Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation. - Luke 22:46

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for April are:

General:   That every tendency to fundamentalism and extremism may be countered by constant respect, by tolerance and by dialogue among all believers.

Mission:   That Christians persecuted for the sake of the Gospel may persevere, sustained by the Holy Spirit, in faithfully witnessing to the love of God for the entire human race.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

That religious, by their consecration, lead many to discover that true freedom is found in obedience.

Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for March are:

General:   That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest.

Mission:   That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

That children may witness to their peers about the sanctity of life.

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for February are:

General:   For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God.

Mission:   That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

For the full conversion of abortion providers who are considering leaving the abortion industry.

March for Life Links

Today is the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children will be in our nation's capitol to march as faithful witnesses to the Culture of Life.

Here are some links for the March for Life:

• March for Life Web site (Official)


• Priests for Life


• EWTN (watch live online)

March for Life

The annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. will take place on January 22, 2010. Visit the March for Life Web site for more information.

Late in October 1973, grassroots prolife leaders became concerned that January 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court's infamous abortion decisions and without petitioning Congress for redress.

No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact prolife March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots prolifers wanted to march! About thirty prolife veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.

On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 committed prolife Americans rallied that day on behalf of our preborn brothers and sisters.

In 1974, the March for Life was incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization.

Our numbers have gradually risen through the years despite reduced numbers from the snow in 2000 and the terrible 9/11 attacks just months before the March 2002. These growing numbers give testimony to the increasing ranks of prolife Americans and to the importance of the March's work.

Today, in addition to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., there is a corresponding West Coast event--the Walk for Life which is held in San Francisco, CA. This year the sixth annual Walk for Life will be held on January 23, 2010. More information about the Walk for Life can be found on the Walk for Life Web site.

From March for Life

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This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

The 2010 March for Life is on Friday, January 22

The annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. is this Friday. This event has taken place annually since 1974 in order to encourage our nation and her political leaders to support a culture of life rather than embracing a culture of death. The march occurs on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade (1973) which decriminalized abortion throughout the United States.

People from all walks of life, political views, and religious beliefs come together in solidarity in our nation's capitol in order to peacefully promote the protection of human life from conception to natural death. This year, our Bishop will be a concelebrant at the March for Life Youth Mass at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the march. For more information about all of the events surrounding this year's march, visit the March for Life Web site.

Parishioners from Charlottesville are invited to participate in the march. A bus will be traveling from Charlottesville to Washington, D.C. on the morning of January 22nd. The bus will leave at 8:00 a.m. from the Church of the Incarnation, and the bus is scheduled to return at 8:00 p.m. the same day. For more information, contact contact Robbie Gibson (434-963-7952 or robbie_oc_gibson@yahoo.com ).

Prayer for our Nation's Health Care Reform

Lord Jesus, you are the Divine Physician,
And the source of all life and health.

Guide our nation at this critical moment,
As our government seeks health care reforms.

Give our elected officials the humility to know
That they are servants, not masters.
Give them the wisdom to realize
That every life has equal value.
Give them the strength to resist the idea
That some lives can be sacrificed to save others
Or that killing the unborn is part of health care.

Give your people the courage to speak up
And to hold public officials accountable for their actions.

Save us, Lord Jesus, from a culture of death,
And let every reform in our public policy
Be based on the reform of our hearts and minds
In the light of your Gospel,
For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen.

by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life

Tomorrow, November 3rd, is election day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this year's election, we are voting for a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General in the statewide elections. In addition, all seats in the House of Delegates are up for election. Finally, there are many local elections that are being contested. Be sure to get out and vote in order to exercise this precious right and to fulfill your duty to others.

Part of our responsibility to love God and our neighbor includes our faithful participation in the political process. We are called to bring the Gospel, including the beautiful moral and social teaching of the Church, to bear in our daily lives. That means that we must vote with a conscience informed by Christ through His Church.

To assist us in being informed, our Bishop, through the Virginia Catholic Conference, has provided the following resources:

• A pre-election letter issued by Bishops DiLorenzo and Loverde (Participating Faithfully in the Political Process: A Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Virginia to the Faithful of Their Dioceses).


• A five-part issue series on Catholic social teaching and current state issues (Faithful Citizenship in Virginia: Issues for the 2009 Elections).


• Responses to a questionnaire sent to all candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and contested House of Delegates seats (click here for charts for our diocese which is the Diocese of Richmond. For anyone in the other diocese in Virginia, which is the Diocese of Arlington, click here.)

Finally, some basic, but very important information:

• If you are not sure where you need to go to vote, click here to find your polling place.


• Not sure what your House of Delegate district is? Use this form to find out your House of Delegate district.

As Election Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia draws closer, our bishops want to remind us why we are obligated to vote and what we should consider in determining for whom we should vote.

