"It is...Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain appellations which have recently been brought into use to distinguish one group of Catholics from another. They are to be avoided not only as 'profane novelties of words,' out of harmony with both truth and justice, but also because they give rise to great trouble and confusion among Catholics. Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole rejected: 'This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly; he cannot be saved' (Athanasian Creed). There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it is quite enough for each one to proclaim 'Christian is my name and Catholic my surname,' only let him endeavour to be in reality what he calls himself." -- Pope Benedict XV, Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum 24 (1914)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Day 14: "The baby was in the car at that moment"

God is good! We're delighted to share another another amazing experience at the Freeport vigil site.

On Friday March 18, around 7:10 pm, a vehicle pulled onto the driveway behind the prayer zone. A very young woman emerged from the car and walked to the five volunteers holding signs. She was very emotional and detailed that during the Fall of 2009 she experienced an unplanned pregnancy. The father of the child would not accept responsibility and abandoned her early in the pregnancy. She described feeling frustrated and scared with the situation.

The young woman said that she had an appointment with Freeport. "I was about to have an abortion", she described,  "but saw these people praying, holding up signs in such poor weather conditions, standing outside the hospital with such conviction".  The young woman described thinking to herself: "There must be a reason that these people care so much that they give up their time and warmth".  She then decided: "I can't do that [abort the baby], it's not right.... I will have this baby. You know what, I can do this!" 

One of the prayer volunteers on shift that evening said that the young woman, "kept thanking us and asked us to keep doing what we are doing because it is very important". She emotionally described to the volunteers that the baby girl "is the joy of my life... I am very happy.... And without you, I know it would not have happened.".

The young woman mentioned that the she brought her daughter, and the baby was in the car at that moment! Then she hugged one of the volunteers. She departed quickly but not before leaving the volunteers feeling absolutely blessed. As one volunteer said, "It was truly a true blessing! I am so thankful to be a witness to the efforts of our presence and prayer". Another volunteer said, "For me personally, being there started to have different meaning from that moment".

Our 40 Days For Life organizing committee does not know if this is the same girl who's mother stopped by the site several days earlier and described that her 19-year old daughter changed her mind, or if it is a second turnaround.  Regardless, we give thanks to God for his mercy in choosing to reveal to us the fruits of our work.

We ask that you please sign-up for the following hours where prayer volunteers are urgently needed:

Wednesday March 23:        7:00 am
                                              8:00 am
                                              9:00 am
                                              1:00 pm
                                              2:00 pm
                                              3:00 pm

God bless,

40 DAYS FOR LIFE in Kitchener
www.40daysforlife.com/kitchener
Tel: 519-729-6541
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