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Thought I would share with everyone our "MercyTree" that adorns the altar as part of our nativity scene at the Chapel where our Lumina office is.
The theme for our Advent retreat was "The Birth of Mercy" and on each side of the scene is a reminder that the same Jesus that was born died on the cross and is Mercy Himself who came to forgive our sins and bring us salvation!!
Here is a picture of the whole scene...not a great picture but you get the idea.
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The Gift of Imperfection
—Theresa Bonopartis, Lumina Director
www.postabortionhelp.org
One of the things you hear over and over again in the post
abortion ministry from those who have aborted their children is,
“I cannot believe I did this.” They are tortured by the fact that
they have participated in the deaths of their own children, and
they deny that fact to themselves and others. “How could I have
done this?” “I paid for them to kill my child!” When the harsh
truth sets in, and the confusion is gone, it is almost too much
to bear.
It is heartbreaking.
Today, we live in a society that wants to obliterate human
imperfection. We act shocked if we fail at something, or fall short
of a goal. We cover up truths, and brag about achievements as
if these things define us. We attempt to control every aspect of
our lives, in a sense, to be our own “gods.” This sad reality
extends to society’s destructive attitude toward unborn children,
whether they are “perfect” or not.
Lately, we have begun to hear more and more from a population
of couples who aborted their “wanted” unborn child because
of some perceived deficiency. More and more, doctors not
only seem to encourage abortion, but are blatantly suggesting to
parents that it would be selfish to give life to their children.
Turning the truth on its head, many are now calling infanticide
a “compassionate” solution.
What a loss to our society! The call to grow in love that these
children would have brought to their families is being wiped away
by this false sense of perfection. The love which is there to be given
and received, is denied as we are encouraged to become more selfcentered.
As post abortive women and men move closer to being healed,
they become capable of recognizing their own imperfections. They
can accept the fact that they rejected the precious gift of life. But
they also come to know that Jesus can transform their sense of
deep loss. God’s perfection is finally acknowledged, and also His
ability to bring good out of misery. In His immense mercy, Jesus
uses the very children who were aborted as the holy means to bring
their parents and others to Him.
Yes, God uses even our worst sins to help us. Imperfection can
actually become a gift, knowing that all good comes from Him, and
that without Him we are capable of doing so much harm. May
each suffering couple be healed by this love and united with their
children in heaven, the only place where true perfection exists.
Theresa Bonopartis
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”Do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work
you have taken on, you may have to face the fact that your work will be
apparently worthless and even achieve no worth at all, if not perhaps results
opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you will start more
and more to concentrate, not on the results, but on the value, the rightness,
the truth of the work itself.” Thomas Merton
When I read the above quote in “The Catholic Worker” I recognized how much
it applies to the work we do. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged, to
only see things through our own eyes instead of trusting in God and His plans.
In this holy time of year it also makes me think of Mary, and how things must
have seemed to her as she gave birth to the Son of God in a manger.
Throughout this past year there was many times I felt discouraged. We “humans
” always think we have the answers! In the end, He truly blessed the work
beyond my expectations.
We saw an increase of 25% in our referrals. In 2006 we referred 151 women
and men, our numbers YTD for 2007 are over 190 with 2 more weeks to the year!
We were blessed to make it into many media outlets and do some trainings. Some
of our pamphlets have been redesigned through a grant, and are being
requested throughout the country, but most importantly women and men are finding
peace with God, their unborn children and themselves. In the month of November
alone we had 20 referrals with five coming from women who aborted decades ago.
For some, I was the first person they told about their abortions, one
suffering for close to 60 years!
There is much to look forward to in the future. 2008 is already filling up
with many exciting things, among them, the “Commission on Women Conference”
at the United Nations. While abortion will be promoted within (the theme is “
Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women”)a delegation of
those of us who are post abortive will testify as to how this is not a solution
for women and does not “empower” them but instead leaves them speechless!
The “Day of Remembrance”, a prayer service developed with one of the
Sisters of Life is also getting recognition. It will take place on January 19th at
St Teresa’s on Staten Island this year, but it is also being picked up in
other dioceses and The National Catholic Register will be doing an article on
it. It is truly a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.
On January 5th there will be a “Day of Prayer & Healing” for men, and on
January 12th there will be a “Day of Prayer & Healing” for post abortive
women, both at Our Lady of New Convent in the Bronx. Anyone interested can
register by calling 718-881-8008..Of course, it is confidential!
Yes, at times we get discouraged. Things do not seem to be what we had
hoped, but in the end God does mighty deeds and the “the value, the rightness, the
truth of the work itself” is all God requires of us. He will do the rest!
So, as we celebrate this Holy season, may we, like Mary, keep our eyes on
the Christ child who is Truth itself!
A blessed, holy Christmas to you all!...Theresa
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Just thought I would share this with those of you who may not have seen it given the time of year...the day I wrote this was a great comfort to me...pure grace... 12/01
A grace I truly felt.
He came to me in prayer
While before Our Lord I knelt.
I felt his little cheek brush mine as I
pressed him to my chest.
His little arms clung to my neck,
His head, on my shoulder rest.
Our Lady gave this gift to me,
A moment of pure grace
As we await the birth of Christ,
The savior of our race
For although I’ve never been allowed to love
my son on earth
She has showed me that a mother’s love
transcends a human birth.
For there within the heart of Christ born in
this time of joy
I clearly see the image of another baby boy
Reflected in the love of Christ
Who came to bring salvation
To every soul, in every land, in every
single nation.
Emmanuel, God with us,
Uniting time and space
For in His gaze I truly know
I saw my child’s face.
