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Newsletter's content:
• Psalm for a Single Parent
• Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Protectress of the Unborn
• Pregnancy Support
• We’re getting results!
Greetings and rich blessings on you and your family as we enter the Advent
Season. We have come to that time in the year when most of us start thinking
about gifts. How about this year giving one that will last forever? Why not
spiritually adopt a child who is threatened with abortion, by keeping that child
and as parents in your prayers each day? Enclosed with this newsletter you will
find a prayer-card to help you make this Christmas gift for Jesus. You may never
come to know your child on earth but imagine the joy of meeting him/her and
his/her parents in eternity.
Psalm for a Single Parent
Lord God, watch over the one who is
alone
Because she is with child, but
without husband
Let her see You as her Life Partner.
Bless the one who has only one pair of hands, But must do six tasks at the
one time…….urgently. Send her unexpected help, And prompt those who may help
her.
Be there for the one Who must provide for the needs of all her children, And
for her own You will surely defend her cause.
We pray for the one who, in the silence of the evening, When the children are
in bed, Craves for adult company. Fill her home with your presence And give her
friends to count on.
When she hears others speaking falsely against her, When she is aware of the
taunts coming to her children, Because they belong to a single-parent household
May you prove them wrong, Because she has put her trust in You.
For You are the God of the single parent You know what it’s like to live
against the expectations of societv. We remember your words: The Kingdom of
Heaven belongs to such as these.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Protectress of the Unborn
On 12” December. 1521 Our lady appeared to Juan Diego, telling him: I am a
merciful mother to you and to all your fellow peoples on this earth who love me
and trust me and invoke my help. I listen to their lamentations and solace all
their sorrows and their sufferings. In the next seven years, eight million
Mexicans were converted to Christianity, thereby putting an end to human
sacrifices to pagan gods (purportedly well above 25,000 a year). She has
extended her influence to every continent through her servants in the pro-Life
cause, bearing her message of love and life to all nations that have succumbed
to the demonic influence of human sacrifice…. Only through the heart of a mother
so benevolent and powerful can we hope to achieve our ends (A Handbook on
Guadalupe, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.)
Pregnancy Support Recently I heard from Noreen, who came to our July
Apostles for Life meeting to share with us her work as “layette lady” for
Macksville Pregnancy Care. Since then Noreen took part in the counselling
course, which was held for the new Coffs Harbour Pregnancy Care. Noreen lacked
the confidence to even consider doing counselling, but has a lifetime of
experience of being a mother and is a very practical woman, as evidenced by the
very beautiful layettes she collects and prepares for each mother who is helped
by St. Elizabeth’s Pregnancy Care. According to Noreen, the course was one of
the most wonderful experiences of her life. ‘I came away feeling great!’ she
told me. ‘It gave me the self-confidence that I need to be able to do the
person-to-person work. If you feel that you can’t do counselling, there is so
much else that needs to be done — preparing layettes; support for mothers both
before and after the birth of Baby; child-minding if Dad wants to go to the
labour ward; support during labour if Dad is not around. Sometimes we are even
invited to ‘our’ children’s birthday parties. Building such relationships
especially when there is no family close by, is so rewarding. I am so happy I
did the course. I am doing my first day in the centre, waiting for the phone to
ring.’
Can you see yourself in the above picture? Do you know anyone who would fit
the picture? Please give serious thought and prayer to these questions and help
in whatever way you can. We will be organising a training course in Lismore
during the early months of 2001.
WE’RE GETTING RESULTS! We pro-lifers must never think that we are not
having an effect. Consider these US figures - keeping in mind that Australia
usually follows US trends:
• Abortion rates fell from 26 per
1,000 women in 1992 to 23 per 1,000 in 1996.
• Teen pregnancy rates dropped nearly
70% since 1993.
• The number of abortion providers
fell from 2,586 in 1988 to 2,042 in 1996 - a drop of 21%.
• In 1987, 56% of all medical schools
taught how to kill preborn babies; in 1997 “only” 12% did.
• Abortionists are aging fast
(average age 58) and young doctors are shunning the industry.
• In 1990, 65% of registered nurses
said they’d willingly take part in abortions – By 1998 “only” 35% said they
would
• Planned Parenthood, the largest
anti-life organlsation in America, is losing ground. In 1995, they had 928
affiliates nationwide; in 1998, they had 900. In 1995 they had 21000 employees
and volunteers; in 1998 - 17,000. In 1995 they committed 231,000 abortions and
abortion referrals; in 1998 - 192,000.
We’ve still a way to go yet, so keep up the efforts! (HLl Special Report Sept
99)
Remember: the third Saturday of each month is our special day to pray in
solidarity with the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants who maintain a peaceful,
prayerful presence at abortion sites around Australia. Pray especially that we
will soon have Helpers at Tweed Heads, where Lismore women go for abortions. We
hope to see you, or if that’s not possible, that you will be with us in spirit,
May your hearts and homes be full of Love and Life this Christmas! |
