Over Breakfast, Pro-Lifers Celebrate Life

Karyme Lozano delivering keynote address at Heroic Media Prayer Breakfast

 

 

 

 

Media has played an essential role on how we think, seek information or help. What about using it in making the right decision? Heroic Media has been successful in helping women in a crisis pregnancy. On Friday May 29^th they held their inaugural prayer breakfast. 

 

Heroic Media, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Austin, TX, is an international non-profit that uses media to connect women with abortion alternatives. Today it has a market in the state of Pennsylvania thanks to Reach Pennsylvania.

 

Reach Pennsylvania is a collaborative support network of pro-life ministries working together to impact the abortion ratio in the Philadelphia Mass Media Market. Together both Reach Pennsylvania and Heroic Media help reduce the number of abortions through the power of media to articulate the prolife message through video ads on the internet.

 

Steve Bozza, from the Life and Family Office in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, took time to acknowledge the 200 in attendance at the Union League. He acknowledged Heroic Media’s work in building a culture.

 

“They are ahead of their game with engaging everyone where they are on the internet” Bozza indicated.

 

Rev. Joe Young, Vice President of Operations with Heroic Media, opened with gratitude with everyone who was present. He also outline the main goal of Heroic Media.

 

“Heroic Media wants to use media to save lives and build a culture of life”. Rev. Young outlined. He encouraged everyone to donate, pray and prepare. Young also states a proven fact that is relevant to the abortion debate.

 

“Abortion is not a political but human issue and it affects you” Rev. Young proclaimed. “Every life matters”

 

Brett Attebery, Vice President of Marketing for Heroic Media, was personally affected by abortion, which ultimately led him to his conversion. He reflected on a three day pilgrimage to Our Lady of Czestochowa and how it led him to Heroic Media.

 

“When I was a young man in college, I got a woman pregnant. Unfortunately, she chose abortion and we both later regret it.” Attebery reflected. “It wasn’t until I took the pilgrimage which called me to build a culture of life which helping change hearts and minds.

 

One of his successes in marketing for Heroic Media was how a young lady was searching for the closest abortion facility.

 

“As she was searching, she clicked on an ad, which led her to an ad from Heroic Media and pointed her to a pregnancy center in Philadelphia”

 

Brett asked everyone in attendance to help get the message out about pregnancy resources and shift our culture’s thinking on abortion with their support.

 

Karyme Lozano, a prominent TV star and co-star of the 2011 movie For Greater Glory, delivered the keynote address.  She shared her faith story about how an actress in Hollywood is Catholic and openly shares her faith, yet she is constantly attack by the secular agenda. She states that media encourages people to buy material things and become lost in that world.

 

“It’s worth going against the tide.” Karyme addressed. She took time to speak to young students from Roman Catholic and John W Hallahan who were in attendance to never be afraid to share their faith witness especially in public. “Your presence outside of an abortion facility makes a huge difference. The best way to demonstrate your convictions with your actions is through prayer.”

 

What led her to advocating for life was the final weeks she spent with her father. Her father was stricken with cancer. Her and her older brothers took time to care for him. A nurse presented the option of euthanizing her father. However, Karyme, who had been pro-life from the get-go, knew that euthanasia would interrupts God’s plan. God wants us to be present from conception until natural death. 

 

Karyme recalled the last days with her father, particulary the reunion between him and Karyme’s mother.

“The most beautiful thing that ever happened was when my mother forgave my father for everything he did to hurt her as he forgave her for wrongdoings against him” Lozano recalled.

 

In the end, her father died a peaceful death and led Lozano back into the Catholic Church. Today Lozano is a diligent pro-life advocate who works for Guadalupe Medical Center in Los Angeles.

 

As the breakfast came to a close, everyone was inspired to continue building a culture by supporting pro-life charities like Heroic Media.

