Thursday,Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Mass 9:00 am
Parish Office closes at Noon Wednesday, Nov 25 - will be closed Thursday and Friday
Eucharistic Adoration closes at Noon Wednesday, Nov 25 - will be closed Thursday and Friday
Holy Spirit Church at 355 E Champlain Dr, Fresno, CA 93730-1273 US - PROMOTE LIFE
"President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred. While claiming to separate politics from science, he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government, for the first time in history, into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life." ~ Bishop John D'Arcy 3/24/2009
We invite you to take action and support LIFE through any of the following links.
If you would like information on the Pro-Life Ministry at Holy Spirit Parish, please contact Lou Tellifson 434-7701
All are welcome to attend Holy Spirit Pro-Life meetings the fourth Thursday each month, 7:00 pm in Room 7 of Logan Hall
UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a Web page promoting its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.” The page, www.usccb.org/healthcare, includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.
Letters to Congress include an August 11 letter by Cardinal Justin Rigali, the bishops’ Pro-Life chairman, criticizing abortion provisions in the House version of health care legislation and a July 17 letter from Bishop William Murphy, the bishops’ Domestic Social Justice chairman, outlining the bishops concerns and priorities for health care reform as a whole.
PRO-LIFE AS A VOCATION Doing pro-life work is not simply a response to a cause or a movement, an ideology or a political platform. It is a vocation, a charism of the Holy Spirit. The Christian pro-life commitment is a spirituality, which has particular characteristics and virtues, and which shapes the particular strategies and tactics that the pro-life activist carries out. This spirituality, taught by Priests for Life, roots the activist in his or her faith in God, and insures that pro-life activism will lead the activist back to God. It helps us keep our balance amidst the conflicting emotions we have in the pro-life battle, as we deal with successes and failures, as we rejoice in the gift of life and mourn the taking of life. Learn more about this pro-life spirituality at priestsforlife.org.
–Fr. Frank
STOP FEDERAL FUNDING OF ABORTION IN THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL Posted July 18, 2009
The following is from Priests for Life
As you know, a lot of energy was expended to stop the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) from being introduced.
And it wasn’t introduced. But we warned that its provisions of expanding abortion and forcing us to pay for it would be snuck in under another bill.
Well now it’s here, and we have to act quickly to stop it.
The health care reform bills now being finalized in Congress are going to end up mandating the federal funding of abortion.
Unless Congress explicitly excludes abortion. And that’s what I’m asking you to urge them to do.
b) Call the offices of your Representative and two Senators at 202-224-3121 and tell them that you want abortion to be explicitly excluded in any health care reform bill.
c) Email us at mail@priestsforlife.org to tell us that you have done this so that when we speak to members of Congress in the coming days, we can tell them how many of our people have made this request.
Friends, if we don’t do this, we will end up with a health care reform bill that will expand abortion more radically than anything since Roe vs. Wade, and we will find ourselves under a law requiring abortion funding. The other side wants to sneak this in and wants to do so in the next few weeks.
Let’s stop them today.
God bless you!
Fr. Frank Pavone
OPPOSE TAXPAYER FUNDING OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH The Catholic bishops of the United States have launched a campaign:
Following President Obama’s March 9 executive order, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has proposed guidelines for federally funded embryonic stem cell research. The guidelines would – for the first time – use taxpayer funds to encourage the killing of embryonic human beings for their stem cells.
Click here
President Obama's 2010 Budget recommendations signal the Abortion Bailout is in full swing!
Here is the 2010 edition of the Abortion Bailout Package:
Taxpayer funding for abortions in the District of Columbia
$317 million in taxpayer funding for “Title X” Health Clinics (aka your local Planned Parenthood affiliate)
$50 million for the UNFPA, an international aid organization connected to coercive abortion as part of China’s coercive one-child policy
In December 2008, Abortion groups submitted a 50 page proposal to the Obama-Biden Administration. To date President Obama has fulfilled 11 of the 15 policies requested for the first 100 days. With more of the Abortion Bailout to come, we can surely expect to see some of the other demands to come in the months ahead:
Include Abortion coverage in any taxpayer-subsidized national health care program
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions on military bases
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions through the Peace Corps program
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions for federal prisoners
FIGHT FOCAOPPOSE FEDERAL FUNDING & PROMOTION OF ABORTION click on "Email Congress," personalize your message to your U.S. Senators & Representative, and then SPREAD the WORD! Our voice is needed now more than ever. Imagine the potential if all 86,152 of us were to email Congress in the next two days. Note: You don't have to be Catholic -- or even a registered voter -- to participate! There is no doubt that FOCA would be far worse than Roe v. Wade. If passed and signed into law, it would:
Abolish every single state restriction on abortion, including partial birth abortion, parental consent, waiting periods, and health regulations for abortion “clinics.”
Force Catholic doctors, nurses and hospitals to be involved in the abortion business. Conscience clauses would be nullified, and medical professionals would be required to do abortion referrals.
Eliminate all laws and regulations on U.S. funding of abortion, including the Hyde Amendment, all of which have saved vast numbers of babies. FOCA would also make it illegal for a future, pro-life president to reinstitute the Mexico City policy, and would arguably threaten the Kemp-Kasten Amendment.
Open the way for renewed U.S. funding of the U.N. Population Fund, which would allow this UN agency to once again bankroll China’s brutal “one-child-per-family” law with U.S. tax dollars.
RED ENVELOPE PROJECT a success....White house received over 2 million.
Thank you!
WALK FOR LIFETHANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS WORTHWHILE CAUSE!
