Thank you from Aila

Since the beginning of the year St John's Pro Life Group has been helping our family raise the money needed to build a ground floor extension on our house consisting of a bedroom and bathroom for our 17 year old daughter Aila, who suffers from Friedreich's Ataxia.  Through fundraising efforts and carrying a PayPal button on this blog, the Group has made a significant financial contribution - not to mention providing invaluable moral support and awareness raising.  We hope that some of the reflections and reporting that have been made in connection with Aila and her needs have helped "raise the profile" of disabled people, their needs and their value.

The extension has now been built and we are at the stage of decorating and furnishing it, so the time has come to close "Aila's Fund" and to say a huge, huge THANK YOU to the Group and to all our benefactors.  We cannot overstate the difference these adaptations are going to make to Aila's safety and independence and we ask the Lord's blessings and Our Lady's prayers for you all.

Praying for an end to abortion

Today we have our first blog post by group member Chris (but due to technical issues it has my name at the bottom!!!)

40 Days For Life is an international campaign that, usually, runs twice a year and hold a peaceful vigil of prayer opposite the headquarters of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) in Bedord Square, London. Katherine and I went there on Sunday to show our support and also to see if it was something that the Parish might like to support in the future.

The vigil at the corner of Bedford Square, as you can see it
remained well attended after we retreated to find coffee!

We were booked into the 1pm to 2pm slot and arrived, much to our astonishment, at exactly the right time. We found three people at the vigil and in front of them were three boards, showing what the vigil was for and also a large sign with a passage from the Bible on it. The people were very welcoming and pleased to see us, especially the two Polish ladies, who had been standing there for two hours and we're rather cold! We took their place and had a chat with the man, Martin (who we assumed was one of the co-ordinators of the vigil), who was there.

He said that the Polish community had been very supportive of the vigil. He said that there was another vigil up the road and, between them, they had already saved 35 babies from being aborted. The other week, a Pro Choice group set up near them and began shouting abuse. A lady who works nearby came over to the Pro Life group and said that, although she didn't necessarily share their views, she was disgusted by the other group's behaviour. While we were there, only one person said a negative comment as he passed by. Most people looked and were respectful.

While we were there, we prayed as a group which was a beautiful and moving experience in itself as none of us knew each other but we had all been called there by our love for God and our neighbour. There was a blue book with various Scripture passages and prayers in it which we took turns to read aloud, we also said the Rosary. 

After an hour, we said our goodbyes and the man said that they'd be delighted if members from our Parish would be able to come to next year's vigil. Before heading home we stopped to light a couple of candles at the ever spectacular Westminster Cathedral. I'm really glad I went and I know Katherine feels the same. Please, please continue to pray for all those facing crisis pregnancies and for those helping with the vigil.

Teenage pregnancies - how can we help?

Thanks to Les Whittaker of the East Grinstead Gospel of Life group for drawing our attention to an article in his local paper which reveals that 75% of under-18s who fall pregnant in Mid Sussex have an abortion - in other words, 3 out of 4. This is apparently the highest rate in the county.  Here in Horsham we fall into West Sussex whose rate stands at 59%, but this is still above the national average of 50%.

You can read the article here.

Now pro-choicers might point to this as celebrating the availability of abortion facilities for young girls and their "freedom of choice".  We wonder exactly how free this choice often is, however, in a social culture that lauds sexual freedom and presents abortion as the convenient and essentially scruple-free answer when pregnancy arises.  It wouldn't be surprising if when combined with pressure from family and boyfriends, the necessity to adapt education and career plans and a natural concern at coping with motherhood at such a young age, this prevailing cultural outlook tended to panic young women down the road to the abortion clinic without pause for thought.

So what can pro-lifers do about these figures?  The answer must surely lie in active support for girls coping with crisis pregnancies.  Teenage pregnancy is a big deal and young women facing it deserve time and space to think through the options without pressure.  One of the best places for them to do this is in a local crisis pregnancy centre.  As Sara Jackson, manager of the Haven Crisis Pregnancy Centre in Burgess Hill, remarks in the article, "We offer the opportunity for young women to come and talk through their options. Some may feel that abortion is the easiest option because it is over quickly. But we aim to give the girls a bit more time and we give them more information so they can make an informed decision."

It is also important to ensure that young women realise abortion isn't the consequence-free, simple solution it is sometimes portrayed as being, the easy alternative to facing an unplanned pregnancy.    Rob Williamson, chairman of the Mid Sussex branch of LIFE which offers support to young girls who find themselves pregnant and even safe houses where they can stay and have their babies, says in the article, "These statistics are shocking because, first of all, girls should not be put through this type of trauma. We are desperately sorry for the girls, of course, and we are also sorry if this results in an abortion... the turmoil these girls can go through is huge. I think more teenagers are seeking out abortions because they do not feel ready for a baby, but we can help to support them."

So how can we each help to offer the support that will help young girls feel able to save the life of their babies by either keeping them or putting them forward for adoption rather than abortion?  Of course, if we know anyone facing a crisis pregnancy, then we can put ourselves out to offer friendship, a listening ear and time to chat.  It's vital to arm ourselves with local knowledge so that we can direct friends in the direction of nearby people and organisations that can help them.  And even if we aren't personally close to anyone in this situation, we can still help. Our local pregnancy crisis centre - in Horsham this is Oasis - and charities such as LIFE and The Good Counsel Network will appreciate our support, whether financially or in some practical way.  For example, St John's Pro Life Group hope to organise a collection of baby goods at church for Oasis to give to young mums.  See our minutes as linked to Katherine's previous post.

