Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Attention All Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust....

If you were born after January 22, 1973, you are a survivor of the American Abortion Holocaust.  As a survivor, you have great power against the evil of abortion.  There is great urgency for all of us to unite and storm heaven with prayers in memory of the 52 million victims who did not survive and on behalf of the 3,000 who continue to die each day in our country and cannot speak for themselves.  In response to this  urgent call to action, 40 Days for Life-Dallas is standing strong against the killing of babies up to 6 months of pregnancy at the Southwestern late-term abortion center. 

The presence of our youth prayerfully standing witness against the killing of the unborn is a powerful and awe-inspiring message!  Experience this peaceful, prayerful and powerful vigil on our first-ever
 
40 Days for Life-Dallas
Youth Day
Saturday, October 9th
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Southwestern late-term abortion center
8616 Greenville Ave. at Royal Ln. (NE corner)

To sign your youth group up for the day, half day, or even an hour, please contact Vigil Coordinator Susan Platt at 214-392-7545 or email 40days@prolifedallas.org. For more information, visit www.prolifedallas.org/40days.

**Please note:  All Youth under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a Safe Environment Cleared Chaperone or Parent.** 

Also on October 9thRespect Life Month Mass, Adoration and Procession beginning with 8 a.m. Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Doug Deshotel  at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 9635 Ferndale Rd., Dallas and the 40 Days for Life- Dallas MIDWAY RALLY at noon at Harry S. Moss Park (across from the vigil site).

Don't miss this great day of pro-life witness!

***We welcome youth volunteers to assist at the Midway Rally.  If interested, please contact campaign coordinators Joanne Underwood or Lauren Muzyka at 40days@prolifedallas.org or 214-509-7195.***

Flyer Insert/Bulletin

Daytime Vigil Guidelines

Map and Directions

Sign up for an independent hour of prayer.

SAVE THE DATE...the Midway Rally is coming up!

SAVE-THE-DATE!
It's the...
40 Days for Life-Dallas Midway Rally!
Saturday, October 9
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Harry S. Moss Park (corner of Royal & Greenville in Dallas)

Please bring your blankets, chairs, & a picnic lunch!

Speakers include...
Mark Crutcher (President of Life Dynamics in Denton)
Carmen Pate (Board Secretary of 40 Days for Life, Former President of Concerned Women for America, Former Co-Host of National Christian Radio Program Point of View)
Fr. Douglas Zavala, Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, Grand Prairie
...and some 40 Days-Dallas TESTIMONIES!

Music provided by Praises for Life!

COME GET RE-FUELED and
READY TO CONTINUE THE AMAZING 40 DAYS!

The Mid-Knights in Shining Armor

13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  -- Ephesians 6:13-18

So, they may not carry swords or shields or heavy armor...but they are clothed in something much better, much more lasting than that...the Holy Spirit.  They are men (and women) who cover the early morning hours of the prayer vigil at 40 Days for Life-Dallas and all around the country. They are servants of prayer who keep watch with Our Lord, during the night, peacefully & prayerfully, knowing that the abortion center will be open that coming morning without fail.

The traditional night hours at those 40 Days for Life locations, like Dallas, committed to a 24 hour prayer vigil are 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.  And for obvious reasons, they can be the toughest hours to recruit prayer volunteers -- especially midnight to 7:00 a.m.  Most people are gathering with family after a long day of work, at home relaxing with a favorite pet or roommate, or getting ready for bed in the early evening...and most people are asleep by midnight, let alone 3 a.m.!  We all have obligations that require us to be well-rested for the day ahead.

But those who make an extra sacrifice to come out to the site and pray during the early morning hours, also report that these end up being some of the most memorable and rewarding prayer times.  Many men's church groups have purposefully adopted shifts throughout the 40 Days, specifically midnight to 7:00 a.m. not only because they know it will be tough to fill, but also, they know that they will be blessed in unimaginable ways, keeping watch with Our Lord....sitting with him in the silence and the stillness of the evening, knowing that in just a few hours, women will start coming for their early morning appointments.  They know that if they fill that whole night with prayer, seeking to cover that time period in grace, maybe they will unknowingly touch the hearts of those who are having trouble sleeping, thinking about what they 'have to do' the next morning.