First, as citizens of this great state, we have the right to vote which we should exercise in order to participate in the political process.

As Catholic Christians, we are called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as we love ourselves. Love of neighbor includes bringing to bear the message of the Gospel and the beautiful moral and social teaching which has been faithfully handed down and preserved by Holy Mother Church. The political process is an important forum in which we are called to participate and to bring the message of the Gospel.

On, November 3rd, we will have the opportunity to vote for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General of Virginia along with the election of the entire membership of the House of Delegates.

In order to be better informed about the issues in which we should be concerned, the Virginia Catholic Conference, which serves Virginia's two bishops as advocates for issues of social justice, is providing a five part series on key issues in Virginia entitled Faithful Citizenship in Virginia: Issues for the 2009 Elections. Each of the five parts is about two pages long and covers an important issue that we should bear in mind as we determine for whom we will vote. The topics are:

• Abortion and Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
• The Death Penalty
• Marriage and Family Life
• Economic Concerns and Health Care
• Education

Please take the time to read this information and remember to vote on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Election Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia is just over a week away--Tuesday, November 3rd.

This year, citizens of Virginia are electing a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and an Attorney General. In addition, all seats in the House of Delegates are up for election.

The Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) sent a questionnaire on July 27th to all candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and candidates in the contested races for the House of Delegates. The questions addressed a wide range of issues on the VCC's 2009 legislative agenda that are likely to receive consideration again during the 2010 General Assembly session. The responses are provided on the VCC Web site in order to help you become more informed about the candidates' positions on a number of very important issues.

Not sure what your House of Delegate district is? Use this form to find out your House of Delegate district.

Forty days for life is about to begin again in Charlottesville. The purpose of Forty Days for Life is to help foster a culture of life in which all human beings from conception to natural death are treated justly. In particular, through prayer, Forty Days for Life seeks to end the injustice of abortion.

This year's session of Forty Days for Life will begin on Wednesday, September 23rd and continue until November 1st.

On Monday, September 21st, there will be a Kickoff Rally at the Covenant School from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The rally will be held a the lower campus across from McIntire Park in the Multi-Purpose Room.

The rally will help prepare for the forty days when Christians will be gathering together from all around the Charlottesville area to pray for an end to abortion.

The rally will feature ice cream, prayer, and more information about how people can participate in saving lives and spreading the Gospel of Life.

For more information contact Irene Xenos (227-6055).

Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself. - Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for September are:

General:   That the word of God may be better known, welcomed and lived as the source of freedom and joy.

Mission:   That Christians in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, who often meet with great difficulties, may not be discourage from announcing the Gospel to their brothers, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

For blessings upon all pro-life organizations.

For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. - St. Thérèrse of Liseaux

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for March are:

General:   That the role of women may be more appreciated and used to good advantage in every country in the world.

Mission:   That in the light of the letter addressed to them by Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the Popular Republic of China may commit themselves to being the sign and instrument of unity, communion and peace.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

That God may strengthen those who suffer ridicule and rejection for their pro-life convictions.

National Catholic Bioethics Center

The National Catholic Bioethics Center engages in research and reflection, within the Catholic tradition, on moral issues arising in health care and the life sciences. It makes the results of this research available through this website and various offline educational and publishing activities, workshops and seminars. The site itself provides general information on the Center and its work, a topical index and selected articles from Ethics and Medics, the Center's journal, and an opportunity for an online consultation.

From Catholic Culture

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This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

Late in October 1973, grassroots prolife leaders became concerned that January 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court's infamous abortion decisions and without petitioning Congress for redress.

No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact prolife March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots prolifers wanted to march! About thirty prolife veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.

On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 committed prolife Americans rallied that day on behalf of our preborn brothers and sisters.

In 1974, the March for Life was incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization.

Our numbers have gradually risen through the years despite reduced numbers from the snow in 2000 and the terrible 9/11 attacks just months before the March 2002. These growing numbers give testimony to the increasing ranks of prolife Americans and to the importance of the March's work.

From March for Life Web site

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This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

Human Life International (HLI) is the largest international, pro-life, pro-family, pro-woman organization in the world. They not only fight the evils of abortion, contraception, sex education and family breakdown, but also bring the good news of the Gospel of Life to the whole world. In many countries, HLI is the pro-life movement. This site is an excellent online pro-life resource from one of the greatest pro-life organizations in the world.

From Catholic Culture

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This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

One More Soul (OMS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the truth about the blessings of children and the harms of contraception. Their website is a large part of their efforts to disseminate information and thus contains many resources. Of special note is their directory of NFP only, pro-life doctors. Also, their database of online publications includes English pamphlets, Spanish resources, booklets, and PowerPoint presentations, all available to view and download. This is an excellent pro-life resource well worth an extended visit. From Catholic Culture.

