Two groups that work hard at defending life in Traverse City and northern Michigan, Grand Traverse Area Right to Life and RESPECT LIFE - The Catholic Pro-Life movement in the Diocese of Gaylord, have events planned for Sunday, January 22nd the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
I received the email below with information about the events and with some disappointing news as well. A local funeral home received "angry calls" and now won't be participating in the event. Let this be a reminder that abortion and the need to protect life isn't just happenening somewhere else, but also right in our own backyard!
Defending life is important and prayers are needed to continue to have the strength to protect the unborn.
To mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, GTARTL has planned a memorial procession and service for Sunday, January 22.
http://record-eagle.com/friday/x897043835/Groups-mark-Roe-Wade-anniversary
It appears that the article above has created quite a stir from the “other side”. Funeral home fielded several angry calls yesterday from people threatening to pull business, slander their name, and finally have protestors along the route to throw eggs at the hearse and those involved. As a result, they have pulled their services from our memorial.
I feel that this is the time to stand strong, bold and mourn the lives of 54 million that are not here! God calls us to speak for the weak.
I ask all of you for prayers for peace and safety for this memorial and help getting the word out!
Line Up:
12:45-1:25 at St. Francis Church - 1025 S. Union, Traverse City
Procession:
Leaving promptly at 1:30
St. Francis 1025 S. Union, Traverse City to Oakwood Catholic Cemetery, 1325 E. 8th Street
Brief Service:
2:15-2:30 - At Tomb for the UnbornREMINDER: The Respect Life presentation on The Theology of the Body beginning at 3:00 at Immaculate Conception Church, 205 N. Division. A light food reception will follow.
Here is a great prayer I found at Catholic Online...
To Protect Life
Loving God, I thank you for the gift of life you gave and continue to give to me and to all of us.
Merciful God, I ask your pardon and forgiveness for my own failure and the failure of all people to respect and foster all forms of life in our universe.Gracious God, I pray that with your grace, I and all people will reverence, protect, and promote all life and that we will be especially sensitive to the life of the unborn, the abused, neglected, disabled, and the elderly. I pray, too, that all who make decisions about life in any form will do so with wisdom, love, and courage.
Living God, I praise and glorify you as Father, Source of all life, as Son, Savior of our lives, and as Spirit, Sanctifier of our lives.
Amen.
Sister Mary Margaret Johanning, S.S.N.D.
Nihil Obstat: Joseph F. Martino Imprimatur: Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua Archbishop of Philadelphia, June 1994
Remember to pray for the unborn, but also the people defending and protecting life, in today's world they need it!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for Us!
