Saint Joseph Church                            Pro-Life Committee
 

Chair –     Dan Fink

636.861.1965
 
                                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 


Minutes:  Pro Life Committee Meeting

March 12, 2003

 

Attendance:  Dan Fink, Guy Parasch, Pat O’Driscoll, Joan and Wally Nowak, Peggy Oliver, Marge Sh…, Dianne Muccigrosso, Catherine Mack, Kevin Brady, Fr. Bob Boisaubin , Melissa Barnason

 

Notice:  Monday, March 25 at 7PM a Mass of Blessing will take place for the new Pro Life Committee officers.  Guy will make sure this gets into the bulletin. Dianne and Dan will lectourn.  Kevin will try and get some refreshments for afterwards.  Guy will also notify the activity list of this Mass.

 

The Divine Mercy Chaplet was prayed and Dianne and Marge asked for special prayers for three pre-mature infants at St. John’s.  One set of twins and one single birth.

 

Guy reminded everyone of the opportunity to pray a novena to the Divine Mercy. (This novena begins Good Friday and concludes the Sunday after Easter.)

 

Dan Fink was announced as the new Chairperson of St. Joseph’s Pro Life Committee.  Congratulations, Dan!  Dianne Muccigrosso is the Assistant Chairperson. Thanks to both for taking on this new task and a big thank you to Guy Parasch for all he has done these past two years!

 

A few odds and ends:

  • Guy brought an 8 minute long tape, A Harder Truth, made by the Center for Bioethical Reform and recommended by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life.  Those who wished to view it stayed after the formal meeting. 

 

  • Life Jewels – Dr. Wilke gives short radio announcements called life jewels.  Guy brought two of them to the meeting.  One detailed a statement by the Medical Director of Planned Parenthood which clearly states that abortion is the taking of life.  The other actually ran in the review last week and was written by Fr. Frank Pavone.  It gives quotes of several whose hearts were changed after viewing due to images of aborted children.

 

Guy wanted to make these available to the committee for consideration.

 

  • Update on the Death Penalty Statement:  Iit is a go with the Parish Council.  Fr. Santen asked for a letter to be inserted in the bulletin.  Those who want to support the statement will be asked to sign the letter and return it to the parish office or drop it in the collection basket.  Those of us at the meeting who supported the statement signed a copy of the letter.  Dianne suggested that the parish draft an overall pro-life statement.

 

Dianne then gave her report from the Deanery meeting:

 

Pro Life Lobby Day  April 9 at the State Capitol Building Rotunda, Jefferson City.

Buses are being provided at no cost, however, reservations are necessary.  Buses leave from the following locations:

Old Venture/Kmart lot Kirkwood & Hwy 44                    7:15AM (Fr. Bob suggested this would be our best option)

Wash/Union. Commuter lot at Hwy 50 & 47                                   7:45am

North Bus: Kohl’s Parking lot Hwy 270 & Olive                             7:15am

Cave Springs Big K lot Hwy 70 & exit 225                                       7:45am

Wentzville Wal-Mart Hwy 70 & Pierce                                            8:15am

 

To make reservations or questions call:  (314)792-7555 or 7558

(You may also drive yourself, if you choose.  All are meeting at in  the gymnasium at St. Peter’s Catholic Church across from Capital at 9:30 for an overview.  Bring a sack lunch)

 

Action Alert

Although our representatives are helping sponsor the federal legislation to ban on partial birth abortion, the Pro Life Office asks us to call, e-mail or write our thanks to Senators Talent and Bond.

 

Human Cloning

A flyer will be inserted into all parish bulletins the weekend of March 29th.  The Archdiocesan Pro Life Office needs men to volunteer  to pack these inserts.  If interested please call the Pro Life Office (314) 792-7555. 

 

Please be particularly aware of the fact that the Church is not against all stem cell research.  For example, the largest cord blood bank is here at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.  Research done with stem cells from cord blood is a viable alternative!

 

Other Info from the Archdiocesan Pro Life Office

LIFT Life Skits are available.  These are done by teens with a pro-life message and it was suggested that this info be given to Tom Lanzia.  The contact person at the Archdiocese is Maureen Kane.

 

8th Grade Composition Contest on Chastity – there are 1400 entries.  After the Archdiocese does their screening and awarding, then any entries from St. Joseph’s Parish are sent back to the Pro Life Committee.  Usually a special meeting is called and these entries are then evaluated by the committee.  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards are given and have in the past been presented by Virginia Knolkemper.  To volunteer for the writing contest committee, call Dan.

 

October 6 is the Youth Convention at Kennedy High School.  If you want to be inspired about Pro Life, drop by for an hour at this energetic event!

 

July 3, 4, 5 is the National Right To Life Convention in St. Louis!  The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Union Station.  Look for reservation information in the bulletin April 6th.  The convention costs $95 per person.  However, they are in need of moderators, people to introduce speakers and others to run audio video equipment.  Volunteers do not pay to attend the convention.  (The banquet and prayer breakfast are not included in the registration fee).  If interested, contact Maggie Bick (314) 961-7274.

 

Our own Dianne Muccigrosso is chairing the Archdiocesan Pro Life Convention this fall.  The date is October 19 and Dianne promises that St. Joseph’s will have a premo table!  The keynote speakers are Rick and Karen Santorum.  Rick is the senator from Pennsylvania who sponsored the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and Karen is the author of “Letters to Gabriel.” 

 

The Missouri Ban on Partial Birth Abortion – Planned Parenthood has lost its bid to the Missouri State Supreme Court to overturn review Missouri Appeals Court decision upholding the Missouri Ban.  The Aact may now be appealed to the Federal Courts on constitutional grounds.  Planned Parenthood must file an injunction within 30 days to stay the Aact.  This could all come to an end should either Missouri or Louisiana’s ban reach the U.S. Supreme Court.  Federal legislation prohibiting Partial Birth Abortions  would (most likely) trump state laws that allow the procedure.  We can anticipate a challenge to the federal legislation, when it passes.    

 

Pro Life reflections for the new Luminous Mysteries were distributed.

 

Every Third Saturday, the Archdiocese celebrates Mass at the Cathedral and then participants are invited to pray the rosary while walking to Planned Parenthood.  The monthly celebration is called Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.  This coming Saturday, March 15, Fr. Bob will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral at 8:00 a.m..  Please come!

 

A Pro Life Banner is available for display at parishes should we want to take advantage of this at some point. 

 

Project Rachel – Dianne wanted to explore giving Project Rachel more exposure. Fr. Bob suggested we get a speaker.  Dan will call Dr. Susan Horvath to get suggestions for a speaker and perhaps schedule this for Mother’s Day weekend. 

 

Rachel Memorial Garden – (For those who have suffered the effects of an abortion, it gives them a place to pray and walk the path of healing.)Volunteers are needed to help tend this garden at Resurrection Cemetery.   Confirmation Classes, youth groupos, school groups, or others are all welcome.  If interested please contact Marisol Pfaff at (314) 481-8408 after 7:00 p.m.