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This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

EWTN's Web site includes a portion devoted to A Guide to Catholic Teaching and Voting. The site includes links to many documents including Catechetical References. There are also a number of links to audio and video archives of programs related to Catholic teaching and voting which have aired on EWTN television and radio. In addition, the site includes links to other resources related to Catholic teaching and voting including books and DVDs.

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This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

"Our faith requires us to oppose abortion on demand and to provide help to mothers facing challenging pregnancies," Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., said in an October 21 statement. The bishops urged Catholics to study the teaching of the Church, rather than rely on statements and materials from outside groups and individuals.

Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy made the joint statement in response to arguments that the Church should accept the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision on abortion as a "permanent fixture of constitutional law" and should concede that the only way to reduce abortions is to provide more government support for pregnant women. At the same time the two bishops also responded to those who argue that the Church's efforts against abortion should focus solely on restoring recognition for unborn children's human rights and that proposals to provide social and economic support for pregnant women distract from that effort.

Cardinal Rigali chairs of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Bishop Murphy chairs the bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

"Providing support for pregnant women so they choose to have their babies is a necessary but not sufficient response to abortion. Similarly, reversal of Roe is a necessary but not sufficient condition for restoring an order of justice in our society's treatment of defenseless human life," they said.

The bishops also noted that "in 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision knocked down laws against abortion in all 50 states, fabricating a constitutional 'right' to abortion that continues to haunt and divide our society....Roe v. Wade is a clear case of an 'intrinsically unjust law' we are morally obliged to oppose. Reversing it is not a mere political tactic, but a moral imperative for Catholics and others who respect human life," they said.

Read the full statement here.

From USCCB Office of Media Relations

Last Friday, as part of their spring meeting, the U.S. bishops approved a document regarding embryonic stem cell research. The document points out the grave moral problems that exist with the use embryonic stem cells, and then it points to another way which offers concrete help without raising moral concerns.

Nature in fact provides ample resources for pursuing medical progress without raising these grave moral concerns. Stem cells from adult tissues and umbilical cord blood are now known to be much more versatile than once thought. These cells are now in widespread use to treat many kinds of cancer and other illnesses, and in clinical trials they have already benefited patients suffering from heart disease, corneal damage, sickle-cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, and many other devastating conditions.1 Researchers have even developed new non-destructive methods for producing cells with the properties of embryonic stem cells—for example, by "reprogramming" adult cells. There is no moral objection to research and therapy of this kind, when it involves no harm to human beings at any stage of development and is conducted with appropriate informed consent. Catholic foundations and medical centers have been, and will continue to be, among the leading supporters of ethically responsible advances in the medical use of adult stem cells.

Click here to read the full document on the Virginia Catholic Conference Web site.

On Wednesday, February 20th at 8:00 p.m, a lecture will be given by Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The lecture entitled How Can the Dream Survive? will be presented at the University in Room 1020 of McLeod Hall.

Free parking is available next to the building. For more information, contact Diane Baltz at diane.gigantino.baltz@gmail.com.

For more information about Dr. Alveda King and her work, click here.

For a map of the University, click here.

Late in October 1973, grassroots prolife leaders became concerned that January 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court's infamous abortion decisions and without petitioning Congress for redress.

No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact prolife March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots prolifers wanted to march! About thirty prolife veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.

On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 committed prolife Americans rallied that day on behalf of our preborn brothers and sisters.

In 1974, the March for Life was incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization.

(From the March to Life Web site)

On March 22nd, the 35th annual March for Life will take place in Washington, D.C. The theme for this year's march is "Build Unity on the Life Principles throughout America. No Exception! No Compromise!" You can participate by joining a group from Charlottesville who will be heading up on the 22nd to march with thousands of others in support of a culture of life.

On Tuesday, January 22nd a bus will go to DC for the March for Life. The bus will leave the Church of the Incarnation at 8 AM and return at 6 PM. Cost is $15 adults/$10 children. Wear clothing according to the weather and bring drink and food. E-mail Diane G-Baltz at cvillerespectlife@gmail.com for more info or to sign up.

Monday, January 28th is Catholic Advocacy Day at the Virginia General Assembly hosted by the Virginia Catholic Conference. The day is an opportunity to practice faithful citizenship especially for the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities.

The events of the day will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church and at Capitol Square in Richmond. Both Bishop Paul Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington and Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of the Diocese of Richmond will speak. In addition, there will be many opportunities to meet with your legislators and their assistants in order to discuss with them regarding pro-life, social justice, and education issues.

There is a $10 fee to cover lunch and materials. Parking is separate.

You are asked to register by January 22nd. However, if you register by January 10th, the Conference will assist in setting up meetings between your legislators and you.