40 DAYS FOR LIFEAnother 40 Days for Life coordinated campaign has just concluded. Thanks to everyone in 135 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland who took part in 40 Days for Life events! The next coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign is September 23 – November 1. Sign up for updates so you can be a part of that effort! Facebook member? Check out the official 40 Days for Life group.
Thank you to everyone who prayed, fasted or kept vigil to keep the unborn babies safe.
CONSCIOUS CLAUSEThank youto everyone who signed the petition and commented on protecting the rights of pro-life doctors and health care workers. Please continue to pray for President Obama as he makes his final decision.
It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997) Most of the downloadable articles require Adobe PDF Reader. You may download the free Reader here return to top
Right to Life Spring 2009 Events
Fresno-Madera Chapter 229-BABY
New episode of “Life Report” Podcast (ProLifePodcast.net) Every Tuesday
Annual Golf for Life (Sunnyside Country Club),Thursday, May 14th
Mother’s Day Corsage Sales (at a church near you) Sunday, May 10th
CA Life Summer Camp (Camp Oakhurst) June 11th—June 14th
40 DAYS FOR LIFE
begins 9/23 Our parishioners are invited to join other Christians from
throughout Fresno to take part in the National 40 Days for Life
effort from September 23rd thru November 1st. In addition to
40days of peaceful prayer and fasting for an end to abortion,
please consider volunteering to pray outside of the Fulton
Planned Parenthood abortion facility for one or more hours on
a day or days of your choosing during the event. It would be
greatly appreciated if you would help spread the word to others
about this important life-saving effort. The Holy Spirit Parish
Pro-life Ministries will have an information table set up on
September 12th & 13th to make available to our parishioners
information regarding this 40 Days for Life event and to answer
any questions that you may have. You will also have an
opportunity to sign up for participation in the prayer forum outside
of the Planned Parenthood facility
To get more information,or to volunteer to help, contact Patty at 434-8275 or pattybellijohn@sbcglobal.net. Additional print information may be
found on the west side bulletin board in the narthex of the
church. ALSO, Vigil Signup Sheets are available alongside of
the other directional and informational 40 Days for Life
printed materials to be found in the narthex of the church.
CA People of Faith Working to Abolish the Death Penalty
On Sat., Sept. 26th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
there will be a local chapter of the CA People of Faith Working to Abolish the Death Penalty meeting at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in the San Joaquin Room.
Those Holy Spirit Parish parishioners who may be interested
in this aspect of The Catholic Church’s commitment to
the “culture of life” are invited to attend. Due to the controversial
nature of this issue and the confusion surrounding it, it
would behoove all interested parties to refer to paragraphs
#2263 - #2267 of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” to
gain a proper understanding of the Catholic Magisterium’s return to top
Pregnancy Care Center’s “Walk for Life”
Saturday, October 17th at C.S.U.F.
Please make a difference and get involved.
Sign up as a walker or a sponsor and pickup your pledge brochure
today (pledge sheets may be obtained from the “Walk for
Life” packet container on the west side bulletin board in the
narthex of the church).
With your help, P.C.C. can celebrate another year of life and ministry to women in unplanned pregnancies. This is an awesome way to be active in ministry as a family. All are welcome. We look forward to your support. return to top
Fight FOCA National Pro-Life Postcard and E-Mail Campaign.
In November 2008, the full body of bishops voted unanimously to mobilize the resources of the USCCB, dioceses and the entire Catholic community to:
retain current pro-life laws and policies, and
oppose the federal funding and promotion of abortion, including the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) or any similar pro-abortion measure.
Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor......
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Second Day
O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Third Day
O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Fourth Day
Dearest Mother of Guadalupe, I beg you for a fortified will to imitate your divine Son’s charity, to always seek the good of others in need. Grant me this, I humbly ask of you.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Fifth Day
O most holy Mother, I beg you to obtain for me pardon of all my sins, abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Sixth Day
Mary, Mother of vocations, multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, safety in stormy nights. Beg your Son to send us many priests and religious. This we ask of you, O Mother.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Seventh Day
O Lady of Guadalupe, we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in a Christian manner; that children obey and follow the directions of their parents; that all members of the family pray and worship together. This we ask of you, O Mother.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Eighth Day
With my heart full of the most sincere veneration, I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy.
Our father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
Ninth Day
O God, You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant us, your humble servants, who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be*.
*Note: I have added the Memorare, the prayer the co-chairs prayed together every week. It is beautiful and so important.
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
PARISH PRO-LIFE/SOCIAL JUSTICE UPDATE: “UN-BORN, CHALLENGED-BORN, AND LONG-BORN EMANCIPATION WEEKEND”
SET FOR JULY 11 & 12 After every Mass on July 11 & 12 the Holy Spirit Parish Pro-life/Social Justice Ministry team invites all of our parishioners who may have a sincere desire and interest in becoming more involved and active in promoting the Culture of Life to visit our information tables made available to our parishioners for the purpose of disseminating general information, pertinent information pertaining to various pro-life and social justice issues, and to answer any questions any of our parishioners may have. The purpose behind holding a ParishUn-born, Challenged-born, and Long-born Emancipation Weekend is to remind our parishioners that the unborn (pre-natal human beings), the challenged-born (human beings with inherent limitations and/or handicaps, of whatever kind), and the long-born (elderly human beings) have the GOD-given right, as Endowed by their Creator, to a quality of life, dignity and value, and the pursuit of happiness, without discrimination or prejudice, or any extraneous encumbrances of any kind whatsoever. COME SEE US AFTER MASS. Right to Life of Central California will be on site to give us a hand.
First Day
Contact Holy Spirit Parish : 355 East Champlain Drive Fresno, Ca 93730-1273