Dec. 27-28: Special collection for Family and Pro-Life Activities and Maternity Homes

Dec. 27-28: Special collection for Family and Pro-Life Activities and Maternity Homes

Each year the special collection taken up on the Feast of the Holy Family supports maternity homes, foster care programs and adoption services and helps expectant mothers. The appeal, taken up on Dec. 27-28, specifically supports the Annunciation Maternity Home in Georgetown and Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Home in Temple.

 

 

Theology of the Body

The Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living, in preparation for offering a Theology of the Body certification, is seeking anyone in the Diocese of Austin who has received Theology of the Body Certification from the Theology of the Body Institute. If you have received other training in Theology of the Body, we would also be interested to hear from you. Please contact Marie Seale at (512) 949-2487

 

 

 

40 Days for Life and Million Voices Campain - 12/16/08

Would you like to play an active role in helping

to overturn the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision

that imposed abortion on America?

Then you are invited to join a LIVE conference

call tomorrow night -- Tuesday, December 16 --

where you will learn about an important effort

being conducted by The Justice Foundation and

Operation Outcry -- the "Million Voices Campaign":

http://www.MillionVoicesCampaign.com

This campaign is aggressively working to collect

one million declarations from women (and men) who

have been hurt by abortion.

These legally admissible testimonies will then be

presented to the U.S. Supreme Court to demonstrate

the harm caused by abortion -- and to give the

Court the tools necessary to reverse the unjust

Roe v. Wade decision.

This effort is already gaining momentum and its

efforts were cited in the Supreme Court's ruling

that upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban.

To learn more about this important project, you

are invited to join the one-hour conference call

Tuesday night at 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific) where

you will discover:

>> What the "Million Voices Campaign" is about

>> Why this effort is important to ending abortion

>> The progress that has already been made in the

efforts to collect one million testimonies of

women and men hurt by abortion.

You will also hear inspiring stories of hope and

healing from women who have experienced abortion.

The presenters on the call will include:

** ALLAN PARKER, president of The Justice

Foundation

** CLAYTON TROTTER, general counsel for The

Justice Foundation

** LISA DUDLEY, director of outreach for Operation

Outcry

** TRACY REYNOLDS, producer of "Faces of Abortion

and media liaison for The Justice Foundation

** KAREN BODLE, prayer team leader and

Pennsylvania state leader for Operation Outcry

** MISSY SMITH, Washington D.C. leader for

Operation Outcry and 40 Days for Life local

campaign leader

It's absolutely FREE to participate, but they have

only a limited number of slots available.

Get more details and register for the call at:

http://www.MillionVoicesCampaign.com

I'll be on the call and hope you can join me!

Blessings,

David Bereit

National Campaign Director

40 Days for Life

Dates set for the 40 Days for Life campaigns in 2009

Two 40 Days for Life campaigns are now scheduled for 2009. February 25^th to April 5^th, and September 23^rd to November 1^st.

The fall 2008 40 Days for Life campaign involved prayers, fasting, and peaceful prayer vigils outside abortion centers in 179 cities throughout the United States and in other countries as well. The number of documented lives saved by the fall campaign was 614! That is 614 children who are alive today and 614 mothers who have been spared a lifetime of regrets. Praise be to God.

Last spring Austin participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign, but we did not participate in the Fall. Please pray that in for the upcoming campaigns Austin will again participate.

Grief to Grace Ministries

Grief to Grace Ministries

743 Roy Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

Dear Friends,

We are coming to you as we approach the 10th anniversary of printing the “Rachel’s Vineyard” Retreat manual. Today, there are over 650 retreats being run on every continent and in 47 states. Our program for healing is internationally recognized as a unique and effective sensory based treatment for trauma recovery. Because of this, we have been encouraged to develop a similar program for victims of sexual abuse in particular, and for the consequences of other forms of abuse as well.

We have done that!

We began piloting our new program, “Grief to Grace” to assist in the healing journey of those whose lives have been damaged by abuse. This healing ministry program was developed by Dr. Theresa Burke and Kevin Burke, MSW, with the same care, faith, compassion and professionalism as their “Rachel’s Vineyard” program.

