March for Life 2013

On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22, my husband and four oldest children participated in the March for Life at our State Capitol. We were all going to go, but Kieran was sick so I stayed home with the four youngest children. 

My husband told me that the turn out was great. He and the children were happy to have been able to go and show their support for life. Marchers came from all over the state, filling the steps of the State Capitol building and the steps of the State Supreme Court.

On the Steps of the State Capitol

On the Steps of the State Supreme Court

I was happy to hear that Bishop Elizondo spoke at the March again this year. A few years ago, he talked about asking Our Blessed Mother to intervene for the unborn babies who are in danger of being murdered in their mothers' wombs. During that year, Bishop Elizondo ended his speech by inviting everyone to pray a Hail Mary with him. It was wonderful to hear everyone praying for Mary's intercession together.

Hail Mary,

Full of Grace,

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of  our death.

Amen.

Photos copyright Holy Mackerel Productions.

May God bless Fr. John Hollowell!

Washington State March for Life Photos

On January 18, we participated in the March for Life in Olympia. We were all very impressed with Archbishop Sartain (Seattle's new Archbishop) and the number of people who were present to witness to the sanctity of human life. The local Catholic radio station reported that there were approximately 9000 participants.

The children were thrilled to meet Archbishop Sartain (and so were we). He took the time to ask each of the children their names and shook Patrick's hand for a few minutes, or rather Patrick shook the Archbishop's hand for a few minutes.

Below is a slideshow from the March.

Requiescat in Pace Fr. Paul Marx, OSB

It was with a sad heart that I learned from LifeSiteNews that Fr. Paul Marx, the founder of Human Life International and one of the greatest pro-life leaders the world has ever known, has died.  LifeSiteNews shared the following words from Fr. Frank Pavone:

"I just learned with sorrow of the death of one of the world's greatest pro-life advocates, Fr. Paul Marx, OSB.

"Fr. Marx was, first and foremost, a priest who was not afraid to be a prophet. He knew that his mission in bearing witness to the Gospel and in fostering love of God and neighbor compelled him to speak up for our smallest neighbors, those in the first moments and weeks of life. He undertook countless initiatives, made seemingly endless trips, gave innumerable talks, wrote a warehouse of articles and books, and inspired countless people in the effort to build a Culture of Life.

"I first came to know Fr. Marx through his founding and leadership of Human Life International and the remarkable conferences he held for pro-life advocates around the world. He was always a clear reminder to his brother priests that we should never be afraid to speak about abortion, contraception, and the beauty of human sexuality as taught by the Church. All of us at Priests for Life are grateful for the strong encouragement he gave to our ministry. We will pray not only for the repose of his soul, but for the continued fruit of his labors in the minds and hearts of so many people and in the policies of so many nations."

I met Fr. Paul Marx at a Human Life International conference in Tacoma.  My husband (we were dating at the time) and I attended this conference together each day.  During a break, I saw Fr. Marx in the hallway and he asked me if I wanted to go to confession.  His words took me by surprise, but they echo Fr. Pavone's statement, "Fr. Paul Marx was, first and foremost, a priest..."

ND: Read What Alice Shared

Does it Matter?

And then pray a rosary for our president and our country!

Each night, after the rosary, my second youngest daughter prays, "For Obama that he becomes good and starts protecting the babies, instead of letting them be killed." We should probably all be doing the same.

Washington State March for Life

January 20, 2009

This year's March was truly incredible with at least 7000 people in attendance.

The Miracle of Life

This video, from Catholic Media House, is worth watching and sharing with others.

42 Days Until the Next 40 Days for Life

The message below is from the Lent 2009 Tacoma 40 Days for Life Coordinator.

Are you getting ready for the 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil? It's only 42 days away! We'd like to really fill the sidewalk this vigil, so we're asking for your help.

Before I go any further, I'd like to heartily thank those of you who have already volunteered to be leaders and assistant leaders. We've got a great start on filling the schedule, but we need about 20 more people who would be willing to take on a shift leader / assistant shift leader role. It's a very rewarding experience!

Changes for this vigil: We're asking leaders and assistant leaders for only a 2-hour shift instead of a 3-hour shift. But that means we're going to need more leaders, doesn't it? So... If you might be interested, or know of someone who might be interested in being a leader, can you let me know? Or here's another idea... Would you like to add excitement to your friends' lives? Sign them up to be a shift leader! (By the way... that was a joke!)

And to ALL participants (not just the leaders)... please spread the word about this vigil! It's approaching quickly, and it looks like it's going to be an amazing turnout.

Vigil details:
Same place as usual - in front of Planned Parenthood on Martin Luther King Drive, Tacoma.
Starts Ash Wednesday - Feb 25, and goes through April 5th - a week before Easter.
Shift 1: 10:00-noon
Shift 2:
noon-2:00
Shift 3: 2:00-4:00
Praying all 7 days a week for 40 days...!

Thanks VERY much for your help,

Tom Chambers

The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.
-Edmund Burke

Make a Donation and Get a Christmas Gift

GIVE the gift of hope.
GET cool athletic gear.
GROW 4US into a national charity.

Please consider making a donation to 4US. Your tax-deductible donation will fund the Grow4US national expansion plan. Their all-volunteer charity is developing an infrastructure to "bottle and distribute" their "recipe" to other cities. There are over 2,000 crisis pregnancy centers nationwide -- only 5% of them have ultrasound machines. 4US' founding vision in 2004 guides them to this day: create an all-volunteer charity that hosts events in major metropolitan cities, benefiting centers that are committed to making abortions rare by providing entirely free services to pregnant women in crisis.

