Saturday, October 13, 2012

Defund Abortion Rally- October 13 -2012 - Premier McGuinty's Office in O...





Video from Paul Lauzon at link below

 
Photos below compliments of Paul Lauzon
 
 
 
 





 
 
 
 
 



 

Run With Life: Education Minister needs to return to school

Run With Life: Education Minister needs to return to school: Dear Ms. Broten, Can it possibly be true that you told the Canadian Press that: "Taking away a woman's right to choose could arguably be...

Friday, October 12, 2012

40 Days for Life in Ottawa - October 12 2012

 The students of Saint Paul University were covering the times on the vigil roster today and when I arrived around 11,  Father Adrian was  proclaiming the Word.  During the 40 Days for Life here in Ottawa, the Bible is proclaimed between 11:00 AM and 1:00PM. 
In spite of the really cold temperature and heavy winds there were six people present when I was there.

for greater detail see Father Adrian's blog
http://adriansharp.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/day-18-of-the-40-days-for-life/

Also here is an excellent article written by Father James Whalen 
on Pro Life Stewardship
 
Fr. Jim Whalen, Former National Director of Priests for Life Canada died suddenly while conducting a Pro-Life Parish Mission  On Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the age of 68. 

PRO-LIFE STEWARDSHIP 
by Fr. Jim Whalen
Priests for Life Newsletter Issue 3 - 2005
Stewardship is not an option for pro-life disciples. It is a necessity. It means responding to a personal call to “choose life” and imitate Christ, no matter what the cost. Catholics have a duty to be stewards of human life - Jesus did not hesitate to carry out His mission and expects no less from his followers: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly...” (Jn 10:10). Living as a pro-life steward means collaborating with God in His work of creation and cooperating with God in His work of redemption. A pro-life Christian steward is one who recognizes, receives, and respects God’s gifts of life thankfully - taking care, cherishing them in a responsible and accountable manner, sharing them in love and justice with others, and returning them with increase to the ‘Giver of Life’. A pro-life steward recognizes God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, and the source of all they have, are, and will be. Once human beings have accepted their lives as gifts, the Spirit can use them as instruments to spread the ‘Gospel of Life’.

It is difficult to be a pro-life steward in the ‘Culture of Death’ society that surrounds and suffocates us. The contraceptive mentality we live in is due largely to the strong influences of materialism, relativism, hedonism, individualism, and consumerism. There is a strong tendency to marginalize faith, confining it to hearts and homes, excluding it from the media and marketplace, from where policy is often formed, where many acquire their view of life and its meaning. There is a lack of charity, a lack of love, and a selfishness which pervades our world. There are extreme disparities in wealth and power that hinder unity and communion. There is a need for solidarity and contributive justice, for the measurement of productivity by fulfillment of basic needs, employment levels, patterns of discrimination, and a sense of community. There is a persistence of religious conflicts and divisions. There is a need for mercy, forgiveness, and truth,
Stewardship of life, the Lord’s way, is not about comfortable living, feeling good, or pleasant experiences. It means surrendering ourselves through grace and choice.

We become stewards of life by grace, starting with our Baptism, which makes us into a royal priesthood and members of God’s family. This means sharing in the priestly work of Jesus and acting on His behalf. This means imitating Him. “For in Him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile all things for Him, making peace by the blood of His Cross” (Col 1:19-20). It means putting aside the desire for possession, control and domination. It means seeking grace because it confers true liberation and eternal life. It also means the condemnation of sin and reparation: living a life of grace, reaching out, and accepting the call to greater conversion. It means accepting the divine mandate given to our first parents: “Be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28). We are challenged to work, to cultivate, and to care for the gifts of creation, for life, and all living things. This is fundamental to our human vocation and necessary for human happiness and fulfillment. Vatican II emphasizes our task - the surpassing ministry of safeguarding life: “From the moment of its conception, life must be guarded with the greatest care...” (Gaudium et Spes, #51).

The principle of stewardship applies to all believers. In this age of unbelief we are asked to follow Christ, step by step, in the service of human life: “Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others” (1 Pet 4:10). We must give to God all that is due to Him. We must in charity and justice give to human persons all that is due to them. This means not only giving of ourselves and embracing pro-life discipleship whole-heartedly and cheerfully, but also in realizing our responsibility, we must also give the full amount for which we are accountable. “I will demand an account of every man’s life from his fellowmen” (Gen 9:5).

