In this Newsletter:
- Order Mystic Monk Coffee and Tea now, pick up at Nov 6 Holiday Boutique
- Abortions continue at Whole Womens in McKinney - Sign up to pray at 40 Days for Life
- In Sept - plan to attend the 40 Days for Life Kick Off, No monthly meeting
- Learn more about St Gabriel Pro-Life Ministry - read notes from the Aug 15 meeting
Mystic Monk Coffee and Teas - Order now
I want to introduce myself to you. My name is Elizabeth/Liz Baehner and am a member of the pro-life group here at St. Gabriel the Archangel. I am the new contact person for your order of Mystic Monk Coffee. If you forward your information to me concerning your coffee or tea order, I will create a file and call Mystic Monk to order your luscious java from this site so it is ready for you to pick up Saturday November 6 at the St Gabriel Holiday Boutique/Craft Fair. This event is a short two months away so be thinking about what you would like to purchase and let me know.
For Coffee, let me know size (12 oz, 5 lb), type (Monk shots, ground, whole bean)
Here is the link for Mystic Monk’s brews: www.mysticmonkcoffee.com/.
No shipping cost when you order through the St Gabriel Pro-Life Ministry and profits support Mothers at Bella House!
Thanks everyone.
Liz Baehner
eabaehner@gmail.com
eabaehner@gmail.com
Fall 40 Days for Life in McKinney
Sept 22-Oct 31, 6am - 6pm Mon to Sat
Sign up now to pray at 40 Days for Life in front of Whole Womens in McKinney.
St Gabriel Day is every Tuesday. Let's fill the day with prayer.
Does it make a difference where you pray?
This past Friday, even though abortions are now illegal in Texas after 6 weeks, Whole Womens abortion center was busy.
A woman leaving the abortion center stopped to talk to one of our prayer volunteers who has been through Sidewalk Counseling Training. She was very upset. She said the people inside the abortion center did not want to even listen to her - just schedule her for an abortion. They told her she was 5 weeks pregnant.
She was not sure that was what she wanted, she just wanted to know her options.
She felt much better after speaking to our prayer volunteer and learning about life affirming options. Please continue praying that this brave mother remains steadfast in the choice of life for her little one. Imagine if no one had been present to help this mom who wanted life affirming help.
God does answer prayers - always and everywhere. So even if you absolutely cannot pray at the vigil, do pray - pray without ceasing.
We encourage you to sign up for an hour or more each Tuesday (St Gabriel Day). If Tuesdays don't work for you, choose another day. Come as often as possible. God bless you for caring for Mothers and their children.
How to sign-up for the Vigil:
Now is the time to go ahead and look at your calendar and ask God when He is calling you to make an appointment with Him on the Sidewalk
You can sign up for vigil hours online at 40daysforlife.com/mckinney then click on "Sign Up for Vigil hours" Then click on the day you plan on joining the vigil and a grid of the week with individual hours will show up. Click on the hour you plan on joining the vigil and a popup will show up with your selected hour. If you are able to make this a weekly commitment put a check in the box labeled "weekly on " then a list of the dates will appear in the pop-up. If you know you have a conflict on a particular date click on the "X" next to that date and it will disappear from the list. To add additional hours click "add more hours" from the pop-up which will bring you back to the calendar and you repeat the process of selecting hours. When you have selected all your days and hours click "submit hours"
Last but not least show up for your hour(s) at the vigil site.
If you would like to sign-up for hours before or after the 40 Days for Life Dates (Sep. 22 - Oct. 31) click
"View 365 Day Calendar" just above the calendar
Here is a link to a pdf with more detailed instructions and pictures: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.40daysforlife.com/training/tutorials/40_Days_for_Life_Volunteer_Website_Tutorial.pdf
Now is the time to go ahead and look at your calendar and ask God when He is calling you to make an appointment with Him on the Sidewalk
You can sign up for vigil hours online at 40daysforlife.com/mckinney then click on "Sign Up for Vigil hours" Then click on the day you plan on joining the vigil and a grid of the week with individual hours will show up. Click on the hour you plan on joining the vigil and a popup will show up with your selected hour. If you are able to make this a weekly commitment put a check in the box labeled "weekly on " then a list of the dates will appear in the pop-up. If you know you have a conflict on a particular date click on the "X" next to that date and it will disappear from the list. To add additional hours click "add more hours" from the pop-up which will bring you back to the calendar and you repeat the process of selecting hours. When you have selected all your days and hours click "submit hours"
Last but not least show up for your hour(s) at the vigil site.
