Day 14…Thanks to Divine Mercy Parish, St. Matthew Parish (Shaler), and faithful individuals!

1 Samuel 1:27 For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my petition, which I asked of Him.

My wife and I have been greatly blessed by God, and the most precious of our blessings are our children and grandchildren. We have had thirteen pregnancies in our marriage. Three ended in miscarriage. They are named, and are our special angels with God in eternity. Of our ten children, six are married and are having children of their own. Twenty-three grandchildren have been conceived: three miscarried and are in eternity, one is developing in the womb, and nineteen have been born. “Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17 ). 

I was present in the hospital for the births of our children, and in each birth I was permitted to cut the umbilical cord as a father welcoming his new child into this world. Each time, holding a precious infant in my arms within minutes of being born, there were always tears, and at the same time a sense of joy that is hard to describe. It is a miracle! In a quote attributed to Venerable Fulton Sheen, he states; “In each child, God whispers a new secret to the world, adds a new dimension of immortality to creation.”

In contrast to our joy, we know the heartache of couples who have not been able to conceive. The sadness, longing, wavering feelings of hope and hopelessness… trying every ethical and moral option to create with the Creator that special miracle that seems out of reach. I was able to travel with one of these couples across the country to adopt a newborn baby and share with them a joy that compared to what we have experienced with the birth of our own children. “And the King answering: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). ‘The loving option,’ we call it, bringing the fullness of love and fruitfulness to marriage by adoption. We all know of adoptive families and the particular love and sacrifice that their “yes” to God entails.

I confess that having so often experienced the life-affirming, life-changing, and awesome miracle of a newborn child, I cannot understand the reasoning behind abortion. It can never be the answer in any situation. JPII wrote: “America you are beautiful… and blessed… The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless. If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life.” Could it be that abortion clinic workers have never held a baby in their arms or fed an infant a bottle? Is it possible that the pro-abortion politicians have never sat with a nursing mother?

How can they support the killing of beauty, the destruction of the innocents?

-Ken

Thank you to Divine Mercy Parish, Saint Matthew Parish, Shaler, Shift buddies and individual volunteers.

Reports from the sidewalk.

7:00-9:00 AM Tracy

This morning, the fort was held down by Steve, Anthony, Bill and me. A team of two PP escorts stood nearby to shield clients heading in. Still, we managed to hand off plenty of supportive literature along with the small cards. Shafts of light in the darkness!

9:00-11:00 AM Beth

Busy, busy day at PP. Praying kept us busy as clients came for the second shift around 10:45. Mary, Linda, Anthony, Kevin and I prayed but the doors still opened and shut on such sadness. We theorize about the new Tuesday morning escorts who left around 10. Was PP admitting that 40 Days is so successful that PP must call for help? We can only hope. 

11:00 AM-1:00 PM Sheila

It was a very busy day at the clinic. I expected that since the clinic was closed on Saturday.
Please pray for a mother of four who terminated her pregnancy. I met her on her way out of the clinic – she looked so dazed and confused.  She was with her mom who was probably in her 70s.  I talked to the post-abortive woman’s mom when she entered the clinic a bit earlier; she was holding the hand of a 3 or so year old.  This woman told me she didn’t need any information, that it was too late and her daughter “needed” to have the procedure because she already had 4 kids.  This grandma said that she has 7 grandkids and can’t handle anymore.  I felt sad for all of them, but it hit me especially hard that the little girl would never get to know her little brother or sister. 
And, please pray for “T” and “L.”  They stopped to talk with me when I offered resources. “T,” who was well into her thirties, said she was going inside to see how much an abortion would cost.  She and “L,” her boyfriend, don’t have permanent living arrangements and are financially strapped. They don’t feel that this is a good time to bring a baby into the world.  She didn’t want me to call any of the pregnancy centers as we were standing on the street but said she would consider it later.  I encouraged her to call Regina and also gave her my number.  The three of us prayed the Our Father together and her eyes were filled with tears afterward….so were mine!  I believe they were both empowered after our conversation – her countenance was so much brighter and he was smiling. This all happened while a loud-mouthed young woman continued to yell at Rose and I to stop harassing women; she also kept demanding to know if we took in foster kids and what we were doing to help them.   Let’s pray that T and L do NOT return to P.P. and choose life for their baby. And that God transforms the hearts of the young people who believe it’s better to destroy a child in the womb than let it possibly end up in the foster care system. 
Sheila

1:00-3:00 PM Mike

Report coming soon.

3:00-5:00 PM John

John, Deacon-to-be Dave, Bob and John- Saint Matthew parish- Shaler

A number of women going in and out. Some took our literature.

5:00-7:00 PM Larry

Johanna and Larry checking in from the 5:00 to 7:00 PM shift.  Pretty quiet.  One homeless lady looking for money.  We prayed the Rosary and Johanna told me her son Chris is getting better.  May be home soon.

We prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries for the unborn and the Joyful Mysteries for the Novena for the consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the immaculate Heart of Mary.
We were visited by a drifter, Chad, who was quite the character.
He claimed to be a battle wounded marine, and had the scars to prove it.  Dave was really good talking with him, and Chad shared his life story with us, and is a practicing Catholic, and he showed us his Rosary beads.  He also told us he got his 13 year old girlfriend pregnant when he was 15, and he talked her into keeping the baby.  They later married and had two more kids.  Chad claimed they later separated, but never divorced.  Chad may be struggling with alcoholism, and we prayed with him for his estranged wife, Rachel Marie, who died of a drug overdose.  He showed us pictures of her.
Chad also has a sister in prison in West Virginia, and was a coal miner in West Virginia.  
Dave was excellent with Chad and gave him several Miraculous Medals for himself, his sister, and others he knows that are in trouble.
Although he appeared desperate, Chad never asked for money, but Dave did give him a bottle of water.
We also had a young lady walk by and yell, “I kept mine” and pointed to her baby bump, and then gave us the thumbs up!