As stewards our first and foremost responsibility is to give ourselves - our lives. Jesus made this very clear: “Whoever shall save his life [live for self], shall lose it, but whoever shall lose his life [live for Christ and neighbour] for My sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it [in following Christ]” (Mk 8:34-35).
Pro-life stewardship means giving priority to God and our neighbor. The Holy Scriptures point us in the right direction:

- Loving God and others ( Deut 6:5).
- Be found faithful (l Cor 4:2).
- Choose Life (Deut 30:19).
- Pray constantly (1 Thess 5:17).
- To Evangelize (Mt 28:19:20).
- Seek justice (Zeph 2:3).
- Put self on the altar of sacrifice (Rom l2:1).
- Be holy (l Thess 4:3).
- Resist and oppose evil to the point of shedding blood (Heb 12:4).
- Be forgiving (Eph 4:32).
- Imitate Mary’s Fiat (Lk l:38).

After Jesus, it is Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen and Mother of the Americas, Mother of Life, Star of the New Evangelization, Patroness of Life, who, by her example, teaches the meaning of stewardship. The essential elements are found in her life. She responded generously, creatively, and prudently to God’s call and gifts. She understood her role as handmaid in terms of service and fidelity. As Mother she was the first Protectrix of Jesus in the womb, and this continued on into infancy, childhood, and then adulthood - until the agony of Christ’s Passion and Death (Jn 19:25). As ‘Mother of the Church’ (Pope Paul VI, Discourse, 1964), Mary’s stewardship is articulated in the Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium). She is “clearly the Mother of the members of Christ” (#53). She is invoked in the Church under these titles: Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatix (#62). Pope John Paul II explained her role in Redemptoris Mater: “Mary is one of the first who believed and precisely with her faith, as Spouse and Mother, she wishes to act upon all those who entrust themselves to her as children” (#46).
The pro-life disciple is called to share all he or she possesses as gifts and blessings with others for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Good stewards of life live with joy and gratitude for what they have received, living in communion with Christ and the Spirit and strive through diligence and hard work to multiply these blessings so as to offer them back to the Father. They have come to realize and understand their personal responsibility: “To each individual a manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” (l Cor 12:7).

Pro-life stewardship is a position of trustworthiness and faithfulness. In many cases it is a matter of life or death choices. Of necessity, it implies competence and commitment to God and our neighbours. It involves proper use of initiative, talents, and abilities. It also means hard work and tremendous efforts. At times it includes taking appropriate risks courageously. It means accepting a sense of responsibility for one’s personal development: spiritual dimension, discipleship, etc.; for relationships within the family, the workplace and the wider community: follow the ‘Golden Rule’; for certain entrusted material, financial possessions, and resources: keeping promises, fulfilling expectations, loyalty, integrity, etc.

Catholics advocate that pro-life stewardship be Trinitarian, Eucharistic, Scriptural, Marian, and Magisterial. It means giving thanks to God for the gifts received and sharing them with others, “leading to works of charity and mutual help, as well as to missionary activity and to different forms of Christian witness” (Vatican II, Presbyterorum Ordinis, #6). It means living the fundamental pattern of stewards: “Serve one another through love..., bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 5:13; 6:2). It means service of life by doing all for Jesus, through Mary, by doing all with Jesus and Mary (True Devotion, St Louis de Montfort).
 
One method of pro-life stewardship is to volunteer
for pro-life work. These are some of the Board Members
and volunteers of Priests for Life Canada at a recent
appreciation luncheon (June 2005).
 
Pro-life stewards are called to share the life of the Blessed Trinity: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations: baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19). Pro-life disciples model their lives on their Master, Jesus Christ, who said: “I have come not to be served but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). +

NOTES: Information & Research
Stewardship, a Disciple’s Response, U.S.C.C.C.B. Publishing, 10th Anniversary Edition, Washington, DC, No. 5-465, 80 pp. See: www.usccb.org/publishing.
To be a Christian Steward, Summary U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, U.S.C.C.C.B. Publishing, No 568-2, 16 pp. See: www.usccb.org/publishing.

