| Where Do We Go From
Here? |
|
After
the recent election, many Helpers have asked: “Where do we go from
here?” My answer is, "We stay on the same path we have been
walking for the past twenty years." The path of
converting
one heart at a time; saving one baby at a time; by bringing Christ
through His Mystical Body the Church, to where it is midnight, at
midday, the modern day Calvary, where once again a people in darkness
are shedding innocent blood. Being pro-life means being victims with
Christ until the Culture of Death of Good Friday gives way to the
Culture of Life established by the Risen Christ. Our
challenge,
our responsibility is to make present at today’s Calvary, the
everlasting, unconditional love of God, to a people broken, blinded and
helplessly entrapped in the darkness of our modern day culture of
death. If we don’t do it, who will? But to bring Christ, we
must
put on Christ. To bring Christ means to be present in a Christian
manner, namely, with the love, peace and gentleness of Christ. Not to
be overcome in the presence of poor spirit, requires extraordinary
strength that alone comes from the Holy Spirit. At Calvary, it is
clear we must imitate the prayerful presence of Mary and John at the
foot of the Cross. Where then do we go from here?
Go to
Calvary and establish or participate in a prayerful presence
at
the local abortion mill or be part of a peaceful,
prayerful
Rosary Procession at the next Helpers Prayer Vigil.
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|
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2009
HELPERS PRAYER VIGILS IN
BROOKLYN AND QUEENS NEW YORK
|
| DATE |
LOCATION |
CELEBRANT |
| Sat
Jan 17, 2009 |
St
James Cathedral - Basilica
250 Cathedral Place Brooklynl NY
11201
718-855-6390 |
Bishop
Daily |
| Sat
Feb 21, 2009 |
St
Charles Borromeo
21 Sidney Place Brooklyn 11201
718-625-1177 |
Bishop
Cisneros |
| Sat
Mar 28, 2009 |
Blessed
Sacrament
34-43 93rd Street Jackson Heights 11372
718-639-3888 |
Bishop
Daily |
| Sat
Apr 18, 2009 |
St
Paul - St Agnes
Congress and Court Streets Brooklyn 11201
718-624-3425 |
Bishop
Daily |
| Sat
May 16, 2009 |
Queen
of Martyrs
110-06 Queens Blvd. 11375
718-268-6251
|
Bishop
Daily |
Sat
Jun 20, 2009
|
St John Vianney
140-10 34th Avenue
Flushing, NY 11354
718-762-7920 |
Bishop
DiMarzio |
Sat Aug 29, 2009
|
Our
Lady of the Cenacle
136-06 87th Av Richmond Hill NY 11418
718-291-2540 |
Bishop
Daily |
Sat Sept 19, 2009
|
Saint
Joan of Arc
82-00 35th Avenue Jackson Hts., NY 11372
718-429-2333 |
Bishop
Caggiano |
Sat Oct 17, 2009
|
St Michael's
352 42nd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11232
718-768-6065 |
Bishop
Sansaricq |
Sat Nov 21, 2009
|
Saint
Patrick's
39-38 29th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-729-6060 |
Bishop |
Sat Dec 12, 2009
|
Not
Yet Scheduled |
Bishop
DiMarzio
|
|
A Rule of Law or a Rule of Tyranny
|
On
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 there was a Public Hearing, at City Hall in
Manhattan, on Int. No.826, a legislative bill concerning the
prohibition of activities to prevent access to reproductive health care
facilities. Detective Steven McDonald, myself and about forty other
pro-lifers gave testimony at the Hearing, After our testimony, the
Council Representatives said they were aware of and respected the
Helpers Apostolate and approach. They insisted that the
Amendment was not meant to limit the good work of the
Helpers. The difficulty of course, is the abortion
Administrators would love to limit the good work of the Helpers, and
the Amendment language, as it is now written, would tempt them to try.
This Amendment would remove from the City Law, the requirement of
“intent”, that is, to prove that the person being accused intended to
violate the Law. The requirement of “ intent “ is now found
in the Federal, State and City Access to Clinic Laws.
