St Helena of the True Cross of Jesus

Pro-Life Activities
April 3 Dear Pro-Life Friends: As most of you know, since January 22, 2007, my parish has been leading an on-going effort to close down the one remaining abortion clinic in the city of Corpus Christi. Every Tuesday morning numerous people have come together to pray the Rosary. One woman in particular, assisted by a few others, rushes up and down the sidewalk urging the young girls who approach the clinic to re-think their decision. Thanks to the hard work of many individuals from St. Helena's and other parishes that have joined our efforts, abortions are down by more than half. During 2007 there have been 35 saves (turn arounds) that we know of. Our parish women's group has begun to sponsor Gabriel Project baby showers for the women who have made the right decision to give birth to their child. Yesterday, as I finished leading the Rosary and an exorcism prayer, we all witnessed a miracle: the miracle of life. Completely unannounced and totally unexpected, a young single-mom just came out of nowhere, holding a beautiful infant that she had recently given birth to. The young mother told us that she came over to encourage us to keep on doing our pro-life work. A number of months ago she had approached the door of the abortion clinic. But, our prayerful presence caused her to change her mind and leave the clinic. No one said a word to her that day, it was just the witness and the prayer. We immediately decided to sponor a Gabriel Project Baby Shower for the young mother and her new baby. The young mother is a Catholic and I promised to follow-up with her and make sure that her little baby gets baptized as soon as possible. We were all standing on the sidewalk, in front of the clinic, as the young mother came to encourage us. Word spread fast that something amazing was happening. The group of pro-lifers became energized, even electrifyed, as we all gathered around the young mother to thank her and God for the gift of life. God bless, Fr. James MIRACLE IN THE MAKING - by Kateri Reyes Sunday March 2nd proved to be an inspiring day for the women of St. Helenas parish, who came together to celebrate the gift of life. The St. Helenas Handmaids womens group sponsored the Project Gabriel baby shower for a deserving young mom who made the pivotal decision to choose life for her unborn baby. After months of prayer and support for the young mom, Sundays shower was a time of great rejoicing in the miracle of new life, celebrated by the entire St. Helenas parish community. More than 40 women of all ages came together bringing baby gifts & diapers, and most importantly offering encouragement for the expecting mom. As if on cue near the end of the gift-opening, the baby decided he wanted to be a part of the celebration, and the expectant mom began to show early signs of labor! After prayer and a blessing from St. Helenas pastor Fr. James Farfaglia, she was escorted to the hospital where she delivered a healthy baby boy the following afternoon. As a parish community, the people of St. Helenas have come together in open commitment to prayerfully renewing the culture of life in Corpus Christi. Many parishioners have spent countless hours at the Morgan St. abortion clinic in silent prayer and witness to the sanctity of life, and those who cannot be there physically due to work or family obligations maintain a commitment to prayer and fasting wherever they are. Others participate in the numerous local pro-life organizations that offer support to women & families facing unplanned pregnancies. At times the task can be daunting as we face not just our own community but an entire world that openly promotes a culture of death. Perhaps a small victory in a country where more than 4000 children die each day at the hands of the abortion industry, yet this ONE life was celebrated as an incredible triumph, as we all know that Gods miracles are only beginning with the birth of this new life into the world, and now His plans will be able to unfold through this perfect new soul. The shower, a first for the St. Helenas parish community, proved to be an occasion that brought about a renewed sense of commitment to the pro-life movement for all of the women who attended. Project Gabriel baby showers are becoming a continuing mission of the Handmaids parish womens group, with a second celebration planned for Sunday, April 5th. If you would like more information on how to donate baby items to the Project Gabriel mission, or would like to take part in an upcoming shower, please contact St. Helenas parish office: (361) 994-8783

Pro-Life Activities

April 3

Dear Pro-Life Friends:

    As most of you know, since January 22, 2007, my parish has been leading an on-going effort to close down the one remaining abortion clinic in the city of Corpus Christi. Every Tuesday morning numerous people have come together to pray the Rosary. One woman in particular, assisted by a few others, rushes up and down the sidewalk urging the young girls who approach the clinic to re-think their decision. Thanks to the hard work of many individuals from St. Helena's and other parishes that have joined our efforts, abortions are down by more than half. During 2007 there have been 35 saves (turn arounds) that we know of. Our parish women's group has begun to sponsor Gabriel Project baby showers for the women who have made the right decision to give birth to their child.

    Yesterday, as I finished leading the Rosary and an exorcism prayer, we all witnessed a miracle: the miracle of life. Completely unannounced and totally unexpected, a young single-mom just came out of nowhere, holding a beautiful infant that she had recently given birth to.

     The young mother told us that she came over to encourage us to keep on doing our pro-life work. A number of months ago she had approached the door of the abortion clinic. But, our prayerful presence caused her to change her mind and leave the clinic. No one said a word to her that day, it was just the witness and the prayer.

    We immediately decided to sponor a Gabriel Project Baby Shower for the young mother and her new baby.  The young mother is a Catholic and I promised to follow-up with her and make sure that her little baby gets baptized as soon as possible.

   We were all standing on the sidewalk, in front of the clinic, as the young mother came to encourage us. Word spread fast that something amazing was happening. The group of pro-lifers became energized, even electrifyed, as we all gathered around the young mother to thank her and God for the gift of life.

God bless,
Fr. James

MIRACLE IN THE MAKING - by Kateri Reyes

Sunday March 2nd proved to be an inspiring day for the women of St. Helenas parish, who came together to celebrate the gift of life. The St. Helenas Handmaids womens group sponsored the Project Gabriel baby shower for a deserving young mom who made the pivotal decision to choose life for her unborn baby. After months of prayer and support for the young mom, Sundays shower was a time of great rejoicing in the miracle of new life, celebrated by the entire St. Helenas parish community. More than 40 women of all ages came together bringing baby gifts & diapers, and most importantly offering encouragement for the expecting mom. As if on cue near the end of the gift-opening, the baby decided he wanted to be a part of the celebration, and the expectant mom began to show early signs of labor! After prayer and a blessing from St. Helenas pastor Fr. James Farfaglia, she was escorted to the hospital where she delivered a healthy baby boy the following afternoon.

As a parish community, the people of St. Helenas have come together in open commitment to prayerfully renewing the culture of life in Corpus Christi. Many parishioners have spent countless hours at the Morgan St. abortion clinic in silent prayer and witness to the sanctity of life, and those who cannot be there physically due to work or family obligations maintain a commitment to prayer and fasting wherever they are. Others participate in the numerous local pro-life organizations that offer support to women & families facing unplanned pregnancies. At times the task can be daunting as we face not just our own community but an entire world that openly promotes a culture of death. Perhaps a small victory in a country where more than 4000 children die each day at the hands of the abortion industry, yet this ONE life was celebrated as an incredible triumph, as we all know that Gods miracles are only beginning with the birth of this new life into the world, and now His plans will be able to unfold through this perfect new soul. The shower, a first for the St. Helenas parish community, proved to be an occasion that brought about a renewed sense of commitment to the pro-life movement for all of the women who attended.

Project Gabriel baby showers are becoming a continuing mission of the Handmaids parish womens group, with a second celebration planned for Sunday, April 5th. If you would like more information on how to donate baby items to the Project Gabriel mission, or would like to take part in an upcoming shower, please contact St. Helenas parish office: (361) 994-8783