"Evangelizing the Culture of Death"
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April 30, 2021
Let me introduce you to Donna. Donna was the first person to approach our team during Catholics for Life’s monthly Torchbearers event, where a group gathers for Mass, evangelization, and counseling at Planned Parenthood (third photo). Our team of six young people had just all received Our Lord in Mass and were taking to the streets to proclaim the Gospel of Life. As we were setting up a table with pro-life and Catholic materials outside the Ohio Statehouse, Donna walked right up to us. She openly shared with me that she was pressured into abortion as a teenager and deeply regretted it. She had never heard of such a thing as a post-abortive healing ministry (you can see me giving her information for a local healing ministry in the above photo). I then shared with her the beautiful healing found on the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist and the fullness of the Catholic faith. After saying she might like to come to Mass sometime, she took some Catholic literature as well as some abortion diagrams, victim photos, and other pro-life materials to hand out to others.
Donna was just the first encounter we had. We talked to several abortion supporters (like the ones my little sister Rachael is speaking to in the second photo). One man that Sarah started a conversation with changed his mind and opposed abortion in all circumstances. Sarah and Luke helped minister to a homeless man by giving him resources and a rosary.
Many others took holy cards and some rosaries too. The time of street evangelization ended with sharing the gospel with a young man. The conversation providentially changed from his pro-abortion stance to why God allows suffering as he shared suicidal thoughts and the unimaginable hardships he had been through. I deeply regret not being able to pray with him before he ran to catch a bus.
Soon after the Torchbearers evangelization, I gave Catholic for Life’s first in-person training out of my home! I was able to present to 65 young people (fourth photo) from St. Catharine’s, St. Matthew’s, and Damascus Catholic Mission Campus! I think many were convicted to hear that there was an abortion facility only four minutes from where we were- St. Catharine’s in Bexley. One young woman even organized a rosary at Planned Parenthood the very next morning! This was also the first time I focused on the things that must happen before we can most authentically fight abortion: a call the personal conversion and a zeal for the salvation of souls. May we pray that many in our Church today are given this grace from our Father. Thank you for co-laboring for souls and the lives of children by all your support! AMDG!
All for Jesus, all through Mary and Joseph, all by God's grace,
Gabriel, Anna, Gabriel II, Leo and Henry Vance
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