If you would like to sign-up for hours before or after the 40 Days for Life Dates (Sep. 22 - Oct. 31) click
"View 365 Day Calendar" just above the calendar
Here is a link to a pdf with more detailed instructions and pictures: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.40daysforlife.com/training/tutorials/40_Days_for_Life_Volunteer_Website_Tutorial.pdf
In order to encourage early sign-ups we have copies of the 40 Days for Life book to those who sign-up for at least 1 weekly hour at the vigil for the entire 40 Day campaign. These are 1st edition hard-back copies almost all of them signed; we only have about a dozen left. When they are gone, they are gone. If you are interested sign-up online for a weekly hour and then e-mail Paul Borchard paul@prolifemckinney.org so that he can reserve a book for you (if there are any left).
Save the Date for the 40 Days for Life Kick-Off
We are still working on details, but please mark your calendars for a Sunday afternoon Kick-Off event on September 19th.
We are still working on details, but please mark your calendars for a Sunday afternoon Kick-Off event on September 19th.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday Sep 7th 7pm - Next 40 Days for Life Team Building Meeting - let Mary B know if you are interested in joining. mary@prolifemckinney.org 469-573-3985
Saturday Sep 11th 9:30am-11am Sidewalk Counseling Training St. Jude, in Allen
Saturday Sep 18th 6pm-9pm Quitters Ball in Dallas (Fundraiser event for And Then There Were None, a ministry that helps abortion workers leave and heal)
Sunday Sep 19th 40 Days for Life Kick-Off Event
Saturday Oct 2nd 9:30am-11am Sidewalk Counseling Training St. Francis, in Frisco
Tuesday Sep 7th 7pm - Next 40 Days for Life Team Building Meeting - let Mary B know if you are interested in joining. mary@prolifemckinney.org 469-573-3985
Saturday Sep 11th 9:30am-11am Sidewalk Counseling Training St. Jude, in Allen
Saturday Sep 18th 6pm-9pm Quitters Ball in Dallas (Fundraiser event for And Then There Were None, a ministry that helps abortion workers leave and heal)
Sunday Sep 19th 40 Days for Life Kick-Off Event
Saturday Oct 2nd 9:30am-11am Sidewalk Counseling Training St. Francis, in Frisco
August 15, 2021
MEETING REPORT For ST. GABRIEL PRO-LIFE Meeting
Both “In-person” meeting and ZOOM options were available.
Prayer: Pro-Life Rosary Meditation and Pro-Life Rosary were completed. Introductions were made.
Old Business:
A meeting with Fr. Don and others on Pro-Life issues was held on 6/23/21. After a brief discussion of the transition of the Minstry lead from Mary Borchard to Mary Reddan, we discussed the upcoming year being similar to the prior years. Some new items as time, funds and volunteers permit are: work more with other ministries, other churches, fully involve youth, more family events, education is key. A Rachael’s Vineyard memorial area was emphasized. Discussed how to provide clarity where confusion exists, with programs, reading material, homilies, fasting and praying, morality, spread unity and clarity. Use our website. Involve other ministries in our rosary. Fr. Don thanked Mary Borchard for her many years of leading the Pro-Life Ministry with gratitude, prayer and blessings and a gift.
New Business
REPORT ON HOUSTON PRO-LIFE
Mary B. pointed out that the 40 Days for Life program is across the country and around the world. There have been 18,000 babies saved and 100 abortion sites have been shut down. Paul Borchard attended a networking training session for leaders. Joe Borchard mentioned that the planned parenthood closed at College Station and is now a 40 Days for Life Office!
Mary B. brought back a good number of large plastic signs and many smaller (12”x18”) light weight signs for our Pro-Life Ministry at a very good price. The large plastic signs and the smaller paper signs will be used in front of the newly opened chemical abortion clinic in McKinney, and for the many times a sign is helpful: fall 40 Days for Life (9/22/21 - 10/31/21), the Hike for Life (10/2/21), Life Chain, Dallas Roe Memorial Events in January and Spring 40 Days for Life. Anyone who wants a small 12”x 18” light weight sign, please contact Mary Reddan (mary.o.reddan@gmail.com or text 937-573-8046) and I will arrange to get one or more of the small signs to you.
Mary B. also brought back 5 signed copies of a new book What To Say When, The Complete New Guide To Discussing Abortion by Shawn Carney and Steve Karlen. One will go in the Church Library and the others were given away at the meeting. Joe B. mentioned that the book is updated, because there are new arguments going on these days. Paul B. reminded us that these are advanced copies; try to leave a review on Amazon to show our interest.