Click here to view the flyer and access the registration form.

The Virginia Catholic Conference engages in legislative advocacy on behalf of Virginia's two bishops and their dioceses. All those who would like to stay informed about issues of peace and justice which are addressed by our elected officials should sign up to receive regular alerts and updates from the Virginia Catholic Conference.

The alerts and updates provide information about legislation related to respect life, social justice, family, and education issues on both the state and federal level. In order to receive these alerts, simply click here and sign up to receive the email notifications.

Sunday, January 6th has been designated as "Virginia Catholic Conference Sign-up Sunday" in order to help expand the network of Virginians who are informed of legislative activity that helps "build a culture of life, providing for the poorest and most vulnerable in our midst and enhancing family life."

Your free membership will enable you to communicate directly with legislators without having to look up their addresses or compose time-consuming letters. The alerts which you receive will include pre-drafted messages which you can then send to elected representatives. Note, your contact information will not be shared with others.

For more information about the Virginia Catholic Conference, click here.

Tomorrow, September 26th, will mark the beginning of 40 days of prayer, fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach to help bring an end to abortion. Men, women, and children from various backgrounds and faiths will unite together in Charlottesville to provide a witness to the Gospel of Life. The Charlottesville community will be united with our brothers and sisters across the nation in 89 cities in 33 states who are participating in similar 40 Days for Life campaigns.

A goal of the campaign is to peacefully reach out to the community and share a point-of-view about abortion that considers both the woman and her child.

We believe we can love both women and babies and that abortion is not a real solution to women's problems of poverty, lack of partner support, fear of losing a job, or fear of giving up the chance at education.

We want our neighbors to think about how we treat the vulnerable--women in crisis pregnancies and unborn children--and think about ways we can better support women who would like to keep their babies or who would like to put them up for adoption but for economic or social reasons feel they have no choice but abortion.

If a woman chooses abortion because she fears losing her job, due to inflexible policies at that company, is it really a choice? If a woman chooses abortion because her boyfriend or husband will throw her out of the house, is that a free choice? If a woman chooses abortion because she doesn't want to interrupt her education, we ask, why must she choose between her baby and her education?

We challenge our society to love them both--to love both women and babies--and to enact policies and social programs that show that love. We ask our faith community to step up and support the non-profit groups that we already have in our area that provide housing, economic support, food, diapers, clothing, parenting classes, job skills classes, help with education, and other services to women (and babies) in need. We ask our local businesses and schools to rethink their policies that relate to pregnant women in the workplace and to working mothers and fathers and to ask if their policies support a truly free choice for women. Women should not have to choose between their children and their job or their education. Source

At the heart of the campaign is prayer. Accordingly, there are specific intentions for prayer that everyone can remember during the day whether they are able to physically be present at the vigil or not. Today's campaign prayer intention is:

Pray that the Body of Christ unites together in prayer and fasting across America -- and around the world -- through 40 Days for Life.

For more information, visit the 40 Days for Life Charlottesville Web site where you can sign up to participate.

There will be a 40 Days For Life meeting today Monday, September 17th at 7:30 p.m. in Room 12 at St. Thomas Aquinas. The meeting will provide information about the 40 Days for Life campaign in Charlottesville.

Briefly, the 40 Days for Life Campaign is an ecumenical movement of prayer, fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach in defense of life. Over the days from September 26th through November 4th, people from throughout the Charlottesville area will come together as a community to pray and fast for an end to abortion in our city and throughout the nation. The peaceful vigil will be held outside of the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on 2964 Hydraulic Road in Charlottesville.

To keep up with the latest on the campaign, contact Diane Gigantino Baltz at cvillerespectlife@gmail.com or by calling 760-2916 or visit the Charlottesville 40 Days for Life Web site. On the site, you can sign up to receive regular email updates.

As was noted in the bulletin, there will be a 40 Days For Life meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas. The meeting will provide information about the 40 Days for Life campaign in Charlottesville.

Also, to learn more about 40 Days For Life, tune in to EWTN tonight, September 3rd at 6:30 p.m. The 30-minute TV special "beingHUMAN: 40 Days for Life" will be shown. The program highlights the successes of 40 Days for Life campaigns in the past and presents information about this year's national campaign, in which Charlottesville is taking part.

If you are not able to view EWTN on cable, you can watch online at the EWTN web site. The program will be shown at the same time that it airs on TV.

At 6:30 p.m., go to the EWTN Web site at http://www.ewtn.com. On the top bar, click "Television" then choose one of the "Live TV" options (English or Spanish) and then select your preferred media player. The show should start in that player.

Finally, to keep with the latest on the campaign in Charlottesville, contact Diane at cvillerespectlife@gmail.com or by calling 760-2916 or visit the Charlottesville 40 Days for Life Blog.