The “Grief to Grace” program will be utilized as a 4-5 day ministry program designed to:

Heal the wounds of abuse and reclaim the gift of sexual dignity, and

Help release shame and facilitate the recovery of sexual integrity, self-worth and the ability to lead happy fulfilling lives.

This ministry program will empower abuse survivors with a process for releasing the grief, transforming the pain and receiving the necessary tools to recover from their abuse.

The program has been written and tested over the past five years and now is beginning to spread. We want to be prepared to meet the demands with staff, trainers and the publication of materials which are needed.

This is where we need you!

As you all know, it takes prayer, time, money and volunteers to effectively administer any program. We invite you to support this effort and indicate the monthly donation you will be able to commit to this new venture. If possible, we would ask that you have your donation debited to a credit card so that we will know what we can count on each month for our budget. If everyone receiving this request sends just $10 a month we will be able to hire staff and maintain the level of professionalism for which we are known. And of course, we ask for your prayers as we minister the healing love of Jesus Christ to those we serve.

We are very excited about what God has in store as we move out in faith and with great expectation.

We are working in partnership with The Institute of Christian Healing to develop a Training Program to empower and equip those who wish to facilitate the Grief to Grace Program. Your contribution to Grief to Grace is tax deductible through the Institute of Christian Healing.

To make a commitment with a one time or monthly pledge, click here: Paypal

Or send your donation to Grief to Grace, 743 Roy Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406

With Gratitude,

Theresa Burke, Ph.D.

Kevin Burke, MSS, LSW

and

The Institute for Christian Healing

Julie Wegryn, MS,

Eileen Schrader, MSW

Douglas Schoeninger, PHD

Gabriel Project: Used Stroller Needed

A mom at the Gabriel Project Life Center is in need of a used stroller. If you have one please call Delia at 651-6121.

Volunteer Opportunities available at the Gabriel Project Life Center

If you are interested in volunteering at the Gabriel Project Life Center, we are currently in need of childcare for our parenting/pre-natal classes for the month of December. Below is the schedule when we could need volunteers:

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 3rd from 9:45am until 12pm

Next Week:
Tuesday Dec. 9th from 9:45am until 11am
Wednesday, Dec. 10th from 9:45am until 11am
Friday, Dec. 12th from 9:45am until 12pm
and Monday, Dec. 15th from 10:45am until 12:30pm

Please feel free to contact us at 651-6121 for more information.

Save the Date: Pro-Life Saturday in Austin - 1/24/09

All are invited to attend the following:

Pro-Life Activities on

Pro-Life Saturday in Austin

January 24, 2009

7:00 am – Prayer Vigil at South Austin Planned Parenthood

Facility, 201 East Ben White Blvd.

10:00 am – Rosary For Life led by teens and young adults

while elementary school students reenact each of the

joyous mysteries at San Jose Catholic Church, 2435

Oak Crest in Austin.

10:30 am – Diocesan Pro-Life Mass celebrated by Bishop

Gregory Aymond at San Jose Church in Austin. All

priests of the Diocese are invited to concelebrate.

Our diocesan seminarians will be joining us. The

parish of San Jose will serve lunch for a nominal fee

in the Parish Hall after Mass

1:00 pm – Gathering for March for Life at 4th and Guadalupe

1:30 pm – March for Life down Congress Ave. to the Capital

2:00 – 3:00 pm – Rally for Life on the South steps of the

Capital

3:30 – 5:30 pm – Party for Life at the University Catholic

Center, 2010 University Avenue hosted by the

Catholic Longhorns for Life and the Office of Pro-Life

Activities. Come meet our diocesan seminarians

and join us for food, fun, friendship, and door prizes.

All are invited to attend. Please RSVP to the Pro-Life

Office by Jan 20, 2009 if you plan to attend the party.

For more information or to RSVP

contact the Office of

Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living

by email at marie-seale@austindiocese.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother and Patroness of the Unborn, Pray for Us!

