Reclaiming Our Children

Not Just a memory

Came across this blog post on abortion and anniversary dates. We have all been there. It is a classic abortion connector. Wish I could get our "Connecting the Dots" pamphlet to her...she is so right, he is not "just a memory" and there is something missing...that "something" is her son and she needs to grieve

Not Just A Memory

May 5

Posted by Vicci

This morning I woke up thinking about Robinson and the abortion. It seems like no matter how much I’ve made peace with myself about it, this month always seems to be the hardest for me. Because it reminds me of what was and what could’ve been.

I’ve run into some complications with my cervical cancer and may not be able to have children in the future. And everyone and their mother knows that when and if I get married in the future, I want to have at least one more baby. And knowing that I may not have that in the future, is pretty devastating for me.

http://withoutababe.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/not-just-a-memory/

 

A Light on the Path

Busy updating some materials so I thought I would post a reprint of an article about Lumina from the NCR

A Light on the Path

by JOSEPH PRONECHEN, Register Correspondent - October 2009

It was while working with Good Counsel crisis-pregnancy homes that Christopher Bell — founder of Good Counsel — spotted another pressing need: He saw post-abortive parents who were hurting. They needed help, hope and healing.

In 2001, to meet this need, he launched a Good Counsel program called Lumina. Seven years ago he named Theresa Bonopartis Lumina’s director. She is also co-developer of the Entering Canaan post-abortion ministry with the Sisters of Life. She recognized that abortion hurts not only the woman, but anyone connected with it in any way. There’s even a program in the works for siblings of aborted children.

“There’s a dead baby and a ton of people wounded by it, as well,” says Bonopartis plainly.

Lumina, which is located in the Bronx but receives calls from all over the country, serves as a post-abortion referral network linking people to various post-abortion ministries, counselors and priests. It also runs retreats and group sessions. Lumina trains and educates, too.

Three years ago Lumina began groups for men. In mixed groups, men don’t share as openly with women as they do with other men, according to Bonopartis and Lumina’s longtime spiritual director, speaker and confessor for days of healing, Father Mariusz Koch of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/a_light_on_the_path#ixzz1yWkBruCa



Friends

Finally got to meet up with my sweet friend Julie Woodley yesterday who is flying south to a new home in West Palm Beach, FL.

Julie has written two wonderful curriculum's, one on post abortion healing, "Into My Arms" and one on sexual abuse "In the Wildflowers". She is also the Division chair of the American Association of Christian Counseling

Back in the day, Julie and I held a post abortion conference together out on Long Island with both Dave Reardon and Theresa Burke as speakers. I also was happy to be part of the filming for "Into My Arms, and I look forward to collaborating with Julie and others in the not too distant future in our mutual desire to help those suffering after abortion and in giving glory to God, the true healer!

Congrats on your new home Julie!

 

Don't forget that today begins the Fortnight of Freedom

http://www.archny.org/news-events/freedom/

Up early? 7am mass at St Patrick's tomorrow with Cardinal Dolan!

Living water

Countless times in the bible, Jesus tells us of His longing to bring us peace and healing, and those open to His love were blessed to find their lives whole again. Not because of who they were but because of who He was.

In the story of the Samaritan woman, we are told that Jesus, in His travels came to a town called Samaria and there in this place was Jacobs well. Being tired and thristy he was sitting at the well. A woman came to it to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me to drink." (John 4:7) This was not heard of for the Jews did not associate with Samaritans, so the woman questioned Jesus. Jesus answered her, "If thou didst know the gift of God and who it is that says to thee "Give me to drink, thou, perhaps, would have asked of him and he would have given thee living water."(John 4:10) The woman then questioned how Jesus, without anything to draw the water with, could have "living water". Jesus proceeded to tell her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again. He, however, who drinks of the water I will give shall never thirst, but the water I give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into life everylasting." (John 4:13-15)

The woman said to him, "Sir,give me this water that I may not thirst or come here to draw." (John 4:15) Jesus then asked her to call her husband. She replied, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her "Thou hast said well I have no husband, for thou hast had five husbands and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.. in this thou hast spoken truly." Now many of the Samaritans of that town believed in HIm because of the word of that woman who bore witness, "He told me all that I have ever done.' (John 4:39)

Jesus our Savior knows what we have done as post abortive people. He knows our sorrow and grief, he knows our fears and shame, He sees our suffering. Like in Samaria He is sitting at the well. Jesus wen tthere specifically to meet the Samaritan woman and He is also waiting for us to come to Him and draw living water,the water of everlasting life.

On your exceedingly great mercy, and on that alone, rests all my hope.-St Augustine

Facing our Fears

So, I got an email today about our address. The person was concerned because it says [email protected]postabortionhelp.org She was worried people may see it and then know she was post abortive

 

While I completely understand the fear,I thought it was worth posting a little about it.

Lumina has a mailing list well over 1000 people. Of those, less than 1/2 are post abortive people, many of whom email me all the time at that address. It reminds me of the time I was speaking somewhere and asked a few women if they could man the table...they said no (which is totally fine) because they were afraid to let people know they had an abortion and were certain that if they manned the table that is what it would be saying. In place of them, two friends of mine (neither of whom had an abortions) manned the table with no fear that people would think that.

People can be getting emails because they support the ministry, or looking to learn about post abortion or a number of other reasons. Because you  get emails from us does not mean you have had an abortion...I know it is hard to fight those feelings and fears, but the truth is, getting our emails does not mean you are post abortive to anyone but you!

I prayed about changing it at one point, but the truth is, I get correspondence from all over the,world and it has been out there for,over 10 years. At the  risk of loosing referrals of those looking for help in many forms, it would not be good to change it, so remember...getting the emails does not mean you have had an abortion, only that you care about a ministry that helps those suffering!

 

Please Join Us This Saturday to defend our right of Religious Freedom!

Great speakers, songs, prayer, signs!

Freedom Rally

Sponsored by

The Westchester and Putnam Coalition for Religious Freedom

In White Plains

This Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

12 Noon -2PM

In front of the Federal Court House

300 Quarropas Street (corner of S. Lexington Ave.)

In White Plains, New York

Best parking at Galleria Mall



The rally will consist of interfaith witness and prayer for our right of religious freedom and the challenges to it by the HHS Mandate. The Freedom Rally is a legal, peaceful and prayerful witness in defense of the fundamental rights of all people of faith.

Please come and bring a friend!

Come aside and rest....

Wonderful weekend retreat with wonderful women and perfect weather at Camp St Joseph! Here was our theme:

And here is a picture of the entire altar...at the end of the weekend each woman wrote their name in the Sacred Heart of Jesus....

and here are a couple of pictures of the beautiful surroundings God allowed us to enjoy

All in all, great food, great company and a restful time in the Lord for our closing year end retreat!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all our men out there...I know it can be hard, but I truly must say that we are blessed to know you and that your children who are "living in the Lord", are, I know, sending thei rlove to you this weekend!

a previous post on Father's Day from one of our dads.

http://reclaimingourchildren.typepad.com/lumina_a_ray_of_light_aft/2011/06/thoughts-on-fathers-day-from-post-abortive-dad.html

Nature and God

Sorry I have not posted the last couple of days. I have been busy with some presentations and preparing for our yearly closing event at Camp St Joseph.

 

I love it up in Millbrook where your companions fo rthe weekend are nature, cows and horses...beautiful! Please keep us in prayer!

                                                                   walk at camp