Pro Life: May 2010 Archives

Last week there was an extraordinary Mass of Saint Gianna and a talk by the saint's son at the Church and Priory of Saint Catherine of Siena (E. 68th St, NYC). I still find it amazing to say that a saint's son is talking about his mother, a saint of the Church. Dominican Brother Ignatius Perkins wrote a reflection on what he experienced and gave some helpful links to a story in the Catholic New York and the video on Currents TV. Having been there myself --though serving the Mass-- I am still in awe of the event because I think it truly was an encounter with Christ. Some many people came to meet Christ through the witness of Saint Gianna, the Mass and others. I wouldn't be surprised if several miracles result from this event.

The Church of Saint Catherine of Siena was packed with people (SRO) with stunning music and fine preaching. The presence of the staff of the Dominican Friars Healthcare Ministries and the Gianna Center was aslo a beautiful thing. The faithful, indeed, wrote their intentions for Saint Gianna's intercession and venerated relics of the saint.

Here's Brother Ignatius's review.

Here's the video for the Gianna Mass

Thumbnail image for Dr Anne enthroning image of St Gianna.jpgYesterday morning the founders, benefactors and friends of The Gianna Healthcare Center for Women joined Archbishop Timothy Dolan in dedicating and blessing the Center at 15 East 40th Street. We were joined by Saint Gianna's son, Pierluigi Molla.

The Archbishop prayed the prayers written by Archbishop Raymond Burke for the enshrinement of the picture and relic of Saint Gianna. One very beautiful prayer composed by Saint Gianna was prayed by all:

O Mary, into thy maternal hands I place, commend and abandon myself entirely, sure of obtaining what I request. I rely upon thee because thou art my sweet mother; I confide in thee because thou art "Mother of Jesus"; I entrust myself to thee.

In this trust I rest sure of being heard in everything, with this trust in my heart I greet thee my mother, my confidence; I consecrate myself to thee, begging thee to remember that I am thine own; guard me and defend me, sweet Mary, and in every instant of my life present thyself, to thy Son, Jesus.

The video story of Archbishop Dolan blessing the Gianna Center.
Gianna with children Pierluigi & Mariolina.jpg

This coming Monday, May 17, the Church of St Catherine of Siena in Manhattan will host a lecture by Pierluigi Molla, the son of St Gianna Berretta Molla, as part of an evening of prayer for couples struggling with infertility.

Please join the physicians and staff of The Gianna Center for Women this Monday, May 17 at 6:30 pm for a special Mass, offered for the intentions of couples struggling with infertility and pregnancy-related miscarriages.

The Mass will be followed by a talk by Pierluigi Molla, the living son of St. Gianna Beretta Molla and an opportunity to view and venerate her relics.

Location: St. Catherine of Siena Church, 411 East 68th Street, NY (between 1st Ave and York)


Schedule of Events

 

6:30 pm   Mass, offered for the intentions of couples suffering from infertility, recurrent miscarriage and difficult pregnancies

7:30 pm   Talk by Pierluigi Molla, son of St. Gianna

8:15 pm   Blessing with St. Gianna's relics

8:30 pm Light reception and book signing


Physicians from The Gianna Center in midtown Manhattan, which offers a highly effective, ethically-sound approach to treating infertility, will also be present to answer questions and offer support.

Gianna Mass 2010.jpg

Prayer for Life

Eternal Father, Source of Life, strengthen us with your Holy Spirit to receive the abundance of life You have promised. Open our hearts to see and desire the beauty of Your plan for life and love. Make our love generous and self-giving so that we may be blessed with joy.

Grant us great trust in Your mercy. Forgive us for not receiving Your gift of life and heal us from the effects of the culture of death.

Instill in us and all people reverence for every human life. Inspire and protect our efforts on behalf of those most vulnerable, especially the unborn, the sick and the elderly.

We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who by His Cross makes all things new. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

[nationalprayerforlife.org]


Moved by profound concern for the destiny of every man and woman ... a great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer. Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt 4:1-11).

Pope John Paul II
On Our Knees prayer for life.jpg

Yesterday, May 3rd, marked the 10th Anniversary of the entrance into eternal life of John Cardinal O'Connor.


Many of you were able to be present -and others were present through EWTN--and shared prayer with us for the Cardinal's eternal peace and God's mercy. In case you want see the video coverage, you may watch it here and I suspect that EWTN will run the program again.


At the end of the Mass, Archbishop Timothy Dolan launched and introduced a new effort of the Knights of Columbus and the Sisters of Life called the National Prayer for Life Campaign


Please join us in praying this prayer every day and give it to others; all of us are hoping that it spreads throughout our nation so that a Culture of Life may be fully restored!

See! A wise and faithful virgin standing there with a lamp alight, ready now to meet her Bridegroom, coming soon with pow'r and might. Cath'rine, filled with loving fervor served the Church both night and day: As she taught us, make us faithful to the suff'ring Christ our Way.

St Catherine statue.jpgThe other day I mentioned the 4th annual Mass and award for healthcare professionals who treat the sick and the dying with dignity at Saint Catherine of Siena Priory & Church (East 68th St, NYC) suggesting prayerful solidarity and physical presence, if possible. I had hoped to go myself, but too many things to do at the seminary in the final week of classes prevented me.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan and Brother Ignatius Perkins, OP, PhD, were honored at the event. The archbishop was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass and was joined by a variety of Dominicans, including Father Dominic Izzo, prior provincial of the Province of St Joseph, Father Brian Mulcahy, Izzo's vicar provincial, and Father Jordan Kelly, curate, Director of Liturgy and hospital chaplain at St Catherine Church and Priory.


DIzzo & Br Ignatius St Catherine.jpg




Brother Ignatius was particularly honored by the Dominicans for his work in founding the  Dominican Friars Healthcare Ministry of New York; he is leaving his work as the Director of the DFHM to assume a position as the Dean of the Nursing School at Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. 

OP friars with TM Dolan St Catherine.jpg
Thanks to one of the Dominican friars, Father Carlos Quijano who took some photos and graciously sent them to me are now shared here.




May Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine and Blessed James Salamone richly bless both the archbishop and Brother Ignatius, especially as Brother transitions to a new ministry for the Order of Friars Preachers and the Church.

Watch an informative video clip, Taking Healthcare's temp.

DIzzo & Tm Dolan St Catherine.jpg


About the author

Paul A. Zalonski is from New Haven, CT. He is a member of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic ecclesial movement and an Oblate of Saint Benedict. Contact Paul at paulzalonski[at]yahoo.com.

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This page is a archive of entries in the Pro Life category from May 2010.

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