Diocese: Killeen November Prayer Vigil - 12/27/08

Killeen November Prayer Vigil - The Killeen November Prayer Vigil is scheduled for Saturday, December 27th. The Prayer Vigil will begin with Mass at 8:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2903 E. Rancier Ave., Killeen followed by a car caravan and procession at 9:45 am to pray the Mysteries of the Rosary at Killeen Women’s Health Center, 3106 S.W. Young Dr, Killeen from 10 am to 11 am. All will return to St. Joseph Church for closing and fellowship at 11:15 am. For more information, contact Karen Hinze @ 254-986-1134.

“I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision. The wound in your heart may not have yet healed. Do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try, rather, to understand what happened and face it honestly. The Father of mercies is ready to give you His forgiveness and His peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.” -Pope John Paul II

If you or someone you know has experienced and abortion, we can help. Please call Project Rachel at 1-877- WE CARE 2.

Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning Introductory Session - 12/6/08

Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning Introductory Session

The next Introductory Session in North Austin will be held on Saturday December 6, 2008 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church from 10 - 11:30am. Registration is required by the Wednesday before and there is a $ 5 fee. For more information or to register, please contact Robert and Kelly Tavarez at (512) 258-9304.

Source: http://ccl.austin.tx.us/

Creighton Model Natural Family Planning Introductory Session - 12/4/08

A Creighton Model Natural Family Planning introductory session will be presented December 4 at 7 pm at the FertilityCare Center at 2020 Guadalupe in Austin.

For more information to register, contact the NFP Center at 1(888) 590-2757 or nfpcenter@sbcglobal.net.

Source: Catholic Spirit

Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning Introductory Session - 11/30/08

Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning Introductory Session

The next Introductory Session in South Austin will be held Sunday, November 30, 2008 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church from 3 - 4:30pm. Registration is required by the Wednesday before and there is a $5 fee. For more information or to register, please contact David and Donna Freidenfeld at (512) 292-6090.

Source: http://ccl.austin.tx.us/

Creighton Model Natural Family Planning Introductory Session - 11/29/08

A Creighton Model Natural Family Planning introductory session will be presented Nov. 29 at 10am at St. Helen Parish. FMI or to register, contact the NFP Center at 1(888) 590-2757 or nfpcenter@sbcglobal.net.

Source: St. Helen Catholic Church

Pilgrimage for Life - 11/24/08

The Texas Catholic Conference will host the Pilgrimage for Life in Huntsville on Nov. 24. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will lead the walk to promote reflection, prayer and hope for the fullness of Church teaching on the life and dignity of the human person, from conception to natural death. The day begins with Mass at St. Thomas Parish in Huntsville, followed by a 1-mile procession from an abortion referral center to Texas’ death row. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, visit the Web site linked below.

http://www.txcatholic.org/pilgrimage.asp

Diocese: Oppose the Freedom of Choice Act

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) again before Congress (S. 1173, H.R. 1964). FOCA is a radical bill. It creates a “fundamental right” to abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy. No governmental body at any level would be able to “deny or interfere with” this right, or to “discriminate” against the exercise of this right “in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.” For the first time, abortion would become an entitlement the government must condone and promote. Please see the attached Action Alert for more information as well as resources available at http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/FOCA/index.shtml. If you do not have access to the web and need printed resources, please contact the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living at marie-seale@austindiocese.org or 512-949-2487.

Diocese: Choose Life License Plates

The Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living supports the campaign to make a “Choose Life” license plate a reality in Texas. The success of this campaign would lead to direct support of our pro-life apostolates. All resources can be found at www.TXChoose-Life.org. If you do not have access to the web and need printed resources, please contact the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living at marie-seale@austindiocese.org or 512-949-2487 or Texas Alliance for Life at 512-477-1244.

TAL UPDATE: Election results you didn't hear about from the media.

TAL Update 10/24/08

==> Please forward to pro-life email lists. <==

Election results you didn't hear about from the media

There's no debating that the pro-life movement took a body blow with the election of Barack Obama. Unborn children and their mothers will suffer greatly during his administration.