We want to thank those who arm themselves with the belt of truth buckled around their waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with their feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition ...the shield of faith, with which they can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one ....and the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...


...to the men from the Young Serrans group who kept vigil with Our Lord last night & lost sleep in order to pray for His little ones & women-in-crisis... Darryl who took Midnight to 2 am... Mike who took 2-4 am...and Johnny who took 4-6 am... 

...and the countless Knights of Columbus men who are constantly filling the night hours for us, thanks in good part to Tom (Texas Pro-Life Director of the Knights) & his leadership in the 40 Days...

....and to Rob (from Blessed Sacrament Church in Oak Cliff), as well as Mike (from the Young Serrans & part of our 40 Days-Dallas team) who has covered numerous night hours already in this 40 Days-Dallas campaign...

...and for those who have covered early morning hours, that we have yet to thank...

They KNEW that it made a difference that they were out there... and we know that it will change hearts & minds in ways, yet unseen.  Eye has not seen...ear has not heard...what God has ready for those who love Him. -- (ref.) 1 Corinthians 2:9

If you would like to volunteer to cover some of the nighttime hours that still need prayer volunteers, please email us at 40days@prolifedallas.org.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

And the word is getting out...

Lauren Muzyka, 40 Days for Life-Dallas Co-Director, will be on the Scott Wilder Radio Show today, around 4 or 4:15 pm!  Find the Wilder Show at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/scott-wilder.

The Wilder Show provides current events from a Christian Worldview/Perspective.  Incredibly informative!  It promises to be a wonderful time to share 40 Days... join us & tune in online!

Update: to see the interview, recorded live yesterday, go to the link above, click on the 9/28/10 segment, and start from 12:24 on the time bar.  Enjoy a bit about 40 Days for Life!

And in the recent past...

Lauren also substitute hosted the "Good News Show" on Catholic Radio (KATH) 910 AM in the DFW listening area on Monday, September 20.  She interviewed some of the leaders of local pro-life events, including part of the 40 Days for Life-Dallas team, just a day before the campaign kicked off.  To listen to the show, click here:
http://www.grnonlinearchive.com/podcasts/SoundBites-20100920.mp3

Monday, September 27, 2010

350 Prayer Volunteers!!! ... and Police

Day 3 Friday, September 24, 2010

The buses came... five of them... filled with people from all over the country attending Couples for Christ Handmaids for Family and Life USA National Conference in Dallas. This group is staunchly Pro-Life... and came to pray as part of the conference activities!

More than 350 people gathered in Harry S. Moss Park, processed across Royal Lane at Greenville and lined-up to pray outside Southwestern late-term abortion center with others.  As night began to fall, the candles each person held illuminated beautiful solemn faces... and they prayed... and sang... and prayed... to end abortion... to build a Culture of Life.



An impressive witness.
It seemed there were a gagillion Dallas police (uniformed/ plain clothes detectives), helping people safely across streets, blocking the right lane traffic next to the sidewalk with flares... flashing lights (also impressive). Some onlookers parked in Gaston Oaks Baptist Church parking lot across Greenville Avenue. By the way, Gaston Oaks Baptist Church has graciously opened the use of the parking lot to 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers during most hours of the day. (THANK YOU, Gaston Oaks!!)  The police stood guard and when it was time for the buses to load-up from the church parking lot, they also blocked traffic with police cars for the caravan.  God bless the Dallas police!

One of the ladies from the procession/prayer vigil remarked as she climbed onto one of the busses to leave, "Dallas is nice! We were in Chicago and the people threw stuff at us. And the police didn't do anything... anything.  Thank you!"

Yes, THANK YOU, Dallas Police Department, for your presence, your protection... and any private prayers you offer for the protection and defense of the unborn.

We thank Holy Almighty God for your sacrifice and service to keep peace... and will remember you in our prayers as well.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Reflections on the Kickoff Event... and a Push to Save Lives

It is Day 4 of the wonderful 40 Days for Life campaign, which kicked off at midnight on the early morning of Wednesday, September 22.

Reports thus far in Dallas from regular prayer volunteers are that traffic is WAY down at the late-term abortion facility, where our peaceful, prayerful vigil continues.  Praise God!  We are already seeing the incredible results from prayer...and that is, for an abortion center that typically sees a great amount of traffic, people are no doubt being moved to reconsider their decision.  Even if we have not yet heard "first hand" of how people are being moved, we know that in the Kingdom of Heaven, it is making a remarkable difference.  This is ultimately our goal -- to change & convert hearts for life, and as a result, we will save lives.