Catholics in Fairmount Remember Patrick Ward

Patrick Ward, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier in Philadelphia, graduate of the parish school and Roman Catholic High School ’66, served in Vietnam. He grew up in the Fairmount area, where he is remembered by many as an outstanding athlete in football, track and baseball. In 1966 he was drafted in the Army and shipped to Vietnam in 1967.

Ward was a helicopter gunner, stationed in the Lao Pang. While there he was looking after Vietnamese orphans. Time and time again he would send letters home to family requesting to send packages to the children.

 In August 1968 when answering the call to assist pinned down comrades, Ward and his helicopter crew were shot down by enemy fire. He would be awarded the Silver Star posthumously.

“It was a sad time for Fairmount.” Recalled Lisa Trout-Porrini, who grew up in the neighborhood at the time. She, like many others remember, hearing stories about Ward not only of his actions as a soldier but as a friend and sibling.

“ I was 11 at the time and remember how somber Fairmount was. It affected us all as a neighborhood family. He was a great guy and died too young” said Michelle Schaeffer

Every Memorial Day the neighborhood of Fairmount gathers at Ward’s Park located at 24^th and Aspen to honor his sacrifice. His memorial is the oldest Vietnam War memorial in the United States.

Those gathered were neighbors of all ages including many veterans who served from Korean War to Afghanistan. In addition to veterans, Ward’s family and friends were in attendance for a beautiful celebration of mass. Everyone joined in singing traditional patriotic songs such as the National Anthem, American the Beautiful and God Bless America.

Father Brian R Gaffney C.O., priest from St. Francis Xavier, celebrated the mass. Deacon Vine Thompson reads from the Gospel of Mark how Jesus challenges a person to give up everything they possess, follow the commandments, but also love thy neighbor. Father Gaffney connects the daily gospel on love of self and neighbor in connection with the meaning of the patriotic holiday.

“Put love and desire to protect others ahead of yourself” Father Gaffney challenges.

He points out that every soldier is not perfect, but they must be willing to give up their possesions for others, which is a diffiuclt task but must be done.

Lila Rose Speaks at Culture Project’s First Fundraising Brunch at Saint Charles Seminary

Lila Rose addressing the crowd gathered at St. Charles Seminary on Sunday May 3rd

 

Cristina M. Barba, a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena and graduate of Archbishop Carroll High School, has dedicated much of her life as a missionary. In 2014, after years with Generation Life, headquartered in West Chester, Cristina founded the Culture Project now headquartered near the seminary an serves as president.

Culture Project is an initiative to engage in the restoration of culture with people of hope with a focus on human dignity. The organization currently have 35 missionaries stationed in Philadelphia, across the United States and internationally in Sydney, Australia.

On a sunny Sunday May 3 the Culture Project held its first fundraising brunch at St. Charles. The morning began with 11:30 mass at Immaculate Conception Chapel. Mass was celebrated by Father Tom DeSimone from New York. In his homily he talks about encountering Jesus.

“Healing is essential to apostolic message” Father DeSimone remarked.  “We must be open to inner healing of ourselves as we are transformed into faithful apostles. When we go into our hearts, we embark on an interior journey to know ourselves.”

 

After mass everyone gathered for a savory lunch and a chance to network with fellow missionaries.

Emily Ortiz, Director of Development for The Culture Project, took time to highlight some of the huge accomplishments of the organization after its first year.

“Since our finding in 2014, we have seen a tremendous encounter with our culture. Social Media is a great tapestry of engagement. We have reached more than 2.8 million people with more than 6,000 followers on Facebook. Instagram had more than 26,000 views, over 300,000 impressions from Twitter and 28,558 individual visits our blog.”

In addition to the use of social media, Ortiz points out their missionary work.

“Between October and April, Culture Project has spoken to 227 parishes, schools and groups, given 677 presentations and encounter 22,858 students, young adults and parents.”

 

Emily shared a testimony from one person who attended one of their talks during a college visit in Texas.

“Because of your presence, I am answering the call to live a chaste life”. Ortiz stated.