Moreover, the new Amendment to the City Law would allow abortion clinic
owners to make the complaint, without the complainant appearing, and to
make the action no longer a violation, but a criminal offense
punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. This would change the rule
of Law for pro-lifers in New York City into a rule of
Tyranny. The Public Hearing, however, did provide me with a
Forum to express
publicly, to the Members of the City Council and others, some sad and
tragic realities and statistics about New York City Abortion ‘clinics’.
The following is some brief excerpts and statistics from my Statement: |
|
| Oh My God, My Womb Is
Empty |
|
"It
has been my constant experience, that no woman comes to these places
because she wants to kill her unborn child. She comes because
she has problems, and they are real. There are right and wrong answers
to human problems. Obviously, I do not believe that having an abortion
is the right answer, for it will not bring back yesterday for the woman
in difficulty and allow her to get on with her life. Indeed, I witness
on a daily basis that abortion not only results in the unjust shedding
of the innocent blood of our youngest brothers and sisters, but also
causes painful mental and spiritual problems for the women.
Although the first reaction for many women after an abortion is relief,
because she says: “ Oh thanks be to God, my womb is empty”, yet later
the same woman will say, “Oh my God, my womb is empty.” Then begins the
pain in her head and her heart that remains with her beyond
tomorrow. I have witnessed, on a daily basis, that there are
two victims when an abortion is performed. Women deserve
better, and so I try to offer them the better way, one that will result
in life for the unborn child and peace for the mother.”
|
|
| Shocking Abortion Statistics |
|
Since
no Helper has been charged with violating the present Law, I questioned
why would you increase the penalty except to create fear and
intimidate citizens from exercising their First Amendment Rights. Then
I stated the following shocking, outrageous, abortion statistics for
the City of New York which render any claim about the
difficulties of the people in the City of New York having access to the
so called abortion procedure, ludicrous. According to the 1970 U.S.
Census Bureau, the population of the City of New York in 1970, was
eight million people. With the influx of immigrants and the natural
increase in births, one would project that 30 years later the
population would be at least 12 million in the City. Yet
according to the U.S. Census in the year 2000, the population of New
York City was the same as in 1970, namely 8 million people.
How could this be? The answer is clear according to the Vital
Statistics of the New York State Dept. of Health which indicates, since
the passing of the New York State Abortion Law in June of 1970 to the
present time, 3.8 million abortions have taken place in the City of New
York, which number is equivalent to half of the people in the City. I
further indicated, according to the 2005 New York State Vital
Statistics, although the number of abortions in New York City, thanks
be to God, has continued to drop, ( now 30 to 35 thousand less each
year than in 1990) yet the ratio of abortions remains tragically
high. For example, in the County of Kings (also known as
Brooklyn), in the year 2005, for every 1000 white babies that were
born, 371 white babies were aborted; for every 1000 Spanish
babies born, 623 Spanish babies were aborted; for every 1000 Black
babies born, 1298 Black babies were aborted, namely, 65 out of every
one hundred black babies were aborted. |
|
| On
Some Future Tomorrow, Each of Us Will Stand Alone |
I
indicated that the numbers above, shouted out that there is little or
nothing of true counseling being done, in the so called abortion
clinics. The women are not shown the prenatal ultrasound
image of their unborn child, nor are they informed of free help
available to them such as the New York State PCAP program. Some even
have guards in the entrance, whose job is to take or
encourage the women entering the clinic to throw into the garbage, the
material, given to them by the sidewalk counselor. The material
provides information of where they can get help to keep their
unborn child. I concluded by saying that today, more and
more, the group most discriminated against around the world is the
voiceless, helpless unborn infants and that they need your help that
their very lives be respected and protected by the law. I reminded them
what Martin Luther King so eloquently said: “The Law may not make you
love me, but by God it should make you respect me.” I concluded my
remarks by saying that on some future tomorrow, each of us
will stand alone before the Lawmaker and Judge to give an
account on how we treated God’s precious infants and their
mothers. (View Full Document Here - Click!)