For a moment, I want to back up...and share a bit of the motivation & blessing going into this peaceful, prayerful vigil at the late-term abortion center.

Tuesday, September 21 -- the day of our Kickoff Rally-- began as a nice warm, early Fall day.  Members of the 40 Days for Life-Dallas team all agreed that there was something 'special' in the air....we knew to expect great things that evening, as we prepared for the largest 40 Days Kickoff Event our city has ever seen.

We gathered for lunch with David Bereit -- the National Director of 40 Days for Life (and our Keynote speaker) -- at the home of a wonderful 'life supporter.' Some of those that joined us for lunch were from other churches, faith traditions, and pro-life organizations around the city.  And we sat back to marvel at how all of these wonderful people -- who work so zealously to assist women in crisis and save their unborn children -- came together in one room to pray and ask God's blessings upon the next 40 days.  David spoke at the lunch about how we knew we could all go just one step further in our ministry to save lives -- that God had brought us all together for a time such as this -- and that Dallas was a KEY part of the 40 Days history & its future. 

Most people are unaware that Dallas was the second city to take up the 40 Days for Life campaign.  Just after the founding city, Bryan/College Station, held its 40 Days for Life in 2004, Dallas decided to hold a Winter 40 Days for Life.  And we know the result of that story!!  Just a few years later -- the site of the first Dallas 40 Days for Life, Aaron's late-term abortion center -- was closed and leveled to the ground without a trace!  We kept this in our hearts, as we listened to David.  During David's talk, a light rain graced Dallas...and we continued to pray that this was a sign of blessing...and that the weather would clear for this evening's event!

After we said our goodbyes, we headed off to get ready for the Kickoff Rally  The team, as well as Knights of Columbus & St. Michael's Youth Group (Garland), arrived to start putting together the site at Harry S. Moss Park.  At one point, we stepped back and saw our plans coming to life, finally -- the stage, sound system, band, & ministry fair.  Before we knew it, it was 6:00 pm, and our start time of 6:20 pm (for praise & worship), was rapidly approaching.  Our team joined hands & prayed for God's blessing upon this event.

After announcements, Stephen Ward and his band (from the Community of God's Delight) were lifted their voices in song.  People were coming...and coming...and coming!  It was beautiful to see SO many filing in to participate!  Before we knew it...Co-directors, Lauren Muzyka & Joanne Underwood, were on stage, welcoming all to the Dallas 40 Days for Life Kickoff Rally.  Lauren reminded everyone that beginning that night, Dallas was starting its 40 Day journey of (1) prayer & fasting,  (2) peaceful vigil in front of the Southwestern late-term abortion center, and (3) community outreach.  Then, Pastor Ron Julian of the North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship Church opened us in prayer. 

Karen Garnett, Executive Director of the Catholic Pro-Life Committee of North Texas -- our 40 Days for Life - Dallas sponsor -- welcomed the crowd, as well.  Then, we heard from Fr. Paul Weinberger, Pastor of St. William the Confessor Catholic Church, who reminded us of saints who had gone before us to lay a foundation of faith & life.  Aurora Tinajero, CPLC Spanish Ministry Director & Radio Host of "Celebrando La Vida," spoke in Spanish & fired up the crowd for life!  And Pastor Ron Julian got back on the stage & reminded us that life itself belongs to God, and it is not ours to take.

Lauren followed the speakers and gave a brief reflection about her readings on Mother Teresa -- do we love like she did, that we would go to the places where people were dying, to stand for LIFE?  Lauren reminded us that Mother Teresa saw the greatest poverty where people were unloved & unwanted... She challenged everyone to let their love move them to come to the abortion center time & again, to serve those in crisis...and that it was time to give the Pro-Life movement a new FACE through 40 Days for Life.  And with that...she introduced keynote speaker, David Bereit...

