Category: Knights Of Columbus

March for Life in Washington, D.C., January 24, 2020

2/7/2020

by parishioners Shelley & Ted Pulver

If you ever want to be uplifted, full of life and hope, you need to experience The March For Life in Washington DC. We joined the Indiana group with the Knights of Columbus at the National Mall. The excitement of being surrounded by thousands of like-minded pro-life people is what feeds our fire to continue to be a voice for the precious pre-born babies who are in danger of being aborted. Especially seeing the thousands and thousands of high-school and college students who traveled far distances to stand up for life was uplifting! They are our future hope!

This year’s rally made historic measures with the attendance by the only sitting president ever! The President made an uplifting speech promising he would continue to support pro-life efforts. He also stated that everyone is precious in God’s eyes and has the right to life. The Vice-president and his wife also sent a video to support the March.

There were several more presentations from individuals making their stand for life and telling their stories. Two women who are now mothers spoke of their life struggles after they were a product of a botched abortion. How they have forgiven their birth mother but wanting us to understand the reality of abortion.

Following the rally, the crowd amounted to several hundred thousand people converged to march down Constitution Avenue around the Capital Building and ending at the Supreme Court Building where Roe VS. Wade was put into law in 1974. Even though our presence is peaceful, our motives are fierce and we must all stand together to protect the lives of those who are most vulnerable.

We also attended the opening mass National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 23. The homily was beautiful and carried a strong message for our church. This was certainly one of the highlights of the trip. You can see the mass on YouTube below.

Please consider attending the March for Life 2021! Feel free to contact us to join forces to support the unborn and their mothers and fathers here in our church and community beginning now!

Shelley and Ted Pulver
(Shelley is an active member of the parish's Human Life and Dignity Commission)

Pastor's note: after talking with a number of parishioners of different ages, we are considering organizing our own parish group to go to the March for Life in 2021. If you are interested, please let Fr. Bob know (frbob@stanthonyangola.com)

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ICON OF MARY: A PRAYER FOR AN END TO RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

3/1/2019

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On the last day of February, 2019, between 50 and 60 people gathered at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Angola, Indiana to intercede for those persecuted because of religion. The local Knights of Columbus led the parish in an evening devotion that had been prepared by the national K of C. The service featured a "travelling icon" of Our Lady, the Help of Persecuted Christians. We prayed for those persecuted BECAUSE they are Christians, and for those persecuted BY Christians.

"In every age, Christians have suffered for their faith, from the Roman Coliseum to the recent beheadings perpetrated by ISIS. Brave women and men, embracing the cross of Jesus, have gone to their deaths rather than deny their faith, and the blood of these martyrs serves as the 'seed of Christians', enlivening faith in others. Today, the witness of martyrs continues in an especially intense way in the Middle East, where priests are murdered for offering Mass and families are driven from their homes for displaying a cross.

"With this Marian Prayer Program, we honor the martyrs over the centuries as we call particular attention to the suffering of today's Christians ... Featuring the newly commissioned icon of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians, the prayer program is the latest in a series of efforts undertaken by the Knights of Columbus to aid those who suffer for their faith. ..."

- from the introduction to the the prayer booklet used that evening

Fr. Bernie Zajdel OFM Conv. presented the following message from Pope John Paul II, his "Message for World Mission Sunday, May 28, 1996."

The identity of the Christian as witness is marked by the unavoidable and distinctive presence of the cross. There can be no authentic witness without it. Indeed, the cross is the necessary condition for all who have firmly decided to follow the Lord. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) All the witnesses of God and Christ, beginning with the Apostles, have known persecution because of him. "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you." (John 15:20) This is the legacy which Jesus left to his followers and which each one must accept and incarnate in his own life. Golgotha is the only way to the Resurrection.

The cross, in fact, is the imitation of Christ in faithful witness and patient and persevering daily work. The cross is swimming against the tide, making decisions according to God's commandments despite misunderstanding, unpopularity, marginalization; the cross is the prophetic denunciation of injustice, of trampled freedoms, of violated rights; the cross is having to live where the Church is most opposed, obstructed and persecuted.

For those who persecute religious minorities, that the light of God's truth and mercy may penetrate their hearts, and that they may come to recognize the common humanity of all peoples and cease committing acts of hatred ...

- from the intercessions

How can we fail at this point to think of our brothers and sisters and entire communities which in so many parts of the world offer a splendid witness of a Christian life totally dedicated to Christ and the Church despite being surrounded by persecution and hostility? Every year there are reports of the heroic witness given by new martyrs who shed their blood in order to remain faithful to the Lord. The Church pays homage to their sacrifice. She draws close in prayer and fraternal love to believers who suffer violence, inviting them not to be discouraged or afraid. Christ is with you, dearly beloved brothers and sisters!

Photos by Laurie Soulliere

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ST. ANTHONY AT MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

2/12/2018

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On January 19, six members of St. Anthony of Padua’s faith community participated in the 2018 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Among them were Shannon, Katherine and Sarah Schlosser. Here is there personal report:

My daughters and I were blessed to be given the opportunity to participate in the March for Life on Washington D.C. 2018. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for offering us a partial scholarship to cover the cost of the trip.

My daughters Katherine and Sarah took the initiative to get us to attend, and I was thrilled to be along. My girls had been asking me for months to go on this trip. I wasn't sure we could go and hadn't heard much about it so I didn't plan anything very far in advance. Once I decided to try to get us on a bus, I called Stan Fisher from the K of C and he directed me to a K of C bus in Indianapolis with 4 empty seats left.

We drove down to Indianapolis and boarded the nice, large travel bus arranged by the Knights. We were thankful that the trip was so well planned. We slept on the bus, then departed for breakfast with a little time to tour the various monuments in D.C. before checking in at our hotel.

The next morning, we rode the same bus to the march itself and collected our lunches and signs – prepared as well by the Knights of Columbus, who had gathered from all over the USA. The turn-out was enormous. The Knights led us to our positions and we listened to the National Right to Life Committee president give a brief, moving speech.

Then we began our one-mile march next to all the other pro-life marchers. One group said the rosary, another sang hymns. We passed a few bands who played uplifting songs. Before we knew it we had completed the march. The whole trip went so smoothly from the beautiful weather to the wonderful people.

Sarah said she wants to go next year already; but the next time she would like to go with the youth group so she can participate in the rally at the stadium.

If you would like any of the prayers or literature we prayed and handed out, ask Father Bob and we will get you a copy.

God Bless,
Shannon, Katherine, and Sarah Schlosser

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March for Life in Washington, D.C., January 24, 2020

ICON OF MARY: A PRAYER FOR AN END TO RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

For those who persecute religious minorities, that the light of God's truth and mercy may penetrate their hearts, and that they may come to recognize the common humanity of all peoples and cease committing acts of hatred ...

- from the intercessions

ST. ANTHONY AT MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

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March for Life in Washington, D.C., January 24, 2020

ICON OF MARY: A PRAYER FOR AN END TO RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

For those who persecute religious minorities, that the light of God's truth and mercy may penetrate their hearts, and that they may come to recognize the common humanity of all peoples and cease committing acts of hatred ...- from the intercessions

ST. ANTHONY AT MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

About this Blog Page

Archives

Categories

For those who persecute religious minorities, that the light of God's truth and mercy may penetrate their hearts, and that they may come to recognize the common humanity of all peoples and cease committing acts of hatred ...

- from the intercessions