Day 30…Thanks to Our Faithful Volunteers!

The Crown—The Right Place at the Right Time

            Recently I was on a wonderful pilgrimage to many of the Catholic shrines of France with a group of amazing people from the Diocese of Pittsburgh and beyond. One of the sites that we visited was the beautiful Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. We know this almost 900-year-old church from its role in the life of the Church, in literature, and in film. The tragic fire that did great damage to its structure in 2019 drew renewed global attention to this magnificent church.

            Our pilgrimage itinerary by necessity was a flexible one depending on our ability to gain entrance to churches and sites along the way. So it was for us in our visit to Notre Dame. We just happened to be at Notre Dame on Friday, March 6 before 3:00 PM. We had no idea that very Friday during Lent at 3:00 in the afternoon the Crown of Thorns that was placed on the head of Jesus during His Passion is brought forth from the reliquary that houses it in Notre Dame for the veneration of the people gathered in this church. As I entered this cathedral packed with people, there were a number of fellow pilgrims from our group with me. Beautiful music set the mood for reverent and somber prayer as we walked through the church, up the left aisle around the sanctuary past the great reliquary of the Crown of Thorns, and down the right aisle. As I was looking over at the steps of the sanctuary, I saw some selected people line up to venerate devoutly the Crown individually. All of a sudden, a woman who was helping to organize the veneration called out to me, “Monseigneur, Monseigneur!” and beckoned to come to her. When I walked up to her, she asked in French where I was from. I replied, “Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania in the United States.” She smiled broadly and replied in English, “Come in, come in!” I told her that I could not, because I was with a group (I did not want to enter the sanctuary without them). She insisted, “You must, you must!” as she took my arm and led me in. I found myself ushered by her to the head of the line with people chosen to come up right in front of this sacred relic of the Crown of Thorns. I removed my zucchetto (bishop’s round cap), genuflected, and kissed the reliquary containing the Crown, and placed my head against it as well as my rosary. I genuflected again and walked away. I left absolutely awestruck and moved beyond words. I had just venerated an instrument of the saving Passion of Jesus—the Crown of Thorns that was placed upon His head as He thought of each one of us whom He loved to the point of death!  I felt so unworthy of this grace and, yet, so grateful for it. I was, by God’s design, in the right place at the right time by God’s design. He willed it to be so!

            So it is in our lives in so many ways by God’s plan—to be in the right place at the right time, for the right reason—to love. We hear about it in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (4:4-5), “When the designated time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons.” God’s plan is always in effect; we only need to see it by His grace and embrace it.  Our Lady was conceived immaculately and was born at just the right time, in the right place to become the Mother of God.  Jesus came at just the right time in the right place according to the Father’s plan to save us by His Passion and Death.

            To be in the right place at the right time is where God puts us each day. To be at the Sacrifice of the Mass and to united with Jesus’ saving Death and Resurrection, to be with the spouse we are wed to, to hear God’s call to the priesthood or the religious life, to be at the side of the poor or the homeless and give of ourselves, to be there for our children or our aged parents when they need us, to be at Planned Parenthood to speak lovingly to the women contemplating an abortion on behalf of her unborn child, to be at the sick bed of one close to death, to be wherever God needs us and places us. And yes, to be at the right place at the right time and to receive the crown of glory.

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid

Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh

Read on for today’s sidewalk stories…

Nikki & Mark

(From Nikki) – Sadly, it was a busy abortion day. About 7 or 8 couples entered those doors while we were there. They were all offered help and loving options, but as far as we could tell, no takers. I was asking dear St. Joseph today to protect those little ones, as he protected the Christ Child from Herod. I have to believe that there will be lives saved today, whether or not we ever know it.

Thanks to Mark and Randy for their faithful and prayerful witness. God bless us all.

Sue & Cheryl

The time Cheryl and I spent on the sidewalk was pretty quiet, even though the previous shift said it was quite busy. One couple did go in and we offered help and they looked at our signs. They never went back and came out several minutes later. She said she is not pregnant and just there for an appt. I told them about Northside Christian, a federally funded Healthcare clinic on the Northside that doesn’t do abortions. Another woman passing by went in and happily said she is just going for birth control, I tried to explain one of the mechanisms of bc can be abortion, but she didn’t comprehend. We got a positive comment, a negative one and an older woman who said “it’s not human at that stage”. As she walked away, I asked her what it is if its not human, but she never stopped. It’s so incomprehensible to me how anyone can logically think that,  but in pondering further, perhaps she has an abortion experience in her past and that is the mechanism she uses to cope…? On another note, downtown is starting to shape up a lil bit…they were putting daffodils and other flowers in all the big planters and the park on 9th street is starting to come together…thank you, Sue

Linda & Sam

(From Linda) – Not too busy on our shift today. A number of women going in said that they were not there for an abortion. Maybe Planned Parenthood is once again providing services other than abortion at this location? No one wanted to take any literature or information.

Workers were stringing decorative lights along Liberty Avenue. I’m guessing this is to make the city a bit more attractive in anticipation of the NFL Draft. (It was nice to see that the workers were blocking much of the sidewalk for awhile.) Unfortunately, nothing can be done to improve the appearance or reputation of Planned Parenthood. Like putting lipstick on a pig???

In a similar vein, my Mom taught me not to eat in a restaurant that had dirty windows. Looking at the grime outside on the windows (and inside on the blinds), why would any woman want to receive “health care” there? So sad. 

Thank you to Cathy and Tom who came in from Steubenville to pray with us. Thanks also to regulars Cheryl, Sam and Bob. Ed, we missed you today!

Linda

Cil, Carolyn & Fr. Jim

(From Cil) – So thankful that my good friend Joyce was not babysitting and could join us today at the vigil. Please storm heaven for her as she found she has pancreatic cancer and has been going for testing and dr appointments to determine the next steps.

Fr Jim had a packed car with Eva and Diane faithfully joining us.  

The weather was beautiful.  Though the air smelled awful.

We mostly stayed with the materials on the right side due to the work on the left.  They are putting up lights along this stretch of sidewalk on Liberty. I spoke with one of the guys.  He said that it is dark there so they want to shed some light.  Hopefully others will see the dark deeds done at 933.  We are doing our part to bring light to those we encounter.

The group prayed two rosaries, Divine Mercy, Memorare to St Joseph, and St Joseph terror of demons prayer.

Too many leaving PP.  I don’t recall any takers.  Did give out to many passing by.  Mostly positive comments.  One older lady with young kids was not supportive and said something about adoption.  I said yes! That’s better than killing them!  

Maybe just one or two went in.  Two ladies? stopped on the other side of the bubble.  When I approached and asked if we can help  they said “not now”.  Then the one walked away in opposite directions.  Not sure what that was about.

Pete & Bill

Not much traffic coming out of Planned Parenthood with the exception of staff.  There were a couple of very vocal proponents of abortion who walked by.  But that was offset by the encouraging words of others. One woman said thank you to us for being there; she said she can’t be there, but she does pray for us. A young man told Bill that he and his girlfriend stopped from going in PP after one of our volunteers stopped them and talked to them. We’re not sure how long ago this was, but the young man did say that some of us helped them out during the first month. It’s always wonderful to hear that the fruit of our time and energy helped save a baby, along with their Mom and Dad.  God Bless, Pete