Dinner celebrates life efforts
By Amanda Hudson, News editor
|
40 days for life to begin
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17
Proceeds from the Jan. 15 Pro-Life Dinner will help publicize the Rockford area 40 Days for Life campaign, which will run from Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, through March 28.
Volunteers pray in one-hour shifts from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Rockford abortuary each day of the campaign, standing on the sidewalk in “peaceful prayer,” said Abby Figi. Others pray at home and in adoration chapels, and fast also.
Information and sign up for specific hours will be coming soon to the national Web site www.40daysforlife.com. Click on “locations” to find Rockford information and sign up.
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ROCKFORD—The Jan. 15 Pro-Life Dinner on at Holy Family Church, here, served as a benefit for an upcoming “40 Days for Life” effort.
At the dinner, Abby Figi of the Rockford Pro-Life Initiative told of a noticeable and sudden drop in the weekly number of abortions after last year’s 40 Days campaign. The numbers rose again suddenly just last week, she said, adding that it is time for another campaign (see sidebar).
Before guest speaker Father Thomas Euteneuer spoke, the White Rose and Family Heritage award were presented. The two awards have traditionally been presented at the January Life Breakfast, an interdenominational event that was not held this year.
Jessica Foti and Theresa Gwardys, co-presidents of the “Voice for the Unborn” Pro-Life Club at Boylan Central Catholic High School, Rockford, won the White Rose. The girls’ extensive work on behalf of life was detailed at the presentation, and both were given white roses and gift certificates.
Dr. Brian and Sandra Knabe and their children were presented with the Family Heritage Award for reflecting the life ideal through opening their hearts to children. The couple has 10 children, two of whom were adopted from Poland. Dr. Knabe, who was previously featured in The Observer, adheres to Catholic teaching about birth control in his obstetrics and gynecology medical practice.
Dinner keynote speaker Father Thomas Euteneuer is president of Human Life International and author of “Exorcism and the Church Militant,” which was the topic of his talk. He spoke of his work as an exorcist, sharing a few stories as well as cautioning those attending about the effects of popular culture on so many youths.
“Faith is going to be much more necessary from here on out,” Father Euteneuer said as he spoke of “the victory of Jesus over the father of lies.”
“This generation is the least-trained in the practice of faith,” he said, adding that young people are “much more vulnerable” to evil as a result.
“Faith is a shield and a protection” from evil, Father Euteneuer said, encouraging his audience to guard what their children read, watch and listen to because much of the material for young people today presents the occult and dark practices as ambiguous, with chaste and gentlemanly vampires, for example. Society, he said, is blurring the lines of good and evil.
“Protect (your children) with prayer,” he said, “and pray specifically against the evil in their lives.”
Those who live in a state of grace do not need to fear demons, but they must be wise about them, he said. The devil is limited, unless he has our permission — and one can open that door of permission unwittingly.
“Demons are opportunists of the first order,” he said. “Ask (your guardian angel) to guard your thoughts and to help you pray and to be a strong spiritual director” for you.
“Some say they reject the devil, but then flirt with him,” Father Euteneuer said. “We need to reject Satan and live our faith fervently.”
Dinner celebrates life efforts
By Amanda Hudson, News editor
|
40 days for life to begin
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17
Proceeds from the Jan. 15 Pro-Life Dinner will help publicize the Rockford area 40 Days for Life campaign, which will run from Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, through March 28.
Volunteers pray in one-hour shifts from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Rockford abortuary each day of the campaign, standing on the sidewalk in “peaceful prayer,” said Abby Figi. Others pray at home and in adoration chapels, and fast also.
Information and sign up for specific hours will be coming soon to the national Web site www.40daysforlife.com. Click on “locations” to find Rockford information and sign up.
|
ROCKFORD—The Jan. 15 Pro-Life Dinner on at Holy Family Church, here, served as a benefit for an upcoming “40 Days for Life” effort.
At the dinner, Abby Figi of the Rockford Pro-Life Initiative told of a noticeable and sudden drop in the weekly number of abortions after last year’s 40 Days campaign. The numbers rose again suddenly just last week, she said, adding that it is time for another campaign (see sidebar).
Before guest speaker Father Thomas Euteneuer spoke, the White Rose and Family Heritage award were presented. The two awards have traditionally been presented at the January Life Breakfast, an interdenominational event that was not held this year.
Jessica Foti and Theresa Gwardys, co-presidents of the “Voice for the Unborn” Pro-Life Club at Boylan Central Catholic High School, Rockford, won the White Rose. The girls’ extensive work on behalf of life was detailed at the presentation, and both were given white roses and gift certificates.
Dr. Brian and Sandra Knabe and their children were presented with the Family Heritage Award for reflecting the life ideal through opening their hearts to children. The couple has 10 children, two of whom were adopted from Poland. Dr. Knabe, who was previously featured in The Observer, adheres to Catholic teaching about birth control in his obstetrics and gynecology medical practice.
Dinner keynote speaker Father Thomas Euteneuer is president of Human Life International and author of “Exorcism and the Church Militant,” which was the topic of his talk. He spoke of his work as an exorcist, sharing a few stories as well as cautioning those attending about the effects of popular culture on so many youths.
“Faith is going to be much more necessary from here on out,” Father Euteneuer said as he spoke of “the victory of Jesus over the father of lies.”
“This generation is the least-trained in the practice of faith,” he said, adding that young people are “much more vulnerable” to evil as a result.
“Faith is a shield and a protection” from evil, Father Euteneuer said, encouraging his audience to guard what their children read, watch and listen to because much of the material for young people today presents the occult and dark practices as ambiguous, with chaste and gentlemanly vampires, for example. Society, he said, is blurring the lines of good and evil.
“Protect (your children) with prayer,” he said, “and pray specifically against the evil in their lives.”
Those who live in a state of grace do not need to fear demons, but they must be wise about them, he said. The devil is limited, unless he has our permission — and one can open that door of permission unwittingly.
“Demons are opportunists of the first order,” he said. “Ask (your guardian angel) to guard your thoughts and to help you pray and to be a strong spiritual director” for you.
“Some say they reject the devil, but then flirt with him,” Father Euteneuer said. “We need to reject Satan and live our faith fervently.”