Pro-Life Activities Update

Posted 11/22/2022

Happy Thanksgiving!
Here's the latest update on our Pro-Life activities!  

November is Adoption Awareness Month!
 

Foster Parenting Update!  

Paul & Kala Carlson, parishioners of St Joe’s & foster parents welcomed baby S to their crew October 7th, 2022.

She was dropped off at midnight, weighing just over 5 lbs. She is adored by the whole Carlson crew, including big “brothers” - Liam & Sawyer.

She’s doing great, and they look forward to loving her as long as she needs!
 
 

Divine Mercy House Update!  

One of our moms and her newborn have "flown the nest" and have moved on to live with family.  It was a bittersweet emotional moment for both mom and our staff.  Filling the empty spot a new expectant mom, 14 weeks along now, has since been welcomed into the home.  So the current population in our maternity home is 4 moms, 1 fetus, 1 infant, and 2 toddlers. We had a rough patch, healthwise, this month with 2 of the 3 born kiddos contracting the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).  That was rough!  One of them is still struggling to get better and has a lingering cough.  Prayers for the little ones are appreciated.  We are also looking for a family (or two) to host 2 of our moms and their toddlers for Christmas as the house will be closed (which allows the staff to get a break and recharge).  If you, or someone you know is interested, please contact Amy at (904)268-6282 or email [email protected].  One of our cute-as-a-button toddlers turned 1 year old this past week.  Happy Birthday, little one!  Isn't life great!
 

Baby Bottle Drive Update   

Proceeds from our drive at Our Lady Star of the Sea parish have topped $13,600.  We just concluded our St Joseph's Bottle Drive which has brought in over $14,600.  Thank you to all the donors for their treasure and volunteers that helped pass out and collect Baby Bottles for their time.  We're contemplating the next parish we are planning to visit.  More information to come when that is firmed up, but it won't probably be scheduled until after the Christmas and New Years' Holidays.  So we'll be looking for volunteers again and appreciate any help you can offer. 

"Why We're Pro Life" Booklets Available  

Hopefully you've seen this booklet in the narthex (foyer) of our main church, on the tables next to the side exits, or in the Cody Center.  They are FREE to parishioners, so pick one (or two) up.  The booklets contain helpful information for Pro-Lifers as well as anyone who is open to the truth on abortion, so pass a copy along to anyone you know who may be "Pro-Choice" but is willing to civilly discuss or entertain the scientific and moral truth about abortion.  If you have friends or family outside the local area up North or across the country and don't want to mail them a hard copy, you can send them the ebook Why We're Pro-Life (catholic.com).  The booklet has 25 printed pages and is an easy read (can be read in 30-45 minutes).
 

Planned Parenthood Update  

The 40 Days For Life Fall Campaign ended November 6 at Jacksonville's Planned Parenthood, 5978 Powers Ave. We had several dozen pro-life advocates wielding prayers, rosaries, and pro-life signs/messages in the push to end of the evil of abortion. Thanks to all who came and stood vigil for the unborn during the 40 Days For Life.  

We still need Pro-life advocates to stand and pray 6 days a week (Mondays-Saturdays).  Tell me what day (or days) and hour (or hours) you want to stand.  I'll try to make sure you have at least one other pro-life advocate join you and provide a sign if you are interested in holding a sign. 

At Planned Parenthood, since last month's Communique, the Holy Spirit moved me to stand as a witness for 32 hours over a period of 18 days.  I observed 233 customers enter, received 636 positive and 56 negative reactions from passersby, passed out 18 pro-life informational handouts, and was graced to be present when a young mom exiting the parking lot rolled down the window to tell me she was going to keep her baby. 

Thank you Dcn Corky, Robert, John Z, Nicole, Greg, Lucy, Alpha, Pauline, Rick, Byran, Michael Y, Pam, Joe, Susan, Brandon, and anyone else I may have missed who've come out to stand up for the unborn.  I invite and encourage all St Joseph pro-lifers to do the same, as their circumstances permit.

Several people expressed an interest in riding the church bus out to Planned Parenthood on a regular basis.  I raised the issue and Fr Sebastian gave his permission for a monthly trial after our First Saturday 8:00am Masses.  Our November 5 trial run was not very successful, as there were only 4 of us, so we just car pooled and left the bus in the parking lot at the Historic Church.  We spent an hour at Planned Parenthood, prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and were back before 10:30am. 