Go and Make Disciples, Evangelization Strategy, U.S. Catholic Bishops, No. 5-475, 104 pp. See: www.usccb.org/publishing.
Principles for Life, Robert Boyd, 1995, Chapter 12, Stewardship, pp. 109-114. +

Thursday, October 4, 2012

40 Days for Life Campaign - Annunciation of the Lord Parish prays for an end to abortion


Today parishioners of the Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Ottawa were at ground zero to pray for an end to abortion.  Many from across the city came to pray with us including Frances and Eileen who are there almost every day. There were about 4 to 6 people per hour and at one point during the proclamation of the Word there were 18 present. Both Our priests Father Jerry Gauvreau C.C. and Father Yves Marchildon C.C. were there as well as Jorge who is a Seminarian with the Companions of the Cross.
I strongly believe that our very good participation today was largely due to the strong support of our two priests.  Father Jerry gave a strong pro life homily two weeks ago at all our masses and invited us all to participate in this important event.

I also noticed more support from passers by than other years. I think this is catching on. Thank you Lord!

Thank you to our parish reps; Melanie, Theresa and Lois and a special thanks to all who came out today!
 
from Father Jerry's homily - Sept 23 2012
 
We cannot be silent any longer – it’s time to be Pro-Life in this culture of death – and don’t let anyone tell you to mind our own business, because this is our business – as Christians and as Catholics, the child in the womb is our responsibility .  
 
 

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Senator St. Germain's Senate statement on Rona Ambrose' Freedom of expression

Senator St. Germain just made the following statement in the Senate on October 2, 2012:
Honourable Senators,
Freedom of expression is a right often taken for granted.
As Parliamentarians, we enjoy the use of this right – free from hindrance – every day throughout the discourse of our debates and though other channels of communication.
as representatives of the public, We are responsible to uphold this right, and protect its value.
Last week in the other place this coveted right was under siege after being exercised by the Honourable Rona Ambrose during a free vote.
The issue of Ms. Ambrose’s vote in favour of Motion 312 goes beyond the subject matter of the Motion its self.
The outcry from the folks condemning her democratic action only highlights the ugly truth in this country that freedom of expression does not exist in the face of intolerance.
The opinions expressed by these special interest groups toward the actions of Ms. Ambrose are rather disingenuous.
They fail to realize that tolerance is a two way street.
During my nearly 30 years as a Parliamentarian, never once did I regret my decision to exercise my right to stand up for what I believed in.
And I defended my decisions against dissenting opinions, as was my right to do so - - - as much as it was their right to disagree with me.
But never once was I condemned or cast as morally void for having excised my right to vote freely.
Honourable Senators, whether we agree or disagree with the issue at hand, Ms. Ambrose should be congratulated - not condemned - for having the courage of her convictions to stand up and freely vote her conscience.
As a Member of Parliament, her actions rightly represent the essence of our democratic society.

Pro Life Homily September 23, 2012 - Father Jerry Gauvreau Companions of the Cross


Pro Life Homily September 2012
Father Jerry Gauvreau  C.C

 
 So you’ll notice that by looking at this week’s bulletin that there’s a couple of pro- life events coming up, so this is probably just as good as any Sunday to talk about abortion, pro - life movement.  Certainly the readings can tie in to all this for sure.
 
If you look at Campaign Life Coalition web site they report that: abortion is legal in Canada throughout all 9 months of pregnancy – for any reason .
 
And when you read about the definition of the types of abortion performed, especially what partial birth abortion is really all about, I don’t know how anyone can still come away and be pro-choice.  Plain and simple, abortion is murder.
 
Our Catechism, paragraph 2270 very clearly teaches us that: human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of  his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person…
 
This past Friday in the House of Commons, MP Mr. Stephen Woodworth proposed to the members of Parliament a bill commonly referred to as Motion 312 – you may have heard  of  it last spring – we knew this was coming.
 
In Motion 312 he urges Members of Parliament to call on a study of when human life begins – If scientific evidence tells us that our legal definition of who is a human being is wrong, is it right for us to ignore it? – He asks  “why would anyone oppose a respectful dialogue to gather evidence on such an important law?”
 
So Friday night I called his office and just left him a message supporting him, blessing him, telling him I was praying for him, thanking him for having the courage to put this Motion forward.
 