After a recap from Emily, Cristina took time to address the more than 100 attendees.

“It has been a hectic ten months” Cristina reflected. “Thank you all so much for your support. We would not have done with without your generous support and prayers.”

Following Cristina’s address, Lila Rose took the podium to speak. Lila has been a close friend and inspiration to Cristina Barba for many years.

“Lila is a woman of virtue, courage, and strength” Cristina stated.

Lila Rose, founder of Live Action at the age of fifteen, an investigative initiative in exposing injustice, spoke about what we need to do about engaging the culture around us. Lila converted to Catholicism six years ago. Her journey began at nine when she saw a book about abortion and it changed her life forever. During her work with Live Action, she has help expose the wrongdoings behind closed doors of several Planned Parenthood facilities across the United States.

“There is a crisis in our country between the culture of death and culture of life. We must form ourselves by forming others through our own example by fulfilling God’s call. We’re not just her for culture but for ourselves and there is a purpose as to why you are here”

Lila reminds the more than 100 gathered that there is a spiritual battle happening in our culture. Many people are turning away from God and using media as a way to get answers. Additionally she connects the problems in America with current events. One such is the recent arguments over gay marriage.

“Same sex marriage will be the Roe v. Wade of our time” Lila warned.

She offers a life-changing strategy.

“We have to engage the culture. Become who you are and never be afraid to begin again your journey. We need young people who are formed to preach the gospel of truth”

Lila points out that people are hungry for the truth. She has seen it firsthand with her recent conversations with friends and family. One such is a conversation with fallen away Catholics. When asked why she is filled with joy about her faith and they aren’t, Lila suggests that “her friends haven’t encountered Jesus on a deeper level”. 

Lila closes her keynote with these words, “If you can’t imagine, you can’t achieve it. God’s dreams are bigger and better than ours”

Archbisho Chaput Receives Award

            Archbishop Chaput accepts the JP II Award from FOCUS in Nashville, TN.

On January 2nd, Archbishop Chaput received the John Paul II Award. The award is given by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) to acknowledge a person for their continuous support for the organization.

According to FOCUS, the archbishop “has played an instrumental role in FOCUS’ founding and expansion to 100 campuses nationwide,” including Temple University in Philadelphia. The award “honors Catholics who, by their demonstrated commitment and witness, inspire others to the universal call to holiness and the renewal of humanity.”

The archbishop has done that. He continues to lead by example especially in the city of Philadelphia. On January 3rd he celebrated mass. His homily can be seen here: http://youtu.be/lT2L0SqxPgM?t=17m48s

It's Official: Pope Francis is Coming to Philadelphia

The Pope is Coming to Philadelphia!

As the Archdiocese of Philadelphia gears up for the World Meeting of Families, there is a new person that has confirmed his visit... the pope.

In a papal audience yesterday, Pope Francis has announced that he will visit Philadelphia. He will be the first pope since John Paul II to visit the city of brotherly love.

Hotel room booking has skyrocketed in wake of the pope's announcement of his anticipated visit to Philadelphia.

Many people around the Philadelphia area, particularly young people, are excited about his visit.

Registration is Open!

Next September Philadelphia will be on the global stage for the 8th World Meeting of Families.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has made that announcement while speaking in Baltimore for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He outlines the keynote speakers which will included Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Father Robert Barron, creator of the Catholicism series, and Helen Alvare, professor of law at Georgetown.

The event will also include breakout speakers. None have been confirmed at the time.

For information regarding World Meeting of Families and registration, visit the link enclosed.
Register for World Meeting of Families

Pray the Rosary!

Pope Francis recently had a loud and clear message.

A photo that has been circulating around social media has the pope holding out a rosary.

It is clear that the pope is telling Catholics to pray the rosary.

Catholics in 1571 prayed the rosary in the midst of of potential invasion from Islam. Catholics prevailed and Lepanto was spared. Catholics must pray the rosary in order to combat the evil that is in our society.