December 20, 2004
Dear Friends,
The Priests for Life newsletter for January is below. I also take this occasion
to wish you
and your family my very best wishes for a Merry Christmas. You will see a recent
photo
of our staff on the front page of our website, www.priestsforlife.org
-- They send their
Christmas greetings as well!
While you're there, please note a few other items: We are calling for a special
Novena of
prayer for our nation's courts and judges. Click on the link for the Novena and
you'll be
able to sign up with thousands of others who will say this prayer each day from
Christmas through January 2. We are asking God to give us a pro-life Supreme
Court,
and defenders of life in every court!
Also, note that we have a new online poll question, and we would like your
opinion. The
question is, When you consider the work being done within your diocese to bring
an end
to abortion and extend protection to the unborn, is more of this work being done
by the
diocese and parishes, or on the other hand by pro-life groups in the area?
Please
provide your answer through the website.
And in addition, our product list is updated. Just see the "Products"
link on our home
page.
If you're thinking about New Year's resolutions, and you like the things we're
doing, why
not become a monthly supporter of Priests for Life in 2005 (if you aren't
already)? Just
email us at pledge@priestsforlife.org
and Mary Jean will sign you up.
Once again, my warmest wishes for Christmas!
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director
Priests for Life Newsletter
Volume 15, Number 1
January-February 2005
Priests for Life Launches Special Campaign of Daily Prayer to End Abortion
As you know, Priests for Life led an intense campaign of prayer prior to
Election Day.
Now, this prayer movement continues with a "Daily Prayer to End
Abortion", reprinted
below. We are asking all Christians to make a commitment to say this prayer each
day,
and to indicate that they have joined this effort by going to www.PrayerCampaign.org
to
sign up. If you do not have internet access, please use the form below to
indicate your
participation in this effort.
You may obtain prayer cards from us, in quantity, with this prayer on them.
Contact
orders@priestsforlife.org or call
888-PFL-3448, ext. 237 to request them.
Here are some other suggestions for using the prayer:
Have students recite it in classrooms; use it as a prayer to begin or end
meetings of pro-
life groups; have your parish insert it in the front of the hymnal or misalette,
and
encourage parishioners to pray it before or after mass; obtain the prayer cards
from us
and distribute them to friends; make a link from your website to
www.PrayerCampaign.org; alert your
email list to this site with an encouragement to join
the campaign.
Prayer to End Abortion
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Priests for Life Advisory Board of Bishops
His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo
President, Pontifical Council for the Family
His Eminence Renato Cardinal Martino
President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Most Rev. John F. Donoghue
Archbishop of Atlanta
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Denver
Most Rev. Edwin F. O'Brien
Archbishop of Military Services
Most Rev. John J. Myers
Archbishop of Newark
Most Rev. John W. Yanta
Bishop of Amarillo
Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of Phoenix
Most Rev. Ronald M. Gilmore
Bishop of Dodge City
Most Rev. Sam G. Jacobs
Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
Most Rev. Emilio S. Allue
Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
Most Rev. Rene H. Gracida
Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi
Most Rev. Paul V. Donovan
Bishop Emeritus of Kalamazoo
Most Rev. James D. Niedergeses
Bishop Emeritus of Nashville
Most Rev. James C. Timlin
Bishop Emeritus of Scranton
Most Rev. James S. Sullivan
Bishop Emeritus of Fargo
Most Rev. Francis A. Quinn
Bishop Emeritus of Sacramento
Most Rev. Albert H. Ottenweller
Bishop Emeritus of Steubenville
Most Reverend Juan Fremiot Torres
Bishop of Ponce
Most Reverend John Quinn Weitzel
Bishop of Samoa Pago Pago
Commission Your Respect Life Group
Each year, many parishes and schools hold commissioning services for various
ministerial groups: servers, catechists, choirs, and so forth.
How about commissioning the respect life group? Promoting the sacredness
of life
is certainly a ministry. It is a work that especially requires fortitude
and prudence.
A suggested format would be to call the members forward after the homily, ask
them some questions, say a prayer of blessing, and present them with a symbol of
their
mission.
Questions could be:
Are you resolved to promote the church's teachings on the dignity of human life,
as
outlined in The Gospel of Life?
Are you ready to work together with your pastor, under the guidance of the
Bishops'
Pastoral Plan for Pro Life Activities, to pray, educate, shape public policy,
and provide
concrete assistance to women in crisis pregnancies?
The prayer of blessing can be:
Father of all life, we thank you that you have called us into being and made us
the
people of life. Bless our brothers and sisters who dedicate themselves to
be a voice for the
voiceless, a defense for the defenseless. By their example enable all of
us to proclaim,
celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life. We ask this through Christ our
Lord.