Please pass the word to anyone you know who may be interested in honoring our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, by joining us next time in prayer at Planned Parenthood. 

The next First Saturday is December 3, and it would be nice to fill the bus with pro-life advocates.  FYI...one of the 3 other Jacksonville abortuaries closed this past month, Alleluia!  
 

Directory of Pregnancy Resource Centers, Maternity Homes, Healing After Abortion  

This diocese resource is available at PRC-Directory-2022-1.pdf (dosafl.com) and a few out of date paper copies may still be in the carousel in the narthex of the main church. 

I'll refill the carousel with the updated directory in the very near future.  I think most of the information on the older pamphlets is still accurate, but...oops.
 

Grief Counseling/Support Group Update

Events continue through the Grief Share and Red Bird Ministries throughout the Fall season to help people dealing with losses of loved ones.  GriefShare at St. Joseph is every Tuesday until December 6 in the Cody Enrichment Center (upstairs in the Cody Room) Information and registration can be completed online at www.GriefShare.org.

Red Bird Ministries is also hosting Grief Group Study for families of child loss (from miscarriage thru adult) every Wednesday through December 14.  Please pass the word of these opportunities to anyone you know who is hurting from such a loss.  We had been asked to support the Wednesday sessions by providing snacks (fruit, cheese, crackers, cookies) & drinks (bottled water) for the group.  However, attendance at these sessions was so low that they don't yet need our support.  But if attendance picks up they may need our support for future sessions. 
 

At the Movies

The movie Lifemark was released on September 9.  Here's a link to the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd48FC5eouI.  It is a Pro-life movie about an adopted young man, David Scotton, reuniting with his birth parents, and it's a real tear-jerker.  It had a limited release and I couldn't find any local theaters that are still showing the movie.  It's not available yet on Netflix or Amazon (the dvd and blu ray are said to be released December 13).  The movie is based on a true-life story, and a documentary with the actual people involved is also on YouTube, called I Lived On Parker Avenue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pxu6DEPQkw. 

Another pro-life movie is Unplanned (2019), and here's a link to the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBLWpKbC3ww.  It's about Abby Johnson, a pro-choice young woman who joins Planned Parenthood as a volunteer in college to help women in crises.  She works her way up to counselor and eventually a clinic director for Planned Parenthood, winning the employee of the year award in 2008.  Then, in September 2009 she gets called in to help with an abortion procedure, sees the baby in the womb on the ultrasound.  She sees the baby fighting against the instruments used by the abortionist just before the child is...(OK, no spoilers here).  I was at a couple of ministry meetings in the parish and when I asked who had seen this movie, I was shocked at the number of my fellow Catholics that hadn't seen it.  It's not on Netflix, but is available to buy on Amazon if you're personally interested.  Perhaps we can sponsor a parish Movie Night to show pro-life movies like these.  If anyone has any experience and is interested in organizing such an event, let me know.
 

Special Needs/Foster Parenting/Adoption

Our parish doesn't have a roster of families that have special needs children or families (like Kala's) that have foster or adoptive children.  So I'm asking Respect Life Community members that know of such families to have them contact me with their needs.  I'd like us to be able to help these families using resources like Camp I Am Special and other outreach that we or another ministry can provide. 

An organization called CAFO (short for Christian Alliance For Orphans) has been brought to my attention by Kala.  I inquired about this organization to our diocese and they gave us permission to find out more about it.  A "Stand Sunday" event was held November 13.  At first glance it seemed to be an initiative to identify people interested in fostering/adopting and to encourage support for fostering/adoption.  I've made initial contact with a couple of CAFO regional and local representatives to find out if/how they may fit in with our ministry.  I also asked about how they are different from our Catholic Charities Adoption Services.  I didn't receive any response, so I need to follow up with them and I'll let you know what I find out.

 

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Please share this info with Pro-life family and friends!  And if you know of any family or friends that would like to join this community, please let me know. 

God Bless,
--
Paul Munnell
Respect Life Coordinator, St Joseph's Catholic Church
I'm Not Retired, I'm A Professional Pap