|
|
| Watch the City of God
vs. the City of Man |
|
On Nov.15th, three
days before the Public Hearing on Int. 826, the Helpers held a Prayer
Vigil outside the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Brooklyn.. Watch the
video The City of God vs. The City of Man, which shows how
the Helpers, at the Nov. 15th Vigil, young and old,
sick and healthy, responded in a truly Christian manner, to a truly
poor spirit. Then you decide, who truly respects the patients coming to
the abortion clinic. You can watch the full video here: City
of God vs. City of Man Video - Click! |
|
| Claire Fu From Taiwan |
|
Although
for the last few months, due to some recent necessary surgical
operations, I have had to limit myself to the Helpers’ Prayer Vigils
and Apostolate here in the New York City Area, nevertheless,
I have had visitors from near and far here at the Monastery. For
example, on Sept. 15th 2008, Claire Fu, a research assistant on the
Faculty of Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, arrived here at
Precious Blood Monastery to start a two month research on effective
pro-life programs here in the United States, especially centering on
the Helpers Apostolate. Claire spent her first ten days here at the
Monastery absorbing all information either into her notebooks, or on
her tape recorder and even onto her video Camera. When alone she would
be either reading all types of pro-life books or watching a DVD or
listening to a pro-life CD. Fred Trabulsi, the Director of the Life
Center graciously explained to Claire the workings of the
Center. Florence Maloney, the Director of Rachel’s Helpers,
came to the Monastery to share with Claire the Helpers post abortion
healing program; Drs. David and Monica Aachen and Wenqi
Dwyer, who, for Claire, translated all the Helpers materials into
Chinese, were also incredibly generous in sharing their time
and insights. Besides learning new ideas, Claire actively participated
in the Helpers Prayerful Presence and Sidewalk Counseling outside of
different abortion mills. On September 20th together with many other
Helpers, Claire took part in the large Helpers Vigil that started with
the 7:30 A.M. at St. Joan of Arc’s Church in Jackson
Heights. After Mass, Bishop Daily led us in a
prayerful Rosary Procession to two abortion mills. Claire Fu, having
wasted no time here during her two months stay, returned to
Taiwan on Nov. 15th. I am sure that God will use this young,
attractive, intelligent, zealous convert to Catholicism, to establish
the Helpers approach in Taiwan, where abortion, like in the United
States, is a major problem.
|
|
|
New
Zealand
Australia Mexico
|
|
Shortly
after Claire left, two wonderful women arrived, Pauline Loudon from the
City of Auckland on the North Island and Maria Schmetzer, who
ten years ago, with the approval of Bishop John Cunneen, helped me to
start the Helpers in the City of Christchurch on the South
Island of New Zealand.. Maria informed me that the Helpers’
Vigils are still taking place. Although their stay was limited,
hopefully we still shared with them words of wisdom and
encouragement. They left grateful for the time spent at the
Monastery.. They assured me, they would bring my best wishes to my
friend, Colleen Bayer of Auckland who first asked me to come to New
Zealand. I am grateful to Craig Robinson and Dennis MacDonald
who direct the Helpers in Brisbane, Australia, for sending me
a CD of my talks and a DVD of my visit to Brisbane this past
August. On Friday October 10th here at the Monastery, I met with Neydy
Casillas Padron from Mexico. Neydy is a woman that works for a pro-life
and pro Family non profit organization from Mexico, the World
Development Coalition that monitors and tries to influence in a
positive way United Nations Family Initiatives. She invited
me to come in 2009 to Mexico City to share information on the Helpers
Apostolate at a Bishops sponsored Conference in 2009.
Unfortunately, abortion has become legal in Mexico City.
|
|
| International Prayer Conference
for Life at Lourdes |
|
I
am grateful to Father Fidelis Moscinski, CFR, who took time off from
his studies, for a Master Degree in Moral Theology in Rome, and gave,
in my place, at the Third International Prayer Conference for Life at
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in France, a fine presentation on the
Helpers as Sidewalk Contemplatives and Evangelizers. Celia Blum Guerra
was so kind, as to bring back and hand delivered at the Monastery, so
many well wishes and promised prayers for my recovery, from the people
who attended the Lourdes’ Conference.