PLAN OF WORK OVERVIEW 2021-2022
To Encourage parishioners to join Pro-Life events through subsidized St. Gabriel’s table events to keep costs down and families involved: Bishop’s Dinner, and the Christ Child Luncheon.
To participate in the Hike for Life, and the 40 Days for Life.
To fully engage Teens 4 Life with several proposed plans for the fall and spring.
To use fall mini-retreats for the youth on pro-life topics, using a series of high-quality podcasts encouraging parents/families in Pro-Life action. This program is to help reactivate an interest in the pro-life Boot Camp in 2022.
The Teens 4 Life actions and others may be taken when a new leader for the Teens for Life is found. Mary Reddan is actively seeking interested people who have a heart for the life of an unborn child and who are interested in the development of the Teens for Life. It is at least a one-year commitment. If interested, please call Mary Reddan for more information, 937-573-88046 or mary.o.reddan@gmail.com.
Educational Programs with an emphasis on family involvement:
Invite the families of the St. Gabriel Parish and other Parishes to join us for adult and/or family programs such as:
Invite Dr. Bridget Thill to speak this year on Bioethics, date not yet selected.
Join with the Columbiettes to show a 2021 documentary movie Roe v Wade. It is likely we will have a guest speaker, to add perspective after the movie. Date not yet selected.
Consider Trent Horn, Abby Johnson, who has spoken at St. Gabriels, Stephanie Gray or other well-known speaker who speaks on subjects of interest to families. For example, some programs are to prepare kids to face the very tough moral issues, i.e., sex outside marriage, same sex marriages, porn or to make a case against abortion or to educate families on pro-life issues and advocating for the unborn. More discussion is needed on this topic. Date not yet set, it is likely to take place in spring or summer. The goal is to invite neighboring parishes if space if available.
Invite Geralyn Kaminsky, CPLC Executive Director and St. Francis of Assisi parishioner to one of our meetings to talk about what she sees for the future for CPLC.
Comments of the membership
New member, Martha Doose, is aware of different programs while she was in CA at Birth Choice. Their bulletin was more accessible and they could put Pro-Life items in sometimes weekly but at least once a month. They had a wonderful program based on spiritual adoptions; it was approved by their diocese, and they had their grade schoolers involved. Martha told us of a program she developed on combating human traffickers. They got a big response to that program. They had the District Attorney and a congressman, among others, to come to the events. They also went in a group to trials of human traffickers to let judges know there was a great interest in how justice was served. Martha - can we have roses for the moms on Mother’s Day? Martha’s church has made small roses in the past they are easy – yes, we can look into it.
Mary B. mentioned the fetal model at St. Gabriel’s of unborn babies at different stages of development. Although there is no grade school at St. Gabriel, we do work with some preschoolers.
Paul B. pointed out an error in the handout for the new abortion location in McKinney. The correct address to use for stories and photos being provided to Mary Borchard is: mary@prolifemckinney.org
Mary B. asked if Martha would like to join the Pro-Life Flock note address list.
Pro-Life Volunteers and team members ARE NEEDED for larger projects:
-40 Days for Life Coordinator, fall: September 22 to October 31. Spring 40 Days for Life is Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday (duties involve: reserve rolling cabinets. After Masses, sign parishioners up for key days)
-Hike for Life Coordinator
-Prayer Chain Coordinator, first Sat/Sun in Oct (likely to be at Custer & Collin-McKinney Parkway this year.)
-Educational programs: volunteers for event support, advertising, set up, miscellaneous arrangement/logistics
-Need help on staffing the Holiday Boutique Pro-Life Booth, November 6, 2021
-Need help on Educational Family Programs, more details to come in the future.
-Need coordinator for the Bishop’s dinner tables
-Need Bulletin article writer for Pro-Life news or activities and return them to Angela the Monday prior to date to be announced at church.
-Need someone who can do Public Service announcements if needed for Catholic Radio
Save the date:
St. Gabriel’s 40 Days for Life Vigil at the Newly opened McKinney Chemical Abortion Facility. Seeking a coordinator for possible St. Gabriel’s Tuesday each week. Needed ASAP.