And of course, we can all pray, pray, pray!  Here at St John's group we've been saying a daily Memorare for the 40 Days For Life campaign and for all those facing crisis pregnancies.  Perhaps you'd like to join us?

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided.  Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother.  To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  O mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

Blowing out the cobwebs

It's been a long time since we've posted anything on the St. John's Pro Life blog...in fact over the last few months all of our regular activities in the parish have lain rather dormant but, at our meeting last week, we decided to renew our efforts in all areas, including posting on here!

So to start us off I thought you could all see what we intend to do over the coming months. You can download our recent meeting minutes here or email me for a copy. We intend to take things slowly, not bite off more than we can chew, but do more nonetheless. We'll also put up on here all the things we intend to do as they come along. If you see anything in the minutes you'd like to comment on then please, by all means do, or if you'd like to get involved in anything then that would be amazing too! You can always contact me via email if you have questions about any of our upcoming activities.

It's good to be back, God bless!

Perfect babies

I have just read this brilliant post on Ignitum Today on "perfect children." If you haven't already seen it you really must. I've posted the link below:

http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2012/07/18/92-and-perfect-babies/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

That statistic that 92% (which I'm assuming is just for the USA although I doubt it'll be little different for the UK) of babies diagnosed with Down's Syndrome are aborted is not only shocking but horrifying. Like the post's author I find it staggering that people can honestly believe that no life is better than a difficult one. Her story will, for many, raise questions as, obviously, in her case the conclusions drawn from the tests that were done were found to be inaccurate and for how many more children was this true? But regardless of whether the vast majority of children who were diagnosed with Down's syndrome did or did not have it it doesn't change the horror of the situation. So, so many children have been killed because people can't face the thought of bringing a child with a disability to term, there is a deep fear that the life that child will live will simply be unlivable, that they will be unlovable, that the lives of the parents will become too hard, that they won't have enough support and that it is cruel to bring a child with that kind of disability into the world. But, when faced with these sorts of fears and statements, I would always ask; "aren't we the ones with the disability?" After all it is we who are imposing the view that all life that is not 'normal', not 'average', not 'the same' as yours and mine is not worthy of existence. Is it not us who are so blind that we cannot even consider that someone with a different quality of life, with different abilities can still live a worthwhile life by simply living. And instead of pulling them and their families down with everything they can't do should we not try to maximise and emphasise what they can and pour our efforts into making that possible? Instead of spending billions on abortion spend billions on improving their quality of life and help them to live as full a life as we are able?

All of us, every, single one, is created in the image and likeness of God. Our innate dignity as human beings is founded in this. And that dignity, that expression of the image and likeness of God shines though the poor and sick and disabled and elderly just as much as through fit and healthy and young and wealthy. We need to see beyond the end of our own existence and truly appreciate the life of others. Yes, it may be different, but it is the beautiful, wonderful, awesome mystery of life just the same.

Memorial to the Unborn Child

Since our group's inception we have been holding small fundraising events (predominantly cake stalls...well everyone likes cake, don't they?) so that we could tidy up the Memorial to the Unborn Child in Hills Cemetery. The memorial, which consists of a simple marble tombstone (although I hasten to mention no-one is buried beneath the plot) that humbly commemorates all children lost before birth whether through miscarriage or abortion as well as still-births. Erected by the old SPUC branch in Horsham several years ago it had been left untended for a long while but was still being regularly visited with flowers and soft toys being left behind. Over the last 9 months a group member's daughter, Bekah, has been digging and slowly preparing the site for planting. It was slow going as, since the ground had never been dug, the soil was as hard as concrete! But now, as you will read in the Pro-Life newsletter at the end of the month, I am very pleased to say that the work is done, the plants are in and it looks wonderful!

If you are up that way do go and have a look-see, say a prayer if you have time for someone you know of who didn't make it to birth or, perhaps, spiritually adopt a child in danger of abortion.

Aila's Fund concert a roaring success!

Last Friday we held our Diamond Jubilee concert here in St. John's in aid of Aila's Fund and, I'm glad to say, it was a great success! Lots and lots of you wonderful people offered to help either behind the scenes with the box office, the sound system, organising the raffle and the like or by offering to share your talents by playing an instrument or singing. And, praise the Lord, even more of you came along to watch and enjoy the evening's entertainments. It was an...eclectic mix I suppose you'd say...we tried to accommodate everyone's tastes (as much as was humanly possible) and had a range of styles from classical to gospel, jazz to spanish guitars. On behalf of everyone involved in Aila's Fund I'd like to say a big THANK YOU!! to everyone who helped make the evening what it was, to the office staff and clergy, to the performers and to the wonderful audience. I believe we raised over £800! [Final total was actually just over £1,360 !! - Anneli] Not bad from one event, eh?

Here's some snaps from taken by the lovely Marilyn George...

Our lovely audience settling in as the concert began...

Fr. Terry kicked things off with a Handel
flute sonata...and a rendition of
'Annie's Song' for Fr. Richard!!

Bernard accompanying some of the performers.
He also played 'Crown Imperial March' on the
organ.

A brilliant duet with Claire O'Brien on flute and Cozette Rice on clarinet.

'Voices' sang beautifully for us...

Drinks and the raffle in the hall during the interval.

The Jazz Band sent us swinging into the second half...

Singing along to the Spanish guitar music...

...and here they are!

The Gospel choir brought the evening to a superb close with a song
chosen especially for Aila.