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Celebration of Chastidy Ronan’s Life
The Walk for Life West Coast lost a longtime ally and friend with the passing of Chastidy Ronan, who did so much for so many mothers and families at San Francisco’s Alpha Pregnancy Center. We were honored to be able to present Chastidy with the St. Gianna Molla award for Pro-Life Heroism award at last year’s Walk. There will be a celebration of Chastidy’s life at Dolores Park Church this Saturday, for those who would like to remember this wonderful wife, mother, and Christian. Here are the details, from Chastidy’s husband Matthew:
Chastidy’s Celebration of Life — Saturday, September 28th
What: Visitation, Celebration of Life Service, and light refreshments celebrating the life of Chastidy Ronan. During the service, there will be music, an open mic time for sharing 2-3 minute stories about Chastidy, and her Dad will speak.
When: Saturday, September 28th
–Visitation/receiving line at 3pm
–Service at 4pm
–Light refreshments after service
Where: Dolores Park Church
455 Dolores Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Parking available across the street at Mission High parking lot
*Chastidy requested that everyone wear light blue and white
*In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Catica’s college fund, either through Paypal at www.paypal.com/paypalme2/MatthewKentRonan or check payable to Catica Ronan, 77 Dorland St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Walk for Life Chaplain & Ignatius Press Honored at Seminary Gala!
On Saturday, September 14, St. Patrick’s Seminary, the seminary of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and many other West Coast/Pacific Island dioceses, will hold its Annual Gala. And each year the seminary honors a particular person or organization who has been especially helpful to the work of the Church. This year’s honoree will be none other than Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, and the publishing house he founded and leads, Ignatius Press.
As many know, Fr. Fessio serves as the chaplain of the Walk for Life West Coast, and our co-chair and lead organizer, Eva Muntean, is an employee of the press. “The Press,” probably the greatest publisher of English-language Catholic books in the world, has been a faithful ally and supporter of the Walk right from the beginning, and we are delighted to see Fr. Fessio and the staff of the Press receive this well-deserved honor.
You can support the great work of the seminary and thank Fr. Fessio (a true son of St. Ignatius) and Ignatius Press, for all they have done for the Church of God!
Prayers Needed for Chastidy!
As many Walkers know, the long-time past Executive Director of San Francisco’s wonderful Alpha Pregnancy Center and the the winner of the Walk for Life West Coast’s 2019 St. Gianna Molla Award, Chastidy Ronan, has been battling cancer for the past few years. Chastidy has been going through a tough time lately and can use our love and especially prayers right now!
St. Gianna Molla, intercede for Chastidy!
Great Walk Speakers, but…who are they?
We’ve already got two speakers lined up for the Walk, but we’re not telling you who they are…yet! Here are some hints…see if you can guess!
This woman’s story has been chronicled by LiveAction, the National Catholic Register, California Catholic Daily and more! We are honored and proud to have her speak! The National Catholic Register wrote: “Within months after that awful night, however, she began to feel nauseous. A positive pregnancy test forced her