Inside:
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Thanking our volunteers (photos)..................... page 2 Couple turns infertility into hope..................... page 3 New websites & brochures............................... page 3
LIFE CENTER Summer 2012
Building a Culture of Life
Issue 5
USCCB Pro-Life Chairman Cardinal DiNardo to Keynote December Benefit
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has taken a strong stand for religious freedom and against the HHS mandate forcing Catholic organizations to cover abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception. A key leader is the Chairman for the committee on Pro Life Activities, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. The John Paul II Life Center is honored to announce that the Cardinal has accepted our invitation to keynote our Dec. 5 benefit dinner at the AT&T Center on the UT campus. Tickets will be on sale soon. Please mark your calendars - you won’t want to miss this event! Baby Joseph is due to be born soon. This is his most recent sonogram picture. YOU helped save his life. YOU make stories like this possible! Thanks!
This is what it’s all about: helping moms and babies find HOPE! Part of our mission is education, so we helped coordinate the Rally for Religious Freedom on June 8. This event addressed the HHS mandate and conscience protection threats against medical practitioners. Forthe latest regarding this issue, sign up in the “keep informed” column on our website home page.
board reflections
“I’m beyond words for what you’ve done for me,” says Nomi, who came to The John Paul II Life Center in March with a heavy heart and a challenging situation. “I appreciate Dr. Kalamarides for fitting me in that day (for the sonogram),” she added. “You saved me and my baby and I’m so very grateful for that.” “You guys are my angels,” she says. Really, YOU are the angels who make stories like this possible through your prayers and contributions. The average cost for a sonogram is $400. That doesn’t include any additional help these mothers and babies might need. Please, help us continue offering hope. Donate today in the enclosed envelope or on our website.
Accepting our role as Catholic Leaders
While attending Mass, the Gospel reading from Matthew 6:19 particularly struck us: “For where your treasure is there also will your heart be.” God has blessed America with incredible earthly treasures, yet we quest for eternal treasures with our heart. The greatest earthly
treasure is one’s inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed by religious freedom in the First Amendment. Never before in America have we seen this freedom threatened, nor would we have believed it would come see “Leaders” on page 2
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Summer 2012
Leader continued from page 1 You’ve got an open door to a free tour! There is tremendous value in seeing something first-hand. Please accept this open invitation to tour The John Paul II Life Center and experience our three-fold mission in person: 1) Catholic Ob/Gyn Clinic, The Vitae Clinic 2) Pro-Life outreach through 3D/4D sonograms and consulting 3) Education regarding chaste living, fertility care, religious freedom and more. Tours typically take 30-45 minutes and are available to churches, schools, organizations or individuals. To schedule a tour, contact us at info@jpiilifecenter.org or 512-407-2900, ext. 3.
from our own government. We are concerned about: 1. The loss of respect for the sanctity of life and individual human dignity. Thirty-five percent of US pregnancies end in abortion; 50 percent of births are to unwed mothers. 2. Destruction of the family through contraceptives. America’s current birth rate will not sustain a positive population growth. The HHS mandate will only accelerate the current decline. This is chilling when we recount what prompted the formation of The JPII Life Center: 1. The beauty of the procreative role of woman and man. 2. Pope John Paul II’s writings on Theology of the Body. 3. The Catholic Church’s commitment to protect life. 4. The small number of physicians following Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives (ERD’s). The JPII Life Center has made substantial progress: 1. We have nearly 1,000 Vitae Clinic patients. 2. Abortion-minded women are choosing life after seeing 3D/4D sonograms of their babies. 3. Hundreds of youth are
participating in chastity programs. 4. Fertility care patients are coming from across Texas and numerous states. 5. We’re strengthening relationships with Seton Health Network. In his 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI asked: What will stop elected leaders from favoring, or even imposing on their peoples, the method of contraception which they judge to be the most efficacious? In fact, that is what the current administration seeks through the HHS Mandate. This mandate will provide contraception to any girl over the age of puberty without parental notification, will charge each insured person $12 annually to pay for abortion, and defines pregnancy as a disease. We encourage all the faithful and those of goodwill who believe in religious freedom to speak out. We urge you to lend your presence to events. Be bold and show your belief. We pray you choose to become more involved with us as we speak out to preserve the treasure where our heart is. Pat & Tim Von Dohlen
Volunteers who donated 10+ hours of time were invited to our first Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on May 3 at Russell’s Bistro. Volunteers help with events, in the office and with crisis pregnancy consulting. Pictured above from left to right: Lily Oberg, Sheri Danze, Christine and Mark Mesich, Kathy Clark, Nancy Carrano, Pat Von Dohlen and Patrick Ryan. We love our volunteers! Thank you for your tireless commitment and selfless gifts!
www.JPIILifecenter.org
Summer 2012
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You Spoke. We Listened. Presenting New websites and brochures!
Jen and Mark Crowley have turned the challenge of infertility into a blessing for them and for others.