Campaign Life Coalition’s President Mr. Jim Hughes says, “Motion 312 calls for parliament to evaluate an outdated 400 year old law that denies modern scientific evidence that proves that life begins at conception.”
In my own personal research, over and over and over again, it shows that scientific studies have proven that within weeks of Conception a baby’s heart can be detected – in less than 2 months all vital organs are present in the baby which is a real person – not a blob of tissue.
 
The vote on Motion 312 will be held most likely this coming Wednesday, the Feast of St. Jean de Brebeuf and the Holy Canadian Martyrs – St Jean de Brebeuf  had his heart cut out and eaten by the Iroquois , tortured ; they saw his courage and they wanted it.
 
So if the Motion  is defeated I would just like Mr. Harper to know as well as all the Members of Parliament that the Pro-Life Movement is not going away – we’re here to stay, we’re in your face – we’re  going to be around  a lot longer than any of  us will and any of them.  The Pro-Life Movement has courage; catch it!
 
We cannot be silent any longer – it’s time to be Pro-Life in this culture of death – and don’t let anyone tell you to mind our own business, because this is our business – as Christians and as Catholics, the child in the womb is our responsibility.
 ( CC#2270 )  - Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception…
 
A few years ago Archbishop Adam Exner said the same thing : He said it’s time to stop making excuses.  It’s time to stop being afraid of what others will think when we stand up for what is right. It’s time to challenge the status quo. It’s time to put our faith into action. It’s time to be Pro-Life in private and in public. A child is not a problem to be eliminated but a gift always to be cherished …
 
And just this week in the news, I’m not sure if you read about it, but there ‘s a lot of articles about Justin Beiber’s mother .  I’m not sure, did anybody hear her story?  She’s come out with a book but she admitted that when she got pregnant with Justin she considered having an abortion.  Everybody told her to.  She was 17, a messed up kid, on drugs and alcohol  - but in her heart she knew it was wrong – I think in her heart she knew a child is not a problem to be eliminated but a gift always to be cherished.
 
And just last year, you might remember Justin himself was asked about abortion and he said  “I really don’t believe in abortion – I think the unborn child is a human being”  – he took a lot of  flack for that statement: God bless him!
 
Fr. Frank Pavone, Founder of Priests’ for Life says he received a letter one time from a lady who told him that planned parenthood told her that her pregnancy was a blob of tissue as easily removable as a wart.  “No one told me I was killing a human being or spoke to me about adoption or single parenting.”
 
You may have heard the story of an NHL goalie named  Justin Pogge.   When his mother became pregnant she was going to jump off a bridge, but she felt her baby kick - and she changed her mind – a lump of tissue does not kick.  A baby is not a problem to be eliminated but a gift from God !
 
Last May, many of you know I was on a Marian pilgrimage in Medugorje and it was at the same time when we were holding the Pro-Life week here in Ottawa.  And during the annual March for Life here in Ottawa  - I followed it closely through the internet – but close to 20,000 people participated, marching through the streets of Ottawa bringing the Pro-Life message into the very heart of Parliament Hill.
 
And while in Medugorje I heard a story, first hand account from a gentleman who told me how an abortion  doctor from the Ukraine visited Medugorje, well you know the only reason she went was because it was a free trip  - check things out. So, one day she hikes up apparition hill where Our Blessed Mother is said to have first appeared and when she got up there she looked around , she had a vision of every child’s skull and bones that she had murdered through abortion over the last forty  years. Today, they are bringing more and more doctors over there for retreats; pro life retreats.
 
In 1994 Mother Teresa  said, “ I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion because it’s a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child¼if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child how can we tell people not to kill one another? “
 
By abortion the mother does not learn to love but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And by abortion the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. The father is likely to put others in the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love but to use violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion¼


 


So what are some other powerful Pro - Life Movements and Campaigns that are happening these days ?  Well, I have already mentioned March for Life.  Many parishes have a Letter writing campaigns to their members of parliament and the prime minister.  I wrote my first one when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I remember being at the kitchen table and specifically asking my father, “what’s abortion?”  I didn’t have a clue. He said, “the Government  kills babies.”
 