David took the stage and reminded Dallas how KEY it was in the 40 Days for Life campaign!  He told us that after several 40 Days for Life campaigns, he had a longing to see a child who had been saved from the 40 Days efforts all around the world.  Finally, he got his chance -- at a another 40 Days event, someone came up to him and asked if he would like to meet a little boy that had been saved by his 40 Days for Life efforts.  He remarked that it wasn't HE who did it -- it was the prayer volunteers, and ultimately, the Holy Spirit.  Still, the
David with UTD Pro-Life Group
pro-life friend pressed on..."but I bet you'd sure like to hold him, huh?"  And David described the moment he held that little boy in his arms -- as he looked at this perfect little boy, at his big brown eyes with tears of thanksgiving streaming down his face, he wondered -- how close did this little boy come to being a 'statistic'?  As David closed, he reminded us that we go to work & school for 40 hours a week... maybe we could make the pledge to do just one hour a day at the prayer vigil.  Or find the time to do just 40 hours for this campaign between now and October 31.

As David closed, candles were passed out & lit.  Stephen Ward & his band returned to the stage...and the music crew played the song "Advocate" -- a song written by Stephen, which reflected on those sidewalk counselors & prayer partners that brave the wind, sleet, snow & heat to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves.  And as our team looked out at the near 300 person crowd -- all holding their candles for LIFE -- we couldn't help but be incredibly grateful, knowing that God had gathered us all for this time, to be a light to our city & the rest of the world.

We closed with sounds of the North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship Praise Team...and we resolved to do everything we could this 40 Days, to make a difference in our city.

We will not stand for this atrocity in our city.  We will do what we can to effect change through the power of prayer, to save mothers-in-crisis & their unborn children, knowing that every life is precious.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe... Takes the 1st Day!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Cathedral wanted to man the first day of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil at Southwest abortion center. And did they!   Coming up the hill on Greenville as dusk was settling, seeing so many out there, made this little heart leap.  It's a work day for most of these folks. So many were coming from hard work days... to pray and sing... for the lives of the unborn... for the salvation of souls.  It was a great joy to be with this mostly Hispanic group. They work hard. They pray harder.


The parish coordinators (two sisters, i.e. siblings) who were on the sidewalk all day,  expressed encouragement not only by the good turn-out but also by those who dropped in from other churches. Both of their faces just glowed with joy! I guess that's what happens after spending almost an entire day in prayer... and with others doing the same.

Some of the highlights they told:  Their priest (Fr. Henry) came around noontime to pray with them. (Thank you, Fr. Henry!!!!!)   A Jesuit student just "happened" to show-up (by himself). A man riding his bicycle stopped and asked if he could join with them and pray for a little bit.  A couple who had been active with 40 Days For Life in College Station ... plus some other folks from Fellowship Bible Church joined, too. They brought their Bibles with them... reading passages from Psalms, and offered prayers as the Holy Spirit directed them through the Sacred Word of God.

(If you were out here this day, please feel free to add comments. Everyone loves to read your stories from the sidewalk!!!)

To the young man in blue praying outside the abortion clinic Tuesday afternoon...

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
It is almost 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. The Kick-Off Rally on Tuesday night for 4O Days for Life is several hours over.

But this is about something else that happened yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, prior to the Kick-Off Rally.  There was a young man (he was wearing blue) standing alone on the Greenville Avenue sidewalk. He was praying outside the late-term abortion clinic. A lonely place.

 During that same time, while several hundred people were making their way to Moss Park:  loading (equipment... instruments, stage, generator, amplifiers, lights, microphones), rehearsing speeches, leaving work early, picking up friends or relatives, packing (signs, water coolers, lawn chairs, blankets, signs, literature, card tables, flashlights, candles, bug spray) ...all  making sacrifices to put together, come together, be together for the 40 Day for Life Kick-off Rally; the abortion clinic was open and operating.   And one man stood outside on the sidewalk. Alone.

There will be more about the Kick-Off Rally: Pictures,  inspiring speeches, Pro-Life community leaders, faithful clergy, talented musicians, young people, not-so-young people ... sacrifices of time talent energy finances. But for this blog entry, all will remain anonymous... because of that one young man in blue.

He stood outside of the abortion mill. Praying. He was praying for those inside... praying for all of God's children. Several of God's children's lives ended there today... inside that place. But all were remembered in prayer... right there. He was there.

Whoever that young man was... Thank you.  And the rest of us will try to follow your leadership, witness and example (even if it means we stand alone);  so all of those inside the abortion mill, all of those passing by... are remembered.