you may have heard about through the news or the grapevine.
STAND WITH MARK
This is the report I received from Pat: Months ago our awesome Mark Houck leader of the King’s Men was praying outside the abortion center with his child. The male escort (identified as Bruce Love) who often harasses many of us decided to pick on Mark and his child. Mark initially moved across the street and then moved back to the corner to pray. When he came back to the corner the escort started harassing Mark’s son again and Mark pushed him away. The escort dramatically fell to the ground feigned injury and called the police. Mark was at no time preventing women from entering 12th – this went on to a court proceeding which was then dropped because it was obvious that there was no intent to prevent people from entering and Bruce never appeared.
This morning swat teams showed up at Mark’s house shackled him at gunpoint and totally traumatized his family… he had a hearing and praise God on the feast of Padre Pio (yesterday) he was released by the hour of mercy. Mark has been offered representation and many public figures are speaking up on the injustice of this… please pray for him, for his and his family’s safety, and for peace in his family.
Please contribute to the give-send-go organized for Mark and his fam. He is a missionary… there will be lawyers fees to pay in the near future and his family needs to be supported to help them heal…
https://www.givesendgo.com/prolifefamily
A few days ago we had an instance where a girl stole the signs and box while two prayer warriors were present- she took everything into the planned parenthood courtyard and then she used a 6-inch military knife and started cutting up the signs. The prayer warriors called 911 and after 20 minutes they hadn’t responded so they made the right choice and left. Unfortunately, the girl continued to follow them and harass them.
Ultimately they split up and they managed to lose her.
These are probably the most aggressive instances we have had downtown… we can decide to stay at home and refuse to stand up for these innocent lives for fear of facing people like this or we can continue to stand firm for what is right. We can show up with love and with friends. We can pray and bring the strongest weapon – the rosary to defeat the devil at those gates. We can continue to offer love, prayer, and compassion to save lives.
Pat also shared this beautiful report with me…
Mom and dad came to pp last Jan and ran into pro-life warriors. They changed their minds and the little boy was born early Thursday morning. The stroller and crib were delivered and newborn diapers are on the way. This child is here because we were there.
40 days for life begins worldwide this Wednesday. Please join us out there to fill in the gaps and ensure we have a loving, peaceful, prayerful presence out there.
We definitely need help next Saturday at 12th and Locust all day from 8-1 pm
We are looking for individuals who can help with security out there as well if you have any leads please let us know.
The Fall 2022 40 Days for Life Campaign begins on Wednesday, September 28th. Here’s a preview of the campaigns in the Greater Philadelphia Area
In the heart of Philadelphia, the second biggest murder mill is there. The place has been defended by disgraced State Rep. Brian Sims, who has not apologized to the girls who were doxed by him in a live video. He was never to be seen during and after the Stand Against Bullying Rally when people watched in dismay and disgust the way he harassed women who stood against Planned Parenthood. 4,000 lives have been lost at the facility on a yearly basis.
The good news is there’s a Community Women’s Center across the street that offers healthy alternatives to abortion. They have build countless relationships with moms who went from abortion minded to choosing life for their child.
Pro-Lifers in Greater Philly area can help in saving lives with their prayers and support.
The campaign will run from September 28th to Saturday November 5th. The hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday. Visit here to sign up today. Bring your own materials.
Learn what to do or say when on the sidewalk here.
Remember to pray for the conversion of the following workers and volunteers:
Dr. Lee Anthony Tripp
Dr. Joel Lebed
Jonathan Lovitz
Anna Smith
Dr. Lin-Fan Wang
Alhambra Frarey
Aishat Olatunde
Angie Ortiz
Bobbie Trotenberg
Sylvia Metzler
It’s September. School is back in session. Students return for another year on a college campus. A new month to set goals to defend life from womb to tomb.
Here’s the list of suggestions for September
Have a great month of September. Make it one to remember.
A webinar will take place to equip all parishes for Respect Life month that happens in October.
The webinar will happen on Wednesday, August 17th at 2 PM. All attendees will receive a recording within two business days.
Register here.
August is upon us. We are also entering the second full month since the Dobbs decision.
We are seeing many back to school commercials, summer deals, and for the whole nation the political ads as we are less than a 100 days away from the general election.
Here is a list for the month of August
Happy August
As the first entire month of the Post-Roe Era concluded, Pro-lifers in the Greater Philadelphia area attended Mass at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Archbishop Nelson Perez was the main celebrant. In his homily, he alluded to the fact that life “is the most sacred gift from God.” He reminded those gathered that with the lord’s help lives will be saved.
Following Mass, Dr. Monique Ruberu encouraged everyone that the work to save lives is not over. “While Roe was reversed, pro-lifers are tempted to sit back and think that it’s over. It’s not. It continues in Philly as more than 10,000 lives are murdered on an annual basis.”
Big families, religious, seasoned and callow pro-lifers, and even regular attendees were all in attendance for Mass. It was a day to remember for all.
If you live in the Philadelphia area, you are encouraged to step up, pray for one hour, offer your talents to advance and cultivate a culture of life, and most importantly offer love and mercy on the sidewalks.
Voices for Life 