St. Gabriel Pro-Life Ministry Rosary, (hopefully with a new partner each time), 4th Saturday of the month 10am on the sidewalk
Next Pro-Life Ministry Meeting: Sunday, 9/19/2021, 12:15pm Annunciation Room
Hike for Life, McKinney: St. Michael’s 10/2/2021
Booth at Holiday Boutique Saturday, 11/6/21
Updates:
Mary Borchard, Par Coor meeting highlights: reporting on the “Par Coor” Respect Life meeting. They are quarterly meetings. This program is separate from the diocese. We discussed retreats for Rachel’s Vineyard, and as a part of Project Joseph. We need people to adopt this ministry to help - set up and tear down.
- If participating in the Hike for Life, consider donating in Fr. Don’s name.
-We also briefly discussed the Moms in Need Program.
-We discussed Baby Banks - you can donate by putting money in the can, or using a smart code to donate virtually.
-We are also looking for donations of baked goods for the Christ Child Christmas Market. if there are leftover items to be donated, parishes can create a themed basket, like games or the like, and the basket itself will be supplied.
-Sep 23 will be North Texas Giving Day.
- “Bella Vide” for Spanish speakers - there are two paid positions now open.
-Oct 16 is the Respect Life Mass in Richardson.
-There will also be training here and at St Jude’s. A prayerful presence with simple signs at abortion facility prayers…. We have had 6 turn-aways at the chemical abortion facility in McKinney, including 3 in one day.
-Randy LeGrand is leading the Hike for Life at St. Michael’s.
Paul Borchard, Head, 40 Days for Life/365, on the sidewalk…
-Reporting on Forty Days for Life. There will be 40 days of intense prayer from Sep 22 to Oct 31 at the new abortion facility. A ministry could adopt an hour a week. The “365” calendar allows scheduling outside of the Forty Days for Life. -Currently, volunteers sign up for prayer at the chemical abortion facility using the 365-calendar tool.
- Forty Days won’t include Sunday this year - they aren’t open on Sundays.
-We need to use the 365 calendar at the moment.
Susan McKinney, Bella House Update and Boutique update with team:
-Bella House Luncheon not yet set. The maternity home is Plano is not currently open… there is no Resident Assistant for the evening hours. There are three residents at the Dallas house. Programs are all set up for the residents, but there are challenges for people coming off the street. They can come at any stage in pregnancy, and remain for 6 months after their child is born. - There is a new Executive Director at the Bella House, maternity home… good ideas for donating to Bella House include gift cards for Walmart for the house… volunteers are coming back in; Rose is doing volunteer orientation today.
-The Holiday Boutique is coming up 11/6/21; Bella House has been the recipient of the sales. Susan and Jennifer Pruitt and Gina Fuller got together to order new items to sell at the event: beautiful items like a music box, nativity set candles… there is a Christmas theme. There are also handcrafted items, including jewelry made and donated by a parishioner.
Kathy Winti, Walking with Moms in Need
-A scaled down version of what was proposed by CPLC. This is a program suggested by the Bishop to the parishes.
-An inventory has been taken of the larger area of available help and support.
-A the church level another search is to show what additional help is available.
-Kathy Winti is focusing walking with actual mothers in need.
Rose Lorenz, Pro-Life Purchase Requests are available to help any member make a Pro-Life purchase. -Copies are available in the meeting handouts.
-They are simple forms, if you need more information, please call Rose Lorenze and she can help you with the form.
Mary Reddan on successes
-The CPLC “Come and save a life” Class, Saturday, 8/21/21 at St. Gabriel’s 10-Noon Had a full and successful class
-Pro-Life Ministry and Columbiettes Joint Rosary, newly opened McKinney Chemical Abortion Facility Saturday, 10am 8/28/21. Had a very nice group of St. Gabriel, Columbiettes, Pro-Life Ministry, Knights, St. Francis Pro-Vida. We sang, prayed and found it to be very successful.
- Holders in 8 St. Gabriel’s restrooms have been added to distribute business cards inviting women to the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat, and to invite the men to Project Joseph. If you notice an empty or near empty holder, please call Mary Reddan at c97-573-8046.
Steve Sexton - on the luncheon coming up, are we subsidizing attendance? Yes, we are encouraging families to join Pro-Life events through subsidized St. Gabriel’s table events to keep costs down and families involved. More details will be available as the events come closer.
Pro-Life Ministry needs leaders in several pro-life activities, we can use your help. Contact Mary Reddan, c937-573-8046 and we can discuss your interests and the needs of the Ministry!
The next meeting was scheduled for Sun Sep 19, 2021
We ask that you attend the 40 Days for Life Kick Off on that Sunday - Sept 19. Details to follow.
See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.