|
|
| Students from CUA Participate in
a Retreat Training Program |
|
Wolfgang
Hering, the President of the Helpers in Germany, and his
friends attended the Helpers November 15th City of God vs. the City of
Man Prayer Vigil. Wolfgang is the distinguished man standing next to
Detective Steven McDonald who alternated with myself, in leading the
people in the twenty mysteries of the Rosary at the Vigil. At this same
Vigil, we were also blessed to have 29 wonderful, faith filled, student
members of the Pro-Life Club at the Catholic University of America in
Washington D.C. Thanks to the efforts of their fellow students Caroline
Savoie and Eric Dunne, the group spent the weekend at the
Precious Blood Monastery, participating in an intensive
pro-life retreat training program. What a credit these young people are
to their families. On Saturday Dec. 6th the Leaders of Rachel’s Helpers
gathered here at the Monastery for a Workshop from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. We
tried to provide some insights into understanding the
psychological and spiritual needs of a person after an abortion.
Florence Maloney, the Rachel Helpers Director, asked me to cover this
topic. Practically, all the leaders stayed beyond 2 P.M. God will bless
them for their generosity and sincere concern for the women suffering
from past abortions.
|
|
| Starting the Helpers in Canada |
|
Late
on Thursday evening Dec. 11th a wonderful group of people arrived from
Canada, after driving for 15 hours because of poor weather
conditions. When they left on Sunday afternoon, after a
weekend filled with information on how to start the Helpers in Canada,
they all said it was well worth the 15 hours drive. Nicole Campbell,
from Toronto, Canada organized the trip and hopes to start the Helpers
Apostolate in Toronto. Mrs. Wanda Hartlin, who is from
Ottawa, Canada, hopes to start the Helpers in that City and also to
translate the Helpers materials, into French. This would be helpful,
because there are Countries in Africa, who have asked for our materials
in French They all prayed outside of an abortion clinic while here.
Later they were anxious to learn about the art of sidewalk
counseling. On Saturday Dec 13th they joined Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio,
at the Vigil Mass in St. Paul-St Agnes Church, and then joined all the
Helpers in the Rosary Procession to Planned Parenthood on Court Street,
where the Bishop and Detective Steven McDonald led us in prayer. They
were such a wonderful group of people, that I weakened, and broke the
schedule, and brought them on Saturday Evening to Ground Zero, in
Manhattan. On leaving they insisted that I should come soon
to Canada to lead a Helpers’ Prayer Vigil. |
|
| During
This New Year May God Bless Us, One and All |
My
annual struggle with facial cancer skin surgery, being more complicated
this year, required a longer recovery time. Thanks be to God, I had
incredibly skilled and dedicated doctors who treated me, thanks in
large part to Kathleen and Pat Murphy. I told my doctors, that I have
been telling the Helpers, that I was getting a new nose for Christmas.
The doctors smiled, and said: “How about in the New Year, you will have
your new nose.” I am grateful for all the prayers and good wishes not
only from my family, the good Sisters and relatives but from so many
people here in the City of New York and far from this City. I
am sure, God will bless abundantly the local Helpers, for their
extraordinary generosity during my recovery time. I know I cannot
adequately thank people, like Mike Marino and Rose Diaz for all their
extra hours of sidewalk counseling outside the abortion mill; for the
prayers at the 43rd St. abortion site, who never stopped coming, like
Jim Keegan, Joe Schuck, Humphrey Mazza, John Foley, Muriel and others;
for people like Mike Reddy, Dorothy Doyle and Mary Murray who behind
the scenes, in a hundred different ways, constantly helped the Helpers
Apostolate from missing a beat. I pray that during this New Year, God
will bless us abundantly, one and all, especially, all those who during
the past year so generously supported the Helpers’ Apostolate either by
their time, talent or finances. May God grant healing to all
those who are sick, and Eternal Rest to all those, called
home this past year, like Sue Lopez, an extraordinary wife, mother
and woman of Faith, who started the Helpers in San Diego,
California; Kathy Carrigan, a tremendous woman of Faith and prayer, who
together with her daughter, Cathy, ran the Helpers in Boston,
Massachusetts.
|
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Until We Meet in Prayer at Calvary,
Msgr. Philip J. Reilly
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©
Helpers of God's Precious Infants All Rights Reserved
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