Day 37…Thanks to our Faithful Team!

November’s Hope

            The Jubilee Year of Hope has been a tremendous time of grace for the whole Church. Throughout the many gatherings of the faithful in Rome from various age groups, vocational paths, and spiritualities, the one focus of this Jubilee Year has been the Person of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. He is our hope!

            In his homily at the Mass for the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata on August 3, 2025, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed, “Dear young people. It is he (Jesus Christ), as Saint John Paul II said, ‘who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives…to commit…to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal’ (XV World Youth Day, Prayer Vigil, 19 August 2000). Let us remain united to him, let us remain in his friendship, always, cultivating it through prayer, adoration, Eucharistic Communion, frequent Confession, and generous charity, following the examples of Blessed PierGiorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis who will soon be declared saints.”

            We can only know our true hope when we know Jesus. It is He who teaches us who we have been created to be—saints, that is, sons and daughters of the Father who are redeemed by the Blood of Jesus and called to become more and more like Him.

            In the month of November, the Church gives us two feast days to strengthen our hope that we can become more and more like Jesus, Our Savior.

            First, we have the Feast of All Saints on November 1. This feast day celebrates all those men and women who cooperated with God’s grace in their lives and became united with Christ in the Mystery of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. From every walk of life, from every nation, from every age, the saints have shown us that holiness is possible for every one of us with the help of God’s grace and with the merits of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. The Feast of All Saints is a feast of hope for us that shows us our destiny—to be face to face with God in heaven in the Communion of Saints. It is the great family to which we belong in eternal bliss forever. It tells us that what we suffer here on earth is worthwhile, for, when we unite our own pain and sufferings with the sufferings of Christ, it leads us to heaven.

            The Feast of All Souls follows the Feast of All Saints on November 2. The occurrence of these two great feasts, one succeeding the other on the Church’s calendar, is not by happenstance. Rather, they show that when someone may not enter immediately into the Kingdom of Heaven after death, God’s love and mercy provides for us a way for us to be cleansed from sin and the effects of sin which would prevent this entrance. This is a source of great hope. Even when we have not achieved perfect holiness by the time we die, God is not outdone in His mercy. He prepares us for our destiny to be with Him forever.

            In his wisdom, Pope Leo speaks to young people and, indeed,  to all of us in telling us how to be close to and united with Jesus, who is the hope of the world. He stresses to us that we must deepen our friendship, our union with Jesus by prayer, adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, receiving Him in Holy Communion, frequent Confession, and acts of charity. He then refers to two new recently canonized saints, Piergiorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. Our Holy Father is saying to us, “Be filled with hope! What the saints have done in their friendship with Jesus, you, too, can do and then come into the Kingdom!”

            Dear friends, by your prayers, by your fidelity in coming to Planned Parenthood, by your love for the unborn children and their mothers, you have deepened your relationship with Jesus and have sought to grow in holiness. In your great charity, you have glorified God and have served the most vulnerable, the littlest ones in our midst. You have been prayer warriors and witnesses to the Gospel.  You have performed great acts of love to those who are materially poor and spiritually poor.  You have been the hands, the heart, and the voice of Jesus to mothers in desperate situations and their unborn babies who are in such danger.  You have drawn ever closer to the Heart of Jesus and the Communion of Saints!  May God bless and reward you for what you have done!  You are my inspiration and my heroes!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid

Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh

Nikki & David

(From Nikki) – I was prepared to be standing in a downpour all morning, but the Lord graciously held back the rain during the early morning shift. It only rained lightly, so we were able to set out most of the materials. I was very blessed to have David to pray with, after he selflessly answered the last minute plea for a sub, even after working till midnight last night, and taking care of his ailing father…he got up early to drive from Weirton to Pittsburgh by 8:00. It was a peaceful shift, with mostly workers and some single women going in. By the end of my shift, couples were starting to enter. As far as I know, we didn’t have anyone change their mind…but we tried. And we prayed. We were obedient. I believe God will honor that.

Sue also answered the call to fill in for an empty hour today, so we left the sidewalk in the capable and prayerful hands of the two Sue’s.

Sue

(From Sue) – I was joined by Randy, Susan and Judy on the sidewalk. It is always a joy to be with such faithful people. We said 3 rosaries, 2 divine mercy’s. We gave a miraculous medal to a man who stopped and wanted to talk about the “exceptions” for abortion. He listened to our reasoning respectfully. He is a veteran in search of work and Susan may be able to help him! Many singles went in to the abortion mill. There was a lull when I suppose the abortions were being done. Than additional women went in as the first wave started to leave. We engaged everyone we could and handed out a lot of our resources. A woman passing by who took a pamphlet, said that she has 3 children and did not give in to the pressure from the father to abort her children. I commended her for being so strong and she said that she is doing great! The signs always seem effective at provoking reactions, both positive and negative. We had many thumbs up today.

Sam

It was busy. Talked to couple of young girls gave them some literature. Others just walked into the building. One told me she was just getting birth control.  On a side note there was a good bit of people talking to themselves and yelling. Lol

Carolyn & Cil

(From Cil) – A young girl, J, stopped.  She looked at the models and asked if that’s what they looked like.  She is almost 8 wks.  I gave her the Watch me Grow and small rubber baby model, along with list with resources. She has a two year old and said she mentally didn’t know if could have another one.  Tears streaming.  I assured her.  She said she seriously thought about abortion.  I told her that would mentally haunt her. She acknowledged. She said she didn’t really need financial help.  But prayers are good.  I told her about Little Lamb too.  Sounds like she plans to keep the baby.  I did say that adoption is an option too.  She had to catch up with the guy she was with.  He was walked away.  Please pray.

Thanks to Father Jim for driving us down every week and for Diane’s faithfulness.  Together with Carolyn they filled the sidewalk with prayer.  Two rosaries and Divine Mercy. I came armed with my trick or treat pumpkin bucket and handed out lifesaver mints with the green resource card to those passing by.  I think I may have been more successful with a different crowd because of my rainbow umbrella.  A few exiting PP took cards.

A nice homeless man moved closer to us, under the gay bar.  He wanted to talk about why we were there and we were able to discuss faith, prayer, angels and saints.  I was thankful for the opportunity.  He was glad to receive a rosary and said he may join us in prayer sometime.

Offered the workers and victims who came in and out of PP our help.  It was pretty busy.  Guys too.  A few were there to work on something or deliveries or pickups.

This last week with the cool drizzle was not pleasant but we know we must sacrifice for the cause of life.  God bless you all!

Pete & Bill