- T
Bonopartis
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The "I'M Not Sorry " blog page has a post on the Conference Vickie Thorn just had in San Francisco and abortion and men.Just scroll down to "Trauma, Trauma, Trauma, I made you Out of Clay"
http://imnotsorrydotnet.blogspot.com/
"if our young women are taught not to be dependent on others for
happiness, love, money, etc., to love themselves, to not model
themselves on what they see on TV or in magazines, then these
“traumatized” men wouldn’t exist—because they’d have no one to
victimize."
So now men are suffering from abortion because they have victimized women? Well, it should not surprise me. If a woman is not allowed to suffer because of an abortion how can we expect them to think a man can. Still, it always amazes me that the reason cannot NEVER be, because they have lost their child...
having done a mens ministry for 3 years now, I can attest to the fact that these men are mourning. Yes, some did victimize women to satisfy their own needs but in addition to that, they are mourning their children. I, for one, am so happy they are finally coming forward ...
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"However, abortion businesses failed to report the statutory rape to authorities and officials only began investigating Walker's actions when the victim's mother contacted them."
I get so angry when I read things like this. It seems so obvious to me that everyone should get the agenda of the pro abortion groups when they fail to come to action in these cases.
Unlike other people I can understand these pastors or other adults pushing abortion even though they are Christens..I have seen it a few times over the years...they are more concerned with covering up their own sinfulness then they are with th elife of the child or the unborn baby. But of course, you have to be pretty messed up to sleep with an 11yo to begin with.
PP and others should be closed down when these things are found. for too long they have been given free reign while everyone just believed all the "stuff" they have been telling us.
The light is beginning to shine, thank God...too many women and girls have suffered enough at their hands, and too many unborn children have died...
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Paula Gianino, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region is calling a petition drive to prevent coerced and unsafe abortions a "dangerous measure!
Paula Talley of www.stopforcedabortions.org is the head of the ballot and was herself forced into an unwanted abortion. I have met Paula and she is a great woman...
I am not sure how PP rationalizes the fact that this is a bad thing, but it seems they always fight anything to limit abortion in any way even if it is to protect women.
The measure would actually allow women to sue abortionists if they do not provide adequate screening...sounds good to me!
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well, at least he is being truthful about lying! Unfortunately, we know all too well that is something that goes on everywhere, not just with this abortionist. Again...the silence from PP and other groups is deafening...another confirmation of what we know so well, women are not their priority.Hopefully this just put him out o f business
Abortion Practitioner Tells Michigan Medical Students He Has "License to Lie"
Hodari gave the local Medical Students for Choice group a talk entitled, "Why I Am An Abortion Provider" to motivate the pro-abrotion medical students.
The national pro-life student group Students for Life of America obtained a copy of the speech, in which Hodari says, "I have great satisfaction of what I do, and I never feel bad or worried about doing abortions."Hodari also spoke about how little he washed between abortions because it chafed his hands, even though his doing so puts women's health at risk.
Most upsetting to SFLA director Kristan Hawkins is Hodari's claim that being an abortion practitioner gives him "license to lie" to women who seek him out for abortions."To hear Hodari speak, one wonders if Michigan is the third world," Hawkins says in a statement she provided LifeNews.com. "Planned Parenthood complains about 'back-alley' abortions, even though Hodari is running a business where he's barely washing his hands between abortions."
Ashley Tyndall, the president of the pro-life student group, noted that Hodari is responsible for multiple women's deaths from his legal abortions."Several women have died while getting abortions with Hodari, and yet the Michigan board of health has never investigated him," she said. "How many women have to die before the bureaucrats start telling Hodari to wash his hands and tell patients the truth."
Hodari was responsible for the abortion death of 15 year-old African-American teenager Tamia Russell.Taisha Glenn, the sister of Russell's 24-year-old boyfriend, Stacy Glenn, had taken Russell to the abortion facility on January 7, 2004 without permission or notifying Russell's mother or guardian.
Glenn and Russell went to five other abortion facilities before coming to WomanCare, Hodari's abortion center.Tamiia used an identification card with another woman's picture to state she was 19, as abortions cannot be performed on minors in Michigan without parental consent.
The woman in the picture ID looked nothing like Russell -- but the abortion was done anyway.
The facility vaginally inserted laminaria, a seaweed used to begin dilation. Russell was sent home, where she confessed to her family that she was pregnant and had begun the abortion procedure.
When her mother and aunt called WomanCare, they said the abortion could not be stopped once the laminaria is inserted.Russell's mother drove her daughter to the abortion facility the next day to finish the abortion, which was performed by Alberto Hodari. Upon her return home, she experienced severe bleeding -- "so much so she soaked an entire mattress," her family told LifeNews.com.
WomanCare told her family that such bleeding was "normal" following an abortion, and not to take her to the hospital.Concerned for Russell, the family called paramedics who rushed her to Sinai-Grace Hospital. Russell died on the way to the Hospital.
Hodari has also come under fire for misusing the drug Digoxin in abortions.
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This article from MS. Magazines web site is so arrogant...they assume the increase in teen pregnancy is due to abstinence education instead of groups like them promoting a sexually active lifestyle among our youth...I would have to research to see if indeed it is true that states are refusing Abstinence only education...I hope not. As we all know it is the only sure way to avoid pregnancy, abortion and STD's
I have to crack up when they quote Planned Parenthood who ar ein the business of abortion and contraception...like they would say anything else...
December 17, 2007
Jump in States Refusing Abstinence Only FundingThis
year has seen a jump in the number of states refusing federal funds for
abstinence only education programs. Before this year, only four states
had turned down such funding, according to the Washington Post. In November, Virginia became the 14th state to do so. Media Resources: Washington Post 12/16/07; Feminist Daily Newswire 11/9/07, 11/13/07, 12/6/07 http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=10713 |
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