So recently I came across a beautiful story. It’s called  The Letters for Life Story, and  this was initiated by a seventeen  year old girl by the name of Alexandra  ( if I pronounce her last name right ) Jezierski.
See, she was disappointed in the fact that Prime Minister Harper doesn’t even have the courage to open up and discuss the abortion issue.
So last spring she started a letter writing Campaign in the hopes that MP’s would receive 100,000 letters that speak out against the evils of abortion. As the Letter writing Campaign progressed she turned the Campaign towards supporting Mr. Woodworth’s Motion 312. Then they teamed up with MP Postcard Campaign which was doing something very similar. Every letter written and every postcard sent to MP’s was to act as a voice for every child that will be aborted in Canada this year. Over 100,000 letters and postcards , tens of thousands of which are still being sorted through the Post Office.  Because of a back log, they may not make it to the offices of the MP’s because of a shortage of man power. So today is a good day to pray, the day saint Anthony died: get em delivered
 
Over 100,00 letters and postcards each representing a  child of God who will be aborted in Canada this year – 100,000 aborted children in which you and I and every Member of Parliament are responsible for their well being and protection.
 
So moving  on we have also 40 Days for Life. Put your hands up it you’ve heard of 40 Days for Life. Quite a few of you: alright! Check this story out.
40 Days for Life is an International Campaign of prayer and peaceful witness outside abortion facilities to highlight and defeat abortion for what it is – murder of babies who have no voice.
 
The first 40 Days for Life was held in Texas back in 2004
A local Pro-Life group prayed for an answer about how to reduce abortion in their area – and this is what the Lord revealed to them: 40 days, prayerful witness for life.
 
The Campaign came together in a matter of weeks. A thousand people came forward to participate and their prayers led to a twenty eight per cent  decline in abortions in that community.
 
So here we are 12 years later: 40 Days for Life is spreading : this Fall, next week actually, there are 316 locations holding 40 Days for Life prayer  campaigns. Across the United States – forty nine States are involved
Here is Canada , seven provinces – which includes eighteen cities right here in Ontario: Ottawa is one of them. But they’re also being held in England, Spain, Australia and for the first time -Uganda –
 
So are they making any difference? Well, a little bit of research tells me that some abortion workers have quit their jobs and are now Pro-Life, twenty four abortion facilities have closed and organizers of 40Days for Life show that close to 6,000 babies have been saved. It’s a beautiful number, even at one would make it all worthwhile, even if one child was saved
 
So the sixth 40 Days for Life begins in Ottawa this Wednesday, the same day interestingly enough that Motion 312 will be voted upon. And our parish will be on site as we were last year for one day. Our day this years is Thursday, Oct 4th  and there are sign up sheets in the Narthex – So I want to really encourage you to come out.
 
As well as next Sunday afternoon is the twenty eight Annual Life Chain  from 2:00 to 3:00 at the corner of Montreal Road and Saint Laurent Boulevard. We’ll meet in the parking lot here about 1:40 to car pool down so again, please join us.  We can make a difference: together we can make a difference to be a voice for an aborted child, even one who may be threatened by abortion.


 

This whole issue of abortion ; our Late Holy Father John Paul II says the Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision and She does not doubt that in many cases it was painful and even a shattering decision . The wound in your heart may not yet have healed . Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong but do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. God the Father of Mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

So in closing I’d like to just encourage all of you to fast and pray for the  Life Chain next Sunday that the Lord will touch many hearts, and also during the 40 Days for Life prayer campaigns going on across Canada, the United States and other countries.

 

Know today’s readings are very powerful and in the Gospel Jesus says, as he took a child among him, taking it in his arms he said: “whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me…”

 

Monday, October 1, 2012

Good Shepherd Parish prays for an end to abortion

I joined my friend Jennifer Snell and parishioners of the Good Shepherd Parish, including several Legion of Mary members, as they spent the day in prayer at 65 Bank Street as part of the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Here are some photos I took. Parishioners also participated in the Proclamation of the Word between 11 and 1

For Jennifer's report click here
 
 Proclamation of the Word

















Legion of Mary
Our Lady of Guadalupe Praesidium

Life Chain - Sunday September 30 2012 - Saint Laurent Blvd. and Montreal Rd. Ottawa ON










 

40 Days for Life Kick Off Rally - Ottawa Ontario - Summary


Monday, September 24, 2012

Father Jerry Gauvreau's Pro Life Homily - September 23, 2012


Run With Life: Pro-choice

Run With Life: Pro-choice: I think our MPs need to look at what the folks over at CCBR are doing. They might want to rethink whether or not they still want to vote aagainst Stephen Woodworth's motion 312.