The symbol given to members of the committee can be the Precious Feet, the pro-
life rose, or a copy of The Gospel of Life. Such a ceremony could be done
at any time of
the year. If your parish decides to do this commissioning, please let us know at
Priests for
Life!
Priests for Life Mass Cards Available
We have begun our 2005 series of Mass cards, which you can request from us in
any
quantity free of charge. Then, when you want to enroll a deceased friend or
loved one,
you can use the card, and the person will share in the benefit of all the
prayers and
Masses of the Priests for Life Association worldwide.
Contact our orders department to place your order today: 888-PFL-3448, ext. 237,
orders@priestsforlife.org, Fax
718-980-3900, or write to Priests for Life Mass Cards, PO
Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314
Plan to attend the National Memorial for the Pre-born and Their Mothers and
Fathers!
Pray for an end to abortion, for our national leaders and the victims of
abortion on
Monday, January 24, 2005 starting at 8:45 AM in the United States Senate,
Washington,
DC. (Doors will open at 8 AM)
Join Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, Dr. Paul Chaim
Schenck,
Executive Director of Gospel of Life Ministries, Rev. Kirk van der Swaagh, Vice
President of the National Pro-Life Religious Council and many other Pro-Life
Clergy and
Laity for the only pro-life prayer service in the US Capitol itself.
Priests for Life, Gospel of Life Ministries, The National Clergy Council and The
National
Pro-Life Religious Council will host the eleventh annual Memorial for the
Pre-Born at the
Capitol in Washington. It is ecumenical in scope, with more than fifty clergy
from
numerous churches and Christian traditions leading a beautiful liturgy for the
victims of
abortion. Come be a part of this magnificent and historic witness to life in the
United
States Senate. "This year's service will be held in the Russell Senate
Building Room
325 (Senate Caucus Chamber). No reservations are needed."
Invite your pastors, youth ministers, Respect Life and pro-life groups, social
justice
committees and everyone to come with you! Young people are especially needed and
welcome.
Prayer in Spanish for the Year of the Eucharist: "My Body"
"Mi Cuerpo"
"Este es mi cuerpo, entregado por ustedes." Señor Jesús, escuchamos
tus palabras
cada día en la misa. Pronunciaste estas palabras, para enseñarnos el
significado de Tu
amor por nosotros, un amor que te llevó a la cruz a dar Tú vida, para que
nosotros
tuviésemos vida. También utilizas estas palabras para que comprendamos el
significado
de nuestro amor hacia el prójimo, un amor que nos lleva a entregarnos
completamente
para que otros puedan vivir.
"Este es mi cuerpo." Señor, también escuchamos estas palabras de los
labios de esos
que piensan que pueden tomar la vida de otro, solo porque esa vida esta
creciendo
dentro de sus cuerpos. Escuchamos estas palabras con significado diferente por
los que
apoyan el aborto.
Te suplicamos, le concedas a toda Tu gente, el poder comprender, que la plenitud
del
ser humano nunca se puede conseguir eliminando a otros, sino que se puede
conseguir
únicamente cuando nosotros mismos nos gastamos por los demás. Que toda Tu
gente
Señor, pueda vivir sus vidas, de acuerdo a Tus Sagradas palabras, "Este es
mi cuerpo,
entregado por ustedes!."
Our Latest Products
Defending Life Series 2004
Enjoy thirteen half-hour episodes (on three video tapes) of Fr. Pavone's TV
series with
guests discussing diverse aspects of the pro-life movement.
Learn what YOU can do to end abortion!
Learn how to help others who have had an abortion or are considering it!
Learn startling facts about the abortion industry!
Includes one episode never before seen on TV!
Great for viewing in your local church, school and political groups!
Makes a fantastic gift for your pro-life friends or your parish priest! So order
today! Use
the form below, or call 888-PFL-3448, x237, or email orders@priestsforlife.org
Priests for Life note pad or cube pads -- Great for home or office, these note
pads will
be daily reminder that you are part of the Priests for Life family! 5.5 x 8.5
note pad at
$1.50 each or 4x4 cubed @ $3.00 each. Call 888-PFL-3448, x237, or email
orders@priestsforlife.org
Support our Work: www.priestsforlife.org/donate
Can you make a gift to enable us to send this newsletter to every priest in your
diocese? Call Jerry at (718) 980-4400
Prayer Intentions
You are encouraged to remember the following intentions as you pray the Liturgy
of the
Hours:
January intention: That all bishops will be strong and fearless defenders of
innocent
children in danger of abortion.
February intention: For pregnancy resource centers, especially those that need
more
volunteers.
Please remember to support our work at http://priestsforlife.org/donate
This newsletter can be found online at
http://www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/newsletter.html
Contact Priests for Life at PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; Tel: 888-
PFL-3448, 718-980-4400; Fax: 718-980-6515; email: mail@priestsforlife.org;
web: www.priestsforlife.org