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The Harvest is Great

Christianity is a very practical religion. Catherine de Hueck Doherty was an outstanding Christian. A Russian aristocrat by birth, she spent most of her life in America. She said, 'At an early age I learned that the Gospel has to be lived.'

As a young woman she worked as a cocktail waitress in a Manhattan bar. On one occasion she announced to a group of GIs and their girlfriends (whom she knew to be Catholics) that it was closing time (4a.m.) and that she had to be off.

"Where are you going Katie?" they asked. Its Sunday and I'm going to Mass. "That means you'rua a Catholic then? Yes she replied.They couldn't get over the fact that she was a practising Catholic and work in a place like that.

They all trooped off and went to Mass with her. A couple of weeks later a girl from the group returned. She said,

'You've made me think. If you can live a good life working in a place like this, then maybe I can too.

To be an apostle is to be one who is sent. One doesn't have to be some kind of genius or superhuman person to be able to do the work of Jesus. There is a difference between an apostle and a genius. The difference has little to do with talent or intelligence; it has every thing to do with the purpose and commitment.

Just because people are called doesn't mean that they become more intelligent, or more imaginative than they would otherwise be. No, they still have to rely on their native gifts. But they now have more purpose, more dedication than they would otherwise have. That can make a huge difference. Fr. Flor McCarthy, SDB

What is Day for Life?

The Church has a conststent and clear message on the sacredness of human life. Day for Life is our annual celebration of this message. "Its primary purpose is to foster in individual consciencesm in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every single stage and in every condition EV 85

The Church has a great deal of experience in all areas of promotion and defending human life and has given the world a lead in the intellectual, political and social battle to save and protect life from conception to natural death.

Why does the Church oppose abortion?

The Church believes that every life has been created by God in his own image and likeness and that all life is scared from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. The Church opposes abortion because it is taking of an innocent human life.

What does the Church mean by pro-life?

To be pro-life means to promote human dignity and development in every sphere of life; to say yes to life. The Church is opposed to all direct attacks against innocent human life

e.g. abortion. abortifacient pills and devices, the abortion pill and the morning after pill, destructive embryo and embryonic stem cell research. genetic engineering, euthanasia, etc, because it believes that every life has purpose, meaning and inherent value.

What can I do?

Learn more about the issues involved: Keep up to date with what is happening in the news on this subject; find out ore on the Day for Life website www.dayforlife.org.

The one thing everyone can do is pray. Pray for all those affected by abortion. Pray everyday for those experiencing a crisis in their pregnancy and for their baby at risk; ask the Lord to touch the heart of the mother carrying this child in her womb and to give her the courage and strength she needs.

Pray for our politicians that they will always keep in mind the sacredness of life in every decision that they take.

Pray for all the victims of abortion, the babies, the mothers, the lathers. the families, the medical profession, our society and ourselves. We are all victims with we live in a society which allows abortion.

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