Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

”Do not  depend on the hope of  results. When you are doing the sort of work
you have taken on, you may have to face the fact that your work will be
apparently worthless and even achieve no worth at all, if not  perhaps  results
opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea,  you will  start more
and more to concentrate, not on the results, but on  the value, the  rightness,
the truth  of the work itself.”  Thomas Merton

When I read the  above quote in “The Catholic Worker” I recognized how much
it applies to  the work we do.  Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged, to
only  see things through our own eyes instead of trusting in God and  His plans.
In this holy time of year it also makes me think of Mary, and how things must
have seemed to her as she gave birth to the Son of God in a manger.

Throughout this past year there was many times I felt discouraged.  We  “humans
” always think we have the answers!  In the end, He truly  blessed the work
beyond my expectations.

We saw an increase of 25% in  our referrals. In 2006 we referred 151 women
and men, our numbers YTD for 2007  are over 190 with 2 more weeks to  the year!
We were blessed to make it  into many media outlets and do some  trainings. Some
of our pamphlets have been  redesigned through a grant, and are being
requested throughout the country,  but most importantly women and  men are finding
peace with God, their  unborn children and themselves. In the month  of November
alone we had 20  referrals with five coming from women who aborted  decades ago.
For some,  I was the first person they told about their abortions, one
suffering for  close to 60 years!

There is much to look forward to in the future.  2008 is already filling up
with many exciting things, among  them, the “Commission on Women Conference”
at the United Nations. While  abortion will be promoted within (the  theme is “
Financing for gender equality and  the empowerment of women”)a delegation of
those of us who are post  abortive will testify as to how this is  not a solution
for women and does  not “empower” them but instead leaves them speechless!

The “Day of  Remembrance”, a prayer service developed with one of the
Sisters of Life is  also getting recognition. It will take place on  January 19th at
St  Teresa’s on Staten Island this year, but  it is also being picked up in
other dioceses and The National Catholic  Register will be doing an  article on
it. It is truly a beautiful work of the  Holy Spirit.
On January 5th there  will be a “Day of Prayer & Healing” for men, and on
January  12th there will be a “Day of Prayer & Healing” for post  abortive
women, both at Our Lady of New Convent in the Bronx. Anyone interested can
register by calling  718-881-8008..Of course, it is confidential!

Yes, at times we get  discouraged. Things do not seem to be what we had
hoped, but in the end  God does mighty deeds and the “the value, the  rightness, the
truth of the work itself” is all God requires  of us. He will do the rest!

So, as we celebrate this Holy season, may  we, like Mary, keep our eyes on
the Christ child who is Truth itself!
A blessed, holy Christmas to you  all!…Theresa