Day for Life 2007

‘Blessed is the fruit of your womb.’ 

Day for Life is an annual celebration of the Church’s message on the sacredness of all human life from conception until natural death. Initiated by Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, “Its primary purpose is to foster in individual consciences, in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition” EV 85.

Each year the Bishops Conferences of Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales cooperate in organizing events, arranged around a particular theme. As many of you will know, 2007 marks the fortieth anniversary of the Abortion Act (1967). The theme of ‘blessed is the fruit of your womb’ was therefore chosen, to focus attention on the Act, and on abortion more generally.

Day for Life Scotland 2007 took place on the 31st of May, the Feast of the Visitation. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of our own Pro-Life Initiative here in Glasgow, and so a number of events took place here at the Initiative, including a production of ‘Babies’, a play by Martin O’Brien.

Part of the preparation included the filming of a short documentary about our work here at the Initiative, which can be viewed here.

Sr Andrea also recorded a podcast, in which she speaks about the founding of the Pro-Life Initiative and of our community, as well as more generally about what it means to be pro-life. You can listen here.

Do you ever shop at IKEA?

If so, you can help us by buying a few of IKEA’s big blue shopping bags.

They are an ideal size and quality for us to use as the bags for our clothing parcels.

Next time you’re at IKEA why not pick up a few bags at twenty-five pence each and hand them into the initiative?

104 Albert Road, Mon-Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm.

THANK YOU!

Can You Help?

As most of you will know, a major part of our apostolate is working with women who are faced with a crisis pregnancy.

Earlier this year, one such woman approached us having just found out she was expecting twins. Although she is married her husband is in a low-waged job and they are not entitled to any benefits or the maternity grant.

In circumstances like these it can be a real pressure worrying about how you are going to get the essential - and usually expensive - things you will need for your baby (or babies in this case).

We assured her that we would provide all the baby items that she would need and give her on going support, throughout her pregnancy and for as long as required afterwards.

She is now in the late stages of pregnancy and is due to give birth in September. We will therefore very shortly be in need of a double buggy, two cots and two Moses baskets.

Although we have various other means of acquiring these goods, we thought it would be a good idea to give our “blog friends” an opportunity to help if they can.

If you happen to have any of these items lying around, and are near enough to Glasgow to either deliver to us or for us to collect from you, then please let us know.

Thank you and God bless!

More on Father Nesbitt’s 40th Anniversary celebrations

This scroll was presented to Fr Nesbitt on behalf of the many priests grateful for the role he played in their own vocations. In all there were thirty-seven signatories, evidence of the huge effect Father has had on the lives of those who know him, and of a truly fruitful vocation.

The text reads as follows:

We, the undersigned, wish to express to you our deep sense of gratitude for the example of priesthood which you have given us and which has inspired each of us to follow our own priestly vocations.

We are also deeply grateful for the kindness, patience and support which you have given to so many of us over the years and which has been such an encouragement and motivation in our lives.

Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
16^th. July 2007

Also spotted at the celebration, a great friend of the Sisters, Dan Cooper, known affectionately as Cooperman.

Fr Nesbitt Celebrates 40 years of Priesthood

We’ve spent the last few days away from  Initiative - and blogging - duties to join a crowd of our friends in celebrating Fr Roger Nesbitt’s 40th anniversary of priestly ordination.

Hundreds of parishioners and friends from all over the UK (and beyond!) gathered in Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Folkestone Kent to give thanks for his vocation and to pray for many more.

We were all there to pay tribute to an utterly radiant Fr Nesbitt, but also as living evidence of the amazing fruitfulness of Fr Nesbitt’s ministry: 40 years of fidelity to Christ and His Church, profound pastoral love for His people, perseverance, courage and phenomenal charm.

It was a great privilege and joy for us to be there…not to mention a great laugh travelling down with the Sisters McCallion (Ann and Margaret who are blood sisters and great friends of ours and many other people who will view this blog)

Fr Nesbitt was presented with two scrolls, one from a whole host of priests (37 in total) who attribute, at least in part, their vocations to him; the other was from us in recognition of the part he has played in our own vocations. (Images and text from these two will follow)

In the meantime here is a picture of us with Fr Nesbitt:

Ad Multos Annos

Prayers Answered…Prayers Needed

A great Friend of the sisters (Martin) who is a doctor in England has sent us the following two emails. One concerning a girl he dealt with a few weeks ago, and one a girl he saw yesterday morning (Thursday 12th July). Please keep them, their unborn children, and him in your prayers.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Dear Sisters,
It is with great joy that I must tell you that she (A) has decided to proceed with the pregnancy. She is 5-6 week and based on her previous statement would certainly have had a TOP (termination of pregnancy) at this early stage and went as far as contacting various provider agencies.

Thank you so much for your prayers and may God be glorified in this.

Please keep mother and baby in you prayers for their welfare and that God will do great things with the little one.

PRAYERS NEEDED
Dear Sisters,
Another life hangs in the balance, please pray for Aimee who saw me this am, and for her unborn child and mother, it is her mother who wants her to have an abortion. Your prayers are very much appreciated.

Feast of Saint Benedict

Sing, all you faithful! Let your hymns and praises
Ring through the churches solemnly and sweetly!
For high in heaven, Benedict God’s vision
Shares with all the saints.

Feast day greetings to all of our Benedictine friends, particularly the brethren of Pluscarden Abbey in Elgin, St Cecilia’s in Ryde and Minster in Kent, all of whom have been exceptionally good to us over the years and all of whom will be in our prayers today.

Fr. Tommy Holloran RIP

Fr. Tommy Holloran RIP
7 September 1930 - 9 July 2007

Over the past few days we have had the privilege of being present with the two priests of our parish, Fr Neil and Fr David, and the family of Fr Tommy Holloran, as he made his final earthly journey back home to God. May this much loved friend and priest rest in peace!

When the Sisters first began on 1 January 2000, and we moved into Holy Cross parish, Crosshill, Fr Tommy was a fantastic support to us, both as individual sisters and as a community. He was always positive and encouraging, and understood at the deepest level why we felt called to be Sisters of the Gospel of Life.

Only 8 weeks ago he celebrated his Golden Jubilee of ordination in fine style. The simple and inspirational way he lived his priesthood, and the example of charity and patience he gave, will always remain a treasured memory for us.

He was a thoroughly good man and a faithful priest. We loved him very much and he loved us equally in return. That love, united in Christ, will never die. His death, like his life, showed the Gospel of Life in all its splendour, as did the incredible level of care given to him by his two fellow priests.

May all those who loved him find consolation in the memory of a life well lived, and great joy in the endless stories of the man who will forever be “wee Father Tommy”. Please pray for his eternal rest.

Lovely Song

Great to be part of the Pope’s vision!

“I therefore think that also by changing the form - many of our active female communities began in the 19th century with the specific social challenge of that period and today the challenges are a little different - the Church is making us understand that service to the suffering and the defence of life are vocations with a deep religious dimension and that there are forms [of Religious life] in which to live such vocations. So many new forms are springing up which make us hope that the Lord will grant the necessary vocations for the life of the Church and the world today. “

Quote from Pope Benedict XVI to clergy of Aosta,  25th  July 2005