Priests for Life - January 19, 2015

Brothers and Sisters,

This is a big week for the pro-life movement and I trust that you will be actively involved in events marking the commemoration of the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision.

We at Priests for Life want to take this opportunity to announce a few important things:

Priests for Life is organizing a number of the events of this coming week, including the National Prayer Service on the morning of the March for Life, and the Silent No More Gathering at both the March for Life and Walk for Life. Please also be sure to pray our Novena for Life in these days.

a. Coming up in March is the 20^th anniversary of the “Magna Charta” document of the pro-life movement, the encyclical The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae), written by Pope Saint John Paul II. It was issued on the Feast of the Annunciation, when Jesus became an unborn child. On the night of March 24, the vigil of this feast, there will be a pro-life prayer vigil in Rome, and Churches and dioceses around the world are encouraged to do the same! Let’s spread the word and see if we can make it happen in our own communities!

b. Because this is the 20-year celebration of The Gospel of Life, you will be hearing throughout 2015 a lot more about “Gospel of Life Ministries,” which we will be working to expand in these coming months. This is the umbrella ministry under which Priests for Life operates. I am privileged to direct Gospel of Life ministries, and when you support it you are supporting Priests for Life and all our related works.

c. As you are likely aware, the World Meeting of Families will be taking place in Philadelphia fromSeptember 22-27, 2015, and at the end of this week of meetings, conferences and prayer events, the Holy Father himself will be coming. Priests for Life mobilized some 70 national pro-life leaders to sign a letter to the Vatican and to the Philadelphia Archdiocese expressing support for this event. In response, we were invited to organize a pro-life event during the Word Meeting of Families! It will occur on the night of Wednesday, September 23. Please save the date! It will include prayer, a public talk, and a private reception for national pro-life leaders. We will send you more information as details develop.

d. Also, in case you didn’t see it, here is a quote from the Vatican’s recent review of the work of Priests for Life, which is a great encouragement to me, to our team, and to our donors: "Without doubt, PFL has offered to the Church a great service in the Pro-Life movement. By all indications, Father Pavone is a truly charismatic leader who has led PFL to significant heights….[T]he work and finances of PFL are in order… The Association has been well administered financially…[T]he administrative costs of PFL are in keeping with other groups receiving similar funding in the United States."

Friends, let’s continue to mobilize each day to make greater and greater progress for life! Priests for Life is ready to help you with our resources, projects, and speakers. Keep in touch with us as this New Year progresses! For my regular commentary on pro-life issues and developments, keep tuned in to my blog (www.FrFranksBlog.com) and my Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/FatherFrankPavone). I look forward to seeing many of you this week!

Sincerely,

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director