Two Guadalupe Partners spent most of Friday in Detroit. At a Mexican restaurant that we frequent, they saw a posting for a house for rent. One of the Partners, Alicia, has a talent for getting things done over the cell phone. Before the day was done she had looked over the house and secured it for one of our mothers.
Other members of our team on that Friday went to Ann Arbor, where two friends, Sister Mary David and Sister Mary Magdalene, made their final professions. What a contrast, to go from the abortion mill to a Mass of consecration. The Bishop of Phoenix, who gave the homily, explained the apostolic dimension to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The kind of humility demanded by these vows is every day rendered and spat upon at the abortion mill.
Saturday morning the parking lot was full twenty minutes before the clinic even opened. It was an intense morning; yet by the time the Guadalupe Partners left, about half of the clients had rejected the abortion option. One of the dads came out with a smile on his face, announcing that we had “won.” I pointed out to him our phone number on the pamphlet, assuring him again that we would help them if they needed it. He asked, “For real?” I said yes, for real.
One of our moms gave birth last week. This mom was turned away and helped by a Partner who joined us almost a year ago. He came to know of us because he, like another one of our members, underwent treatment for thyroid cancer. They met in the hospital, stayed in contact, and he finally made the resolution to join us. He has been marvelously consistent. He always carries a peaceful, yet completely focused and prayerful, presence on the sidewalk.