In Texas things aren't nearly so grim. Our elections were headlined by the re-election of pro-life U.S. Sen. John Cornyn by a comfortable 12-point margin. In the Texas delegation for the U.S. House, all pro-life incumbents defeated challengers, and pro-life Pete Olson defeated pro-abortion incumbent Nick Lampson, making a net gain of one pro-life vote. All statewide elected officials in Texas who were pro-life did well at the polls.

The results for the Texas Legislature were not as bright. It appears there will be a net loss of one pro-life vote in the Senate and as many as three in the House.

Kudos to the pastor of St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock. Rev. Joel McNeil mailed a letter to his entire congregation explaining the position of Diana Maldonado, a pro-abortion candidate for the Texas State House who attends his parish. His letter is a shining example of how religious leaders can fulfill their duty to educate their flock about critical issues to be considered at election time and how candidates stand on those issues. His letter states:

[S]everal people have contacted Diana's campaign office. The manager of her office confirmed in no uncertain terms on multiple occasions that Diana is pro-choice. They have forwarded those emails to me, and I have read them. This is not mere "hearsay." . . . Because some people have stated that due to her association with St. William they assumed Diana was a Pro-Life candidate and due to the real possibility of scandal, I feel it is my responsibility to provide this clarification. This is not partisan or personal; this is based on positions and principles. Respect for the Right to Life from conception to natural death is one of the most important moral principles in our faith.

You can read the entire letter by clicking -HERE-.

The letter makes no endorsement. It merely instructs the congregation on how a candidate stands on a particular issue, the right to life, and points out that issue's importance to their faith. Thank you, Rev. McNeil, for your fine example.

If you would like to send a note of encouragement to Rev. Joel McNeil, you can contact him at pastor@saintwilliams.org.

Pro-life initiatives already come before Texas legislators

For several months, Texas Alliance for Life (TAL) has been busy with local and national elections (we hope you found our voter guide and other mailings helpful!). But we haven't missed a beat with preparations for the upcoming state legislative session, which begins January 13, in Austin. Four TAL-endorsed pro-life bills were already pre-filed, and we are pursuing others.

Choose Life License Plate to Promote Adoption as an Alternative to Abortion

Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) filed H.B. 109 to create a specialty license plate with the message "Choose Life." Texas has more than 130 specialty license plates to promote a variety of issues, including "Read to Succeed" and "Animal Friendly." This plate would promote adoption as a compassionate alternative to abortion and raise funds for nonprofit organizations to assist pregnant women considering adoption. Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) has agreed to file a similar bill in the Senate. Should this bill become law, Texas will join 19 other states with a Choose Life license plate, including all states bordering Texas. Choose Life plates have raised more than $9 million to promote infant adoption in other states. Visit www.TXChoose-Life.org to learn more about this initiative and to sign the petition!

Pro-Life Adult Stem Cell Research Consortium

Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) filed S.B. 73 to create an adult stem cell research consortium in Texas that would not involve human embryos or embryonic stem cells. This bill moves Texas beyond the protracted debate about the ethical problems of creating and destroying human embryos for research into the promising world of adult stem cell treatments that have already saved thousands of lives.

Health Standards for Abortion Facilities

Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio) filed companion bills S.B. 182 and H.B. 36 to improve abortion facility health standards by requiring providers to make more information available to women considering abortion, including the opportunity to see the ultrasound image of the unborn child and to hear the unborn child's heartbeat.

Defunding Planned Parenthood

TAL is also working with other organizations to "defund" Planned Parenthood at the state level and instead support funding for compassionate alternatives to abortion.

Stay updated as the session progresses! If you're not receiving periodic emails from TAL, contact us at info@texasallianceforlife.org with your name and street address (so we can include information about your particular elected officials).

Save the date: Texas Rally for Life, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at the Capitol in Austin

Don't miss it! Click on the image for more information about this statewide event to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

Texas Alliance for Life (TAL) is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, pro-life organization of people committed to protecting innocent human lives from conception through natural death through peaceful, legal means. TAL is a statewide organization based in the Texas capital. For more information, contact us at 512.477.1244 or info@texasallianceforlife.org.

PO Box 49137 * Austin, Texas 78765 * 512.477.1244 * TexasAllianceforLife.org