Your donation will help them design user-friendly marketing materials, integrated registration and fundraising software, and fund other much-needed capital improvements to help them remain an all-volunteer charity...and illuminate hope for pregnant women in crisis for years to come.A donation as small as $5 allows you to share the gift of hope with someone you love -- with a small token of our appreciation. Larger donation amounts allow your friends and family to proudly wear jerseys and shorts to illuminate hope at the gym, on the track or on the road. Most importantly, 4US athletic gear invites others to join the rhythm of life.

FREE SHIPPING for donations of $30 or more.

Click here to shop now

HT: Gospel of Life Institute

Voting Pro-Life

If you know Catholics who believe it is okay to vote for pro-abortion politicians, you may want to share what some of the U.S. Bishops have stated regarding the necessity to vote for LIFE, www.gospeloflifeinstitute.org/BishopsProlifeVoting.pdf

May God bless those Bishops who “stand up fearlessly against the agents of death.” (Bishop Finn)

Vote NO on I-1000

Washington state does not want physician-assisted suicide.

My children and I have been going door-to-door distributing vote NO on I-1000 literature. The few people to whom we have directly given the information have been very thankful to receive it. If you live in Washington state, please vote NO on I-1000. For more information about this dangerously deceptive and deadly initiative, please visit http://www.noassistedsuicide.com/ If you would like to help defeat I-1000, please make a donation to the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide, https://ssl22.pair.com/stshore/contribute_suicide.html Finally and most importantly, please pray that I-1000 does not pass.

Congratulations to 4US!

4US exceeded their fundraising and registration goals again this year. Participants had a great time, despite the pouring rain.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation to 4US!

Thank you to the following organizations that helped make this event possible:

BCRA
First Command Financial Services
Pinnacle Business Finance
Connelly Law Offices

Founder's Choice Cabinetry

The Spar

Lexus of Tacoma at Fife

Absher Construction

Town Apparel

Cole Screenprint
Raleigh Bicycles

Gray Lumber Company

No Line Cinemas

40 Days for Life

Have you signed up to participate in 40 Days for Life? It began today, Wednesday, September 24. If you are wondering how you can participate, please watch this video.

Please help 4US raise money for babies and their mothers

Thank you to everyone who has registered to participate in and/or made a donation to 4US. As many of you know, 4US is raising money to purchase ultrasound machines for Care Net in Puyallup, and Life Choices in King County and Yakima. The event takes place this Saturday, September 20.

4US has raised almost $36,000. Please help them reach their goal of $100,000 by making a donation to them via one of the Gospel of Life Institute's team members:

Brendan Boyle

www.4us.org/FundraiserPage/tabid/101/fid/554/Default.aspx

Rachel Olson

www.4us.org/FundraiserPage/tabid/101/fid/136/Default.aspx

Fr. Ed White

www.4us.org/FundraiserPage/tabid/101/fid/78/Default.aspx

If you would like to register to participate in 4US, you may do so online until midnight on September 17, or at Point Defiance on the morning of September 20.

Help Washingtonians Oppose Assisted Suicide

Please listen to Fr. Robert J. Spitzer's thought-provoking case which he made against I-1000 (assisted suicide) at a Marian Conference in May and then please visit www.noassistedsuicide.com and make a donation.

Listen here!

As Fr. Spitzer, S.J. shares, the repercussions of I-1000 reach far beyond Washington state.

Cold and calculating - that's Obama

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71571

Donate 4US, 4Babies, 4Mothers, 4 a Priest

Father Ed White has been "illuminating hope" in the lives of babies and mothers for many years. Please show your gratitude for all that Fr. Ed White does for babies, their mothers, and for the cause of LIFE by making a donation to 4US via Father's fundraising page.

4US (formerly known as Ride4US) raises money to purchase ultrasound machines for clinics, illuminating hope for mothers in crisis. Benefitting clinics offer entirely free services to pregnant women, bringing the joy of motherhood into focus within a loving network of support. Participants will ride one of four distances (5, 25, 42 or 62 miles) beginning at 7:30 a.m.; run a 5K or 10K timed race at 10:30 a.m.; or walk (5K) through the pristine beauty of an old-growth forest at 11:00 a.m. All participants will enjoy the Family Fun Festival with a free pancake breakfast, live Christian music, food and inflatables for the children from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Donations may be made online at www.4us.org/FundraiserPage/tabid/101/fid/78/Default.aspx

It is my hope that Father Ed White will be the top fundraiser for 4US. In order for this to happen, the Gospel of Life Institute and St. Stephen the Martyr parish need to raise at least $10,000 for 4US in his name. Please be generous.

If You Care About Human Life...

Please read Joel Connelly's article I-1000 campaign seeks to sell voters on death, visit the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide and make a donation to this organization to help them to defeat I-1000. As Rita Marker recently shared, "Everyone who opposes assisted suicide is a Washingtonian for the next year." (Celebrate Life, March-April 2008, p. 32) Show the people of Washington and our nation that we value human life and that killing people (via assisted suicide) simply because they are sick or disabled is never acceptable.

More links to information on assisted suicide are available via the Gospel of Life Institute's Spotlight page.

Remembering Good Friday

On Good Friday, we participated in a procession and prayer vigil for unborn babies and their mothers.

"Sea Padre" organized and led the procession to Planned Parenthood in West Seattle.

After the prayer vigil, we returned to Holy Family where we started the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena.

Photos were taken by Catherine.

Planned Parenthood Earns Money by Killing Babies