April 1, 2010

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)

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Prayer Requests
Wendy Manubay, one of our 'Angel' volunteers from St. Lawrence Parish, Indianapolis, has been diagnosed with lymphoma and starts chemo today. Please keep Wendy and her husband, Cris, in your prayers.
 
Joe Mennel, co-coordinator with his wife, Carol, of the Gabriel Project at St. Barnabas Parish, Indianapolis and Communication Coordinator for the Gabriel Project and 40 Days for Life-Indy, underwent surgery yesterday morning for prostate cancer. Carol says that Joe is doing well and might be home by tomorrow. He is waiting to hear if he will need radiation. Let's pray that he does not  need it. Joe already 'radiates' without any external help. 
 
Finally, my brother, Eddie Gleason, suffered a heart attack and went to his eternal rest just before our banquet. His funeral was on St. Patrick's day at St. Patrick's church in Joliet, Illinois where Eddie and his two brothers and three sisters had attended grade school and church.
 
Our mother was from Kilkenny, Ireland and our father's family was from Tipperary. Imagine the tears of separation and the Irish laughter generated that day when our family came together. Eddie was preceded in death by his wife and a son. Please keep Eddie, his surviving four sons, a daughter, their families, and all of our clan in your prayers.
 
Car Request 
If you have a car in good condition and would like a tax write-off for it, please consider donating it to the Gabriel Project. We have someone in need of a vehical and a small miracle that you might be able to make happen. If you have questions - or an offer - contact me at projectgabriel@comcast.net.
 
Save Report
Recently on a Saturday during 40 Days for Life when Maureen McHugh and Dan Dessauer were sidewalk counseling at Planned Parenthood, a woman stopped to talk and to thank them and the 40 Days participants for praying there. About two years ago, she had gone into the abortion center and was on the table for her abortion and she kept seeing in her mind the people praying outside. She did not go through with her abortion and is very happy to be the mother of a beautiful little boy. We don't always know the outcome of our prayers and fasting.
 
As Mother Teresa tells us: "We are called to be faithful, not successful." 

 

March 11, 2010

Car Magnet Save
Kathy Stadler drives from Carmel almost every Wednesday and Thursday to pray at the abortion center at 1201 North Arlington in Indianapolis. Yesterday when she arrived Kathy got out of her car, pulled out her rosary and began to pray. She looked up to see a woman walking very fast toward her. The woman, Lauren, grabbed Kathy to hug her and began to sob. Kathy instinctively  hugged Lauren and tried to comfort her. The sobbing continued for some time. Kathy finally tried to quiet her by saying, "Can you tell me about it?" The woman tried to talk, but could not quit crying.
 
Kathy called the Gabriel Helpline and asked me to try to talk with the woman. I walked away from a table of friends to hear her better and said, "I know you don't want to be there." That seemed to calm her and she agreed. I went on to say that I had never met a woman who wanted to have an abortion. She seemed to relate to what I was saying and started telling me that she had done something terrible and that the father of the baby - her daughter's boyfriend - told her that she must get an abortion.
 
I told her that if she got the abortion, she would feel even worse and would regret it forever. I tried to encourage her that at this point, she could still do the right thing, the thing her heart was telling her to do and that God would take care of her and the baby. I also offered to put her up at a motel to have time to think and not have to talk with the father of the baby. I also offered to ask Kathy to bring her to Columbus where she could stay with the Padilla family for a few days or as long as she needed to.
 
Kathy then offered to take her to lunch and Lauren agreed. Finally, Lauren went home and told Kathy she would call her for a ride if she wanted to go to Columbus or a motel. After waiting for a whlle, Kathy called, but Lauren did not answer. Kathy tried to text her and Lauren responded with "I'm ok." Later Lauren called Kathy to thank her and tell her that she was not going to abort her twins. Praise God!
 
Before Kathy had arrived at 1201, Lauren was alone and crying in her car for two hours. When she saw the Gabriel Project sign on Kathy's car saying "Pregnant? Need Help?" it gave her hope. She jumped out of her car to run to Kathy for help.
 
We never know what God will use to reach out to us. May God bless the Indiana Knights of Columbus for providing the car magnets that help women and save children. Thank God for Kathy Stadler and all the other faithful sidewalk counselors. Thank God for the Padilla family and all the Gabriel volunteer Angels waiting to love and help women like Lauren. 

 

February 10, 2010

We need office space in Indianapolis! For eleven years the Gabriel Project has operated with cell phones, toll-free numbers and volunteers who visit the Mom-in-need in her home. The central point of the operation has been an office - mostly filled with boxes - in our home in Columbus, where the project began in 1999.
 