There's nothing like the unvarnished truth of watching an abortion procedure--juxtaposed with Joyce Arthur speaking about her dogma of "women's rights"--to make you sit up and take notice.. For more click here

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Run With Life: Pro-life people are not going away

Run With Life: Pro-life people are not going away: The priests at our parish are unabashedly pro-life. Thank God for that. This morning we were lucky to hear a pretty pointed pro-life homil...

Friday, September 21, 2012

Run With Life: Who will the MPS listen to?

Run With Life: Who will the MPS listen to?: Check out Ted Gerk's excellent analysis of what Chief Justice Bertha Wilson said about abortion rights and abortion law. And about how Parliament is the place for debate on this subject to take place.

We already know only too well, how many Canadians are influenced by the extreme pro-abortion advocates in this country and it is unfortunate, since much of what they say is a perversion and twisting of reality. As Ted points out the pro-abortions even contradict themselves, changing their tune as they scoot along their merry pro-abortion way.

As a result of this loud and noisy revisionist nonsense, many Members of Parliament are also afraid to allow Canadians to debate abortion on any level, even when the discussion is only about a discussion on when does a child become a human being.

As for the pro-abortions, are they afraid of what might happen if we get to have this discussion? That their abortion rights house of cards might come tumbling down?

Let's hope our MPs use their own consciences today to decide for themselves whether or not Canadians should be allowed to discuss the point of Stephen Woodworth's motion.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Archdiocese of Toronto Blog: Cardinal Collins Affirms Statement from Archbishop...

Archdiocese of Toronto Blog: Cardinal Collins Affirms Statement from Archbishop...: Cardinal Thomas Collins has asked that the communication below be reproduced in this space, to help educate our Catholic community and to a...

Official Satement by Archbishop Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver, regarding the morality of support for ‘gestational’ legislation.

Statement on Catholics Who Support Gestational Legislation

The Archdiocese of Vancouver strongly supports the prolife movement in Canada. We encourage prolife legislators, activists and groups to work cooperatively towards achieving recognition in Canadian law of the right to life of every person from conception to natural death. Cooperation does not always mean unanimity regarding a given strategy; open and civil debate about the wisdom of any specific strategy is healthy. We affirm the freedom of each member of the movement to discern the Wisdom of proposing and following a particular plan of action. In every instance, it is necessary to be guided by a well­ informed conscience regarding the moral liceity of an initiative.
For more information   click here


 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Homily - Father Yves Marchildon -Sunday September 2, 2012



An author, Sister Ruth Burrows, from England, wrote this about faith:
“Faith is not a thing of the mind, it is not an intellectual certainty or a felt conviction of the heart. It is a sustained decision to take God with utter seriousness as the God of my life. It is to live out each hour in a practical, concrete affirmation that God is Father and he is “in heaven.” It is a decision to shift the center of our lives from ourselves to him, to forego self- interest and make his interests, his will, our sole concern …”

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Crossroads Canada Walkers Come to Ottawa

Eleven young adults from Crossroads Canada, a cross-Canada pro-life walk in which two of our parishioners ( Annunciation of the Lord, Ottawa) have been participating, will be completing their journey on Saturday, August 11th in Ottawa. There will be a welcome rally at noon on Parliament Hill folowed by an informal luncheon at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, 95 Somerset St. West, at 1pm. All are welcome to attend. A pair of walkers will be speaking at the end of Mass in a few east-end churches Saturday evening and Sunday morning, including Annunciation of the Lord, giving a brief synopsis of their summer journey.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Run With Life: Priests for Life Canada and what they support

Run With Life: Priests for Life Canada and what they support: This is what Priests for Life Canada support regarding incremental abortion legislation. This statement is dated July 12, 2012 and is on the...

