Gabriel's Notes
"Amen I say to you,
as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren,
you did it to me" Matthew (25:40)
April 21, 2009
Consider these words: Grief...Shame...Guilt...Inner pain
These feelings and more follow a woman who has had an abortion. Maybe you are feeling them right now. Maybe you are angry at the father, at the abortionist, or at yourself for making a 'poor choice' that has filled you with shame at your decision to have an abortion and has left you aching from the loss of your child.
You are not alone.
These words are taken from Debbie Miller's Healing Hidden Hurts website. Debbie had an abortion when she was 23 years old and suffered for many years while not understanding her own pain. Now she helps other women as they come to understand the pain of their abortion.
Tomorrow morning Sally Williams of Indiana Right to Life and Debbie Miller, founder and director of Healing Hidden Hurts, will speak to the student body of Bishop Chatard High School about their abortions and how God has worked in their lives.
Please pray for Debbie and Sally that they may touch the hearts of the students who hear them tomorrow.
Julian Center
The Julian Center is a home in Indianapolis for battered women. Sometimes they refer pregnant women to the Gabriel Project. At this time the center has an unusually high number of residents and is in need of pillows, size 5 diapers and body lotion. If anyone knows of church groups or prayer groups that might want to help, please forward this information.
April 16, 2009
Urgent Appeal for Prayer
Greetings in the Lord during this beautiful Easter Season! We believe in the power of prayer and we ask you to remember these brothers and sisters in your prayers today.
Couple at "1201"
Yesterday morning Kathy Stadler, sidewalk counselor, called for backup on the Gabriel Helpline. A young couple came with their infant daughter in the back seat of their car. They soon discovered that children are not allowed in the abortion center - bad for business? So the Dad, Frank (not his real name), stayed outside and waited while his wife went in for "counseling."
Frank did talk with Kathy and used her phone to talk with the GP helpline volunteer. He wanted understanding and support for bringing his wife there to pay the abortionist to take the life of their second child. Both Frank and his wife are college students and raising two children while going to school is not easy.
Kathy offered to save them $100 by taking the Mom for a free ultrasound at the Life Center nearby. The Gabriel Project offered to pay for having their cell phone turned back on so that they could communicate more easily with people who want to help them. Instead of considering either of the offers, Frank asked the counselors to understand why he and his wife had to abort their child. They left in their car, probably to get cash and came back to pay for the services, which are scheduled for today.
Some people would give up at this point, but we know that everything is possible with God. So we will pray and sacrifice and hope that Frank and his wife will have a change of heart and realize what a treasure God has given them.
Mike's Mother
Eric Slaughter is chairman of the local chapter of Catholics United for the Faith (CUF). Yesterday Eric asked for prayers for the mother of Mike Sullivan, president of national CUF. Mike's mother, Ann, is sick with cancer and suffered additional complications throughout Holy Week. She is in a lot of pain, but is not complaining.
It has been especially difficult for Mike's dad since Ann's cancer was diagnosed so recently. Mike will go to Denver to see her again on Sunday and he hopes that he will be able to make it in time. Her body is shutting down, yet she is only thinking about everybody else!
Please keep Mike and his family, especially his mother, in your prayers.
National Abortion Federation
The cost of abortions at 1201 N. Arlington has recently gone up to $525. Women have reported, however, that if they don't have enough money, they are referred to the National Abortion Federation, which underwrites their abortion up to $350. We are looking into this organization and will report more about them soon.
April 15, 2009
Good Friday SAVE - 4/10/09
The spring campaign of 40 Days for Life - Indy is officially over, but we will not stop praying for an end to abortion. If you want to see the latest count of SAVES, go to our welcome page.
Several people came out and prayed at Planned Parenthood during Holy Week and on Good Friday when it was cold and rainy, there was a save in the morning. Marian Leahy from Columbus called the 40 Days Central Line and reported that there were three women counseling that morning, they were all wearing red coats and they were involved in the save.
We discovered later that the women were from St. Joseph Church in Lebanon and two of them, Carmel Brand and Margaret Jackson, come every Friday morning to pray and counsel at Planned Parenthood. Carmel had put out an email earlier in the week encouraging her friends to come and pray on Good Friday. One friend, Nancy Eastman, had Friday off from work and she contacted Carmel to join the group. They decided to wear red because it was Good Friday.
Shortly after 9:30 AM, a man was driving out of Planned Parenthood, stopped, and rolled down the window to talk with the counselors. He said his wife was inside PP having an ultrasound and Carmel gave him some literature and told him that the Life Center on 86th St. would give her an ultrasound at no charge. He was interested and excited about the news of a free ultrasound. In the meantime, the female security guard drove up behind the man and told him he would have to move.
The man came back in five minutes and went around the building to talk with his wife. They talked at length and finally came out with a small baby - probably less than six months old - in the back seat. Both the man and woman were excited and they stopped again to let the counselors know they were not going through with the abortion. They had joyfully chosen life and seemed to realize that God would help them face any difficulties.
Post-Abortion Training
The Archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry is sponsoring a one-day workshop on Pregnancy Loss and Unresolved Grief on Friday, April 24, 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM.
Theresa Burke, PhD, LCP, NCP is the founder of Rachel's Vieyard Ministries and an internationally recognized expert on post-abortion trauma and healing. Her counseling work has focused on women's issues, bereavement, pregnancy loss, sexual abuse, eating disorders, and anxiety management.
6.5 CEU credits are allowed for Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists. You do not have to be a professional, however, to attend this seminar.
Almost half the women coming for abortions have been there before. It is estimated that 45% of the women have had at least one previous abortion. If you are a sidewalk counselor or answer a helpline, this seminar will help you help others.
April 10, 2009
Greetings in the Lord during this beautiful Easter Season!
We have some wonderful news to celebrate. Wednesday, during abortion "counseling" at 1201 N. Arlington, three women decided to save the lives of their children. Praise God.
Two saves occurred Wednesday morning when Kathy Stadler and Fran Adornato were praying and sidewalk counseling and the third one occurred in the afternoon when Denny and Margaret Ann Woelfel were there.
Denny was actually crying as he was walking the woman to her car. He thought she had decided to abort. She was touched by his tears and explained that she could not go through with it and had not finish the counseling process. Denny's tears kept coming, but they were now tears of joy. Denny also mentioned that there were many more cars than usual that afternoon.
In the morning, Kathy and Fran reported seeing some sad situations with mothers and young girls, but two couples chose life. The first couple was African American and the father of the baby seemed open to life since he had accepted a bible and a pamphlet that had been offered to him.
The second couple was Hispanic and the woman agreed to talk with a Spanish-speaking friend of Kathy's on her cell. Kathy's friend had never talked to someone at an abortion center sidewalk before. She was very frank and let the Hispanic woman know that she needed to get away from there and save her baby. After some discussion and a lot of listening, the Hispanic woman gave the phone back to Kathy, told her she would not abort the baby and left! Thank God Kathy and Fran were there and Kathy's friend, Mercedes, was available.
Update on Amy
Amy* is moving back into her apartment, her 6 year old daughter is glad to be back at school with her friends. Lynne O'Brien from St. Rose of Lima in Franklin and Barb Pierse of Holy Spirit in Edinburgh are contacting Amy by phone this week and in person next week.
Amy and her mother and aunt and uncle are all very appreciative of the Gabriel Project and the many caring souls who have helped Amy. Next week we will have a place arranged to accept material things for Amy. Thank you for your patience in this situation.
*Names have been changed.