Keeping Hope Afloat
Infertility is a sensitive issue. It’s so sensitive that family and friends often avoid the topic because they don’t want to hurt their loved ones. Unfortunately, the lack of discussion can create a vacuum of silence, which can be deafening. Jen and Mark Crowley have experienced this vacuum. Instead of allowing it to destroy their faith, or their marriage, they’ve allowed it to bless them – and others. They have struggled with the issue together – facing it head on without letting it dominate other important things. They maintain regular date nights where they discuss everything except infertility. They let their families know that they want to share their struggles with them. They’ve started infertility support groups. And, they’ve held retreats for couples to tackle the issue together in faith. “I’m a verbal processor,” said Jen. “I need to talk through this.” She said spiritual direction and a support group of ‘live’ women who understand her situation are critical. “We’re so blessed to have Dr. Kalamarides, the Vitae Clinic and The JPII Life Center to help us find faithful solutions,” she added. Mark addresses things differently – he likes finding solutions. “It’s reassuring to me that the Vitae Clinic has so many ‘next steps’ for us to consider while staying true to our faith,” he said. Jen and Mark have started infertility groups (Sarah’s Hope and Abraham’s Promise) for women and men struggling with this issue. To learn more, contact SarahsHopeAustin@gmail.com or 512-736-7334.
We are trying to place these in Many of you requested new Catholic schools and churches websites for The JPII Life Center throughout Central Texas. If the and Vitae Clinic. You wanted more robust crisis pregnancy brochures brochures aren’t at your church and to hand out at church and on school yet, let us know and we’ll be happy to send you some to share the sidewalks. You asked for a with your pastor and principal. more succinct, but informational The new JPII brochure clarifies brochure about our mission. We are pleased to present all three! our three-fold mission and invites Both the JPII Life Center and Vitae readers to help through prayer, Clinic websites went live in April. donations and volunteering. The JPII site includes Education our W? elp NO ELP H mission video, testimonials, d e Pray, Don e H ate, Volunt N 395 eer all 1-800helpful links and a clear C ? t n a ne. presentation of our image, Pregn not alo You’re e to help. r he history and mission. To receive We’re electronic updates, we invite you to complete the “keep informed” section on the home page. The Vitae site (vitaeaustin. com) also includes testimonials and general information, but it also . features services, staff bios, a patient ptions Your O Know portal and more. Our new crisis pregnancy brochure (in English and Spanish) addresses the fears and concerns of facing an unexpected pregnancy. The John Paul II Lif e Center is to spreadin committe g God’s po d werful an transforma d tive messa ge of desir great lov ing e and happ iness for us. We especi ally strive to reach yo who are on ung peop the thres le hold of the lives and ir adult young ma rried coup les. Our first education al outreac “The Silver h was Ring Thing – Catholic promotin g purity an Edition” d abstine marriage nce until in a dyna mic rock format. Ou co ncert-style r educati onal progra ongoing in ms are areas inc luding fer religious tility care, freedom, theology infertility of the body, support, and more.
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Every day, women in Central Tex crisis pre as face gnancies. Please pra and their y for them unborn ba bies. Your finan cial supp ort enables Paul II Lif e Center to The John offer Catholic OB /GYN medic authentically al to abortion -minded wo care, sonograms men and programs education . All dona al tions You may mail a check are tax deductible . , send gif contribute ts of stock online at or www.jpiilif ecenter.or g. We appre ciate gifts of time an Voluntee d talent as rs help wit well! h crisis pre office work gnancies, and speci al events. Please vis it our webs ite to dona treasure an te yo d prayers. Also, please ur time, to schedule contact us a tour of the center .
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Donor Spotlight
Mark and Debbie Brockman help The JPII Life Center as volunteers and financial supporters. They also share our mission by inviting others to tour the center. We are so thankful to them and to all of you!
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Summer 2012
July 11 - Your Call to Greatness! Two-hour introduction to Theology of the Body. Christopher West DVD facilitated by Becky and Tony Saucedo. 7-9 pm in Vitae Clinic lobby. Limited space. RSVP: info@jpiilifecenter.org or 407-2900, ext. 3. July 25 - Future Full of Hope Prayer Service For couples struggling to conceive. 7 pm at St. Vincent de Paul Parish. July 28 - Wine Tasting Date Night Wrap up NFP Week with a date! Water to Wine (3300 W. Anderson Lane, Austin) at 7 pm. Limited space. $10/ person Purchase tickets on our website. Click on “ donate online now” and select “Wine Tasting Date Night” in the ‘ donation category.’ Aug. 28 - Priests’ Appreciation Dinner Make sure your priest has this on his calendar! Co-sponsored by Cook-Walden Funeral Homes, it will be held at the Headliners Club overlooking Austin. Dec. 5 - Benefit Dinner with USCCB Pro-Life Chair Cardinal DiNardo The national attacks on religious freedom are impacting medical practitioners, businesses owners and all faithful citizens. USCCB Pro-Life Chair Cardinal DiNardo is intimately involved with this issue. We’re also honoring Dr. Tom and Sue Hilgers with the Dignity in Life Award for their work developing NaPro Technology. Save the date. Tickets on sale soon.
The John Paul II Life Center’s mission is to build a Culture of Life by: 1) providing cutting-edge Ob/Gyn medical care at our Vitae Clinic, 2) offering 3D/4D sonograms to women in crisis pregnancies, and 3) educating clergy, couples and youth. JPII Board: Tim & Pat Von Dohlen - Chris & Sheri Danze Dr. & Mrs. Jeremy Kalamarides - John & Nancy Carrano 1600 W. 38th St., Suite 115 Austin, TX 78731 Info@jpiiifecenter.org 512-407-2900
Building a Culture of Life!