Monday, July 16, 2012

Pope John Paul II said

 Pope John Paul II said :

“A particular problem of conscience can arise in cases where a legislative vote would be decisive for the passage of a more restrictive law, aimed at limiting the number of authorized abortions, in place of a more permissive law already passed or ready to be voted on. Such cases are not infrequent. It is a fact that while in some parts of the world there continue to be campaigns to introduce laws favouring abortion, often supported by powerful international organizations, in other nations-particularly those which have already experienced the bitter fruits of such permissive legislation-there are growing signs of a rethinking in this matter. In a case like the one just mentioned, when it is not possible to overturn or completely abrogate a pro-abortion law, an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality. This does not in fact represent an illicit cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to limit its evil aspects.” (Evangelium Vitae, 73).

Friday, July 13, 2012

Run With Life: Banning third trimester abortions

Run With Life: Banning third trimester abortions: Mary Ellen Douglas from Campaign Life Coalition comments on the latest Ipsos Reid/Postmedia poll, which states that some 60% of Canadians would support an abortion law that would ban third trimester abortions.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Working Towards What Is Possible by Mike Schouten

Working Towards What Is Possible

Written by Mike Schouten
"Together, through education and political action we can end the killing in Canada!"
Linking arms ed and politicaThe Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) has just completed its latest educational initiative. The New Abortion Caravan travelled from Vancouver to Ottawa making visible the injustice of Canada’s greatest human rights violation - the killing of 100,000 pre-born children every year.
The gruesome reality of abortion that was exposed by the New Abortion Caravan is inescapable. It doesn’t leave you. You go home with it. I know I certainly did. The result of this cross-country tour is that Canadians are increasingly uncomfortable as they see what decades of unfettered access to abortion has brought our land. Abortion on demand through all 9 months of pregnancy has become morally unacceptable for a majority of people living in Canada.

For more of this article click on the link below
http://weneedalaw.ca/index.php/blog/162-workingtowardswhatispossible

Monday, July 9, 2012

Abortion caravan : Prime time : SunNews Video Gallery

Abortion caravan : Prime time : SunNews Video Gallery
Stephanie Gray from the Canadian Centre for bio-ethical reform, on how her group is hoping to change Canadian hearts, minds, and laws, when it comes to abortion.

Julie's Story - GAP Changes minds

Friday, June 29, 2012

Run With Life: He Leadeth me: the series

Run With Life: He Leadeth me: the series:   Faith in him alone  June 16, 2012 Seeking and finding God  June 22, 2012 In Russia  June 24, 2012 What Hell must be like   Jun...

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Run With Life: The future of "Therapeutic Homicide"

Run With Life: The future of "Therapeutic Homicide": The National Post has reported on a recently published editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that says Canada needs to debate the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia—which they are calling “therapeutic homicide.”

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Run With Life: Can pride be defeated?

Run With Life: Can pride be defeated?: "Pride can never defeat pride; only humility can defeat pride." From Peter Kreeft's book Christianity for Modern Pagans

Run With Life: Seeking and finding God's will

Run With Life: Seeking and finding God's will: "To predict what God's will is going to be, to rationalize about 'what his will must be, is at once a work of human folly and yet the subtlest of all temptations. The plain and simple truth is that his will is what he actually wills to send us each day, in the way of circumstances, places, people, and problems....

Friday, June 22, 2012

Run With Life: Are abortion guidelines enough?

Run With Life: Are abortion guidelines enough?: The Insufficiency of Guidelines Written by Mike Schouten Canada should do away with its drunk driving laws. We no longer need laws prohi...

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Restrictive abortion laws save lives

Restrictive abortion laws save lives

Restrictive abortion laws save lives
Written by Mike Schouten
GavelThe mission of WeNeedaLAW.ca is to build support for federal legislation that restricts abortion to the greatest extent possible. This mission is based on the Biblical understanding regarding the role of government to promote order and restrain evil. In Canada there have been no legislative victories for pro-lifers in over 20 years, while in the United States nearly 100 pro-life laws were passed in 2011 alone! In spite of the ongoing status quo, we know that a majority of Canadians support abortion restrictions and it's high time we work towards that being reflected in law.
Looking to our southern neighbours, we see that time and time again lives are being saved through legislative victories.
We share with you some recent news from the state of Florida where due to the passing of several pro-life laws in 2011, they have seen a marked decrease in the number of abortions committed.

