Dear Parish Pro-Life Coordinator,
Second, I share with you sad tidings, that our dear David has discerned that he will be stepping away from his role as Parish Liaison. We will celebrating his contributions to the ministry at the Parish Pro-Life Coordinator meeting this Saturday, February 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas
(St. Ann Rm). I hope you will be there! (
Please be sure to bring the Roe Memorial yard signs from your parish to the meeting.
)
At the meeting, we will also share information about
three critical spring events:
CATHOLIC ADVOCACY DAY
As you have likely heard, New York passed a radical law effectively allowing abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, and multiple states are looking to follow suit. Our Bishops have called us to action in response --
Now is the time for all Catholics -- bishops, priests, and laity -- to fight for the unborn with renewed vigor. ... Local action is especially important. ... Sign up for your State Catholic Conference or diocesan pro-life advocacy netw
ork, which can help you communicate to elected officials.
Read entire statement here
We have a chance to answer that call this Saturday at the Catholic Advocacy Day Training.
Learn more about how you can be an advocate for our Catholic values from a
representative of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. The training will follow the Parish Coordination meeting this Saturday, beginning at 12:30, and will be open to the public. (Lunch will be available to parish coordinators staying for the training). Register here.
BELLA VIDA
Join us on March 9 at Prince of Peace Parish for the 2019 Bella Vida featuring a lecture, El Tesoro de la Vida, presented en español by Alejandro Bermudez, director of the ACI-Prensa and EWTN, plus musical guest Lolys Meza. Please note: This event will be presented only in Spanish. For tickets, click here.
BISHOP'S PRO-LIFE DINNER
And there's more! We will also welcome special guest
Gloria Purvis
, EWTN radio host of "Morning Glory."
Please help us spread the word and book your parish tables now for the best price and seating. It promises to be an awe-inspiring evening you don't want to miss!
Promotional materials are linked below, and
posters and yard signs will be available at the Parish Pro-Life Coordinators meeting this Saturday.
Pro-Life-Person-of-the-Year Nominations
Please also mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:
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Before we look forward to these spring celebrations, on February 11, our Church celebrates the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes.
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: "I am the Immaculate Conception."
Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: "O Mary conceived without sin."
During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was "something white in the shape of a girl." She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning "this thing." It was "a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm." Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.
Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.
Let us take inspiration from this humble girl setting afire a community of faith, and seek to inspire, by example, our family and friends to live for our Lord, and protect His gift of Life.
Thank you for all you do in His service.
God bless,
Susan Platt
Community Outreach Director
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