Yesterday we ended our Lenten 40 Days for Life with an amazing event, featuring Abby Johnson giving her testimony and joining us on a Eucharistic Procession to Planned Parenthood. (Scroll to the bottom for pictures and a couple of short videos of the event).
Approximately 200 people gathered to listen as she talked about the times in her young life when she took the wrong turns…and chose evil instead of good. Those mistakes ended up causing her to take part in over 20,000 abortions and had her on a path that would have led to eternal death for her soul. It was because of selfless people who never gave up on her…and continued to pray and witness in front of her Planned Parenthood, that finally led to the grace of conversion, redemption and healing…which she now offers to hundreds of former abortion workers who have been spiritually traumatized by their participation in the evil industry of abortion. Her ministry is truly a mission of mercy for those who are in darkness. As today’s first reading from Isaiah 42 says, “
“I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Abby said that her conversion is often compared to the conversion of Saul to St. Paul, a comparison that she does not claim for herself by any means. But just as Saul had to go to Ananias to have the scales removed from his eyes before he could become “St. Paul”…so she would not have become an instrument to save souls from abortion if it had not been for the many “Ananias’s'” that faithfully showed up to pray outside of her clinic…year after year.
Be an “Ananias”
It was a great reminder that our mission at Planned Parenthood is two-fold: Yes, we are there to save precious unborn lives from abortion. And yes, we are there to warn parents and grandparents of the spiritual, emotional and psychological dangers of ending the life of their own child by abortion. But we are also there to be, “A Sign of Contradiction” to the abortion workers.
Abby mentioned that the one thing that bothered her the most about the people who prayed in front of her clinic, was that they even showed up to pray on Sundays, when the clinic was closed. She said that infuriated her because it, more than anything else, showed the spiritual nature of the battle that was going on. When I heard that, I felt so proud of our faithful Sunday volunteers who stand in front of Planned Parenthood every Sunday during our campaign! Way to go Jen, Vince, Rich, George, Ken, Pat, Roseann, Rich, Andrew, Ann, Denise, Steve and Andy. You may have wondered if your Sunday sacrifice was worth it….be encouraged by Abby’s words!
The Procession…A Sign of Contradiction
We truly were a sign of contradiction to many last night…especially as we headed back to the church just as the Pens game was letting out. Our little group of 200 was walking against the current of thousands of Pens fans. The image that came into my mind was the logo for “The Chosen”. Have you seen it? It is a circle containing a school of gray fish, all swimming in the same direction….with a few teal-colored fish that are swimming in the opposite direction. Last night, I felt WE were the “Teal Fish”! I hope that some of the “gray fish” who saw us, and who may have fallen away from the Church…will start to think more about the need to get re-connected with God through His Sacraments. I could see many looking at us with what seemed to be awe and wonder. There are not many public displays of faith in this world anymore. Maybe this is what is needed to begin to heal our broken world…more Jesus in the public sphere! Thank you to His Excellency, Bishop Waltersheid, for carrying Our Lord and for leading us!
Thanks to ALL who sacrificed their time and comfort to come and pray at PP during these 40 days, and for all who fasted and prayed from home as well. You were a sign of contradiction to the culture of death. You proclaimed that life is better than death, and that love is stronger than fear.
Although the Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign has ended, our presence in front of PP continues year-round. Please join us as you are able. Mark your calendars to attend the next Sidewalk Advocate training course on May 24, to learn the best methods of engaging with abortion minded women and men.
Stations of the Cross at PP on Good Friday at 10:00am
And join us on Good Friday at 10 am, as we pray the Stations of the Cross in front of Planned Parenthood, led by Bishop Waltersheid. No need to RSVP….just show up as you are able.
Thank you for all you have done to keep our Pittsburgh 40 Days for Life going strong! May God bless you and yours during this Holy Week!
Nikki
Photos & Videos from last night’s Closing Event:
CLICK HERE FOR A SHORT VIDEO OF OUR PRAYER IN FRONT OF PP WITH THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
One of the pens fans asked us for a palm. He was sincere.
I just noticed it again when looking at the photos and the thought had occurred to me earlier when down there. I see the building next door is for sale. Do we know how much it is and do the powers that be want to consider fundraising to buy it and have a competing center where we offer hope, adoption counseling, guidance for navigating parenthood etc. etc.?
Also, this time around I don’t recall hearing one person of the crowd shouting negative things at us – maybe I just need to get my ears cleaned out. There were a lot of people filming and taking in the Eucharistic procession in their observance of us passing by. I think people’s hearts are more open to God than in recent years when we did the closing day procession.