Florida Abortions Drop Again After New Pro-Life Laws

by Steven Ertelt
After the Florida legislature put several new pro-life laws in place, the state has seen a further drop in the number of abortions done.
According to state health department numbers, abortions dropped in Florida 19 percent from 2008-2011 and the decline continues. With the legislature approving a bill that allows women to see an ultrasound of their baby before an abortion, more minds are apparently changing. Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill after it had been vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist the year before.
There were 95,375 abortions in Florida in 2008, according to the state health department and that total dropped to 77,166 in 2011. Now, the state Agency for Health Care Administration reports 28,023 abortions so far this year — which is off the pace from 2011.
Helping drive down abortion numbers further is the fact that the number of abortion facilities is dwindling — with 30 percent having closed since 2005 and the number dropping to 70 abortion facilities across the state, Sunshine State News indicates.
This year has been a case of good news and bad news for pro-life advocates in Florida. Read more...

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Run With Life: How to get to heaven

Run With Life: How to get to heaven: "What is childlike humility? It's not the lack of intelligence, but the lack of guile. The lack of an agenda. It's that precious, fleeting...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

My letter to my MP asking him to support motion 312

This is the letter I wrote to Mauril Belanger asking him to support motion 312 and I ask you to consider contacting your member of Parliament to do the same. As you can see from the article below, some MP's are looking for guidance from their constituents on how to vote. You can find your MP at this link http://www.whenamihuman.com/mp.html 

June 6, 2012


Mauril Belanger, MP
Riding of Ottawa, Vanier, Ontario

Dear Mr. Belanger,

I noticed from the article below that Barrie MP Patrick Brown is looking for guidance on how he should vote on a motion to study when life begins. I assume that all MP’s are doing the same so as one of your constituents Mr. Belanger, I ask you to please support motion 312.

Thank you,

Maureen T. Ward,

MPs to debate when life begins

BARRIE - Barrie MP Patrick Brown is looking for guidance on how he should vote on a motion to study when life begins.
“I feel anytime votes on social issues come up, it’s important to seek out input of the community. I want to make sure my vote is reflective of the wishes of the city,” said Brown, who adds the vote could occur as soon as June 13.
Motion 312 calls for a study on the evidence of when a fetus becomes a human being.
“Currently, there is no regulation at all in Canada, so (Kitchener Centre MP) Stephen Woodworth has said it should be studied.”
Woodworth filed a motion Feb. 6 to ask Parliament to form a special committee to study the question.
“Canada’s 400-year-old definition of human being says children are not human beings until the moment of complete birth. I’ve concluded that modern medical science will inform us that children are in reality human beings at some point before the moment of complete birth,” he said. “Canadians need to know there’s no human rights for children before complete birth.”
Woodworth said he doesn’t want to reopen the abortion debate, but that Canada needs a just law.
“A respectful dialogue to update a 400-year-old definition of human being with the aid of 21st century information will benefit everyone,” he said.
In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s abortion law, as it violated Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by interfering with a woman’s freedom and personal security.
Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) is opposing the motion, as it reopens the abortion debate.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he won’t support the motion, because of that perception.
“The motion is a vehicle for religious groups and the anti-choice movement to establish legal personhood for fetuses. If they succeed, they’ll try to re-criminalize abortion,” said ARCC’s executive director Joyce Arthur.
Brown added he is encouraging constituents to send letters and emails.
“People can send me petitions or letters. I’m surprised there has been very little input on this when other MPs have told me they have had a lot.”
Brown met with the Barrie Christian Council – a group of local ministers – Friday.

Run With Life: Top secret abortion figures

Run With Life: Top secret abortion figures: Barbara Kay says it like it is. And she gives us a pretty good final analysis on what happened recently in Ontario regarding Freedom of Information, or lack thereof:

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Prayer of Oscar Romero

The Prayer of Oscar Romero

"It helps now and then to step back and take the long view" - wise words from Archbishop Oscar Romero. The Archbishop served the people of El Salvador and was assassinated in 1980 while he was saying mass in San Salvador.
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Bullies?

2012 05-17 Dr. Anthony Levatino Statement



Testimony of Anthony Levatino, MD, JD before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives on The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803)

Read story on Lifesitenews
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/thank-goodness-i-can-still-cringe

Friday, June 1, 2012

Run With Life: "Pro-choice"

Run With Life: "Pro-choice": My mother used to say, "You may as well laugh as to cry". I thought of that saying as I sat down to write this blog entry. I wanted to te...