God willing, this method of operation will continue, but we are growing and realizing that the needs and numbers of women that we work with are ever-increasing. I believe that visibility in the form of an office in the community will only enhance the project's effectiveness.
 
Office space will allow us to have women walk in from the street or meet there occasionally with their Angels (Gabriel Project Volunteers). Fetal models, video tapes and other materials will be available as well as pregnancy tests. An ultrasound is part of the plan and a place where meetings and classes for both Angels and Moms can occur.
 
The office space will also be open to our counseling partners on the sidewalks of the abortion centers. The sidewalk counselors will be welcome to bring or send the women or couples they meet who need a safe, warm, welcoming place to take a breath and consider all their options.
 
In addition, Bob Rust, scheduling coordinator of the Truth and Compassion counselors, points out that on Saturdays no other Pregnancy Resource Center is currently open in Indianapolis. The Gabriel Project's office will fill that need. 
  
Specifically, the Gabriel Project is looking for office space in Indianapolis preferably on the northwest side and/or the east side of town. We would love to have at least two or three rooms at each location, but we will use whatever God sends our way. The Lord knows that we have lots of love and very little $$$. We depend on Him for miracles and He always provides.
  
If you or someone you know has some extra space, which may be difficult to rent in this economy, please pray about using that space to save the lives of unborn babies and to support women and families in difficult pregnancies. God will remember your sacrifice.

If you have a space or an idea, please contact me (Eileen) at (812) 342-9550 or email me at projectgabriel@comcast.net

Save the Dates
Saturday, March 6 - O'Connor House Dinner at the Charles Ritz, Carmel, with Rev. Vincent Druding of Our Lady of Angels Parish, Bronx,  NY,  http://www.theoconnorhouse.org/
 
Tuesday, March 23 - Gabriel Project Dinner at Northside Knights of Columbus, Indianapolis, with David Bereit, Co-Founder and National Director of 40 Days for Life.  There is no charge for the tickets for this event because the cost of the meal has been lovingly underwritten by organizations and individuals who support the work of the Gabriel Project. We need 25 hosts to fill tables with 10 guests at each table. Please contact us if you are willing to be a host. projectgabriel@comcast.net 
 
Thursday, April 15 - Life Centers Event at Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis with President George W. Bush and Grammy Award Winning Artist Sandi Patty, http://www.lifecenters.com/
 
Thursday, April 22 - Pro-Life Office Dinner at Riverwalk Banquet Center, Indianapolis, with Jill Stanek, R.N., http://archindy.org/prolife/index.html 

 

February 8, 2010

Meet Therese Farrell, our "Littlest Angel" with her Mom, Elva Farrell. Elva is a Spanish-speaking Coordinator for the Gabriel Project and the mother of Therese. Mike Farrell, who helps our Moms when they move, is the Dad of Therese. Therese also has two sisters and two brothers.

Therese at only 3 years and 2 months is very familiar with hospitals and surgeries. She is pictured here (left) on Dec. 9, 2009 wearing her halo, which has been surgically attached. Her new halo will have to be replaced again in March.

Before Therese received her first halo, her Mom and Dad tried to explain and prepare her for the new head gear. One night when Elva was tucking her in, Therese pointed to the crucifix in her room in an "Ah-ha moment" and told her Mom that she understood. Therese explained that her halo would be like the crown that Jesus wears on the cross.

As we prepare for Lent and our spring 40 Days for Life, please keep our Littlest Angel, Therese Farrell, and her family in your prayers. You can read her story and see a wonderful series of photos about her and her beautiful family on the internet: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/theresefarrell4. The Farrell family is a truly beautiful example of the Culture of Life.

2+5 Indianapolis Saves!
During the last week of January there were two saves at Planned Parenthood. John Hannigan, sidewalk counselor, was involved with the first save; Bob Rust, sidewalk counselor and coordinator, was involved in the second one; and Marge Schmitz, sidewalk counselor, was involved with both of them.

Last week on Wednesday, Debbie Provost and Fran Adornato were preparing to leave 1201 N. Arlington when Debbie suggested saying a final prayer together. The prayer delayed their departure long enough for them to meet a couple who changed their minds about their planned abortion and discovered that they were having twins!

Luis Aguayo was involved with three saves last week. The last one was the most difficult. Even after Luis had raised $300 and the Gabriel Project had contributed $200 for Andrea's (not her real name) rent, she was still not sure about having an abortion. Wednesday evening she became alarmed with pains in her abdomen and called Luis for help. He and his wife, Lupita, took Andrea to the ER, where she was assured that all was well. While there she heard the baby's heartbeat and became very excited. She told Luis and Lupita on the way home that after hearing the baby's heartbeat, she could not even think about the abortion. Praise God!

Please keep all these Moms - and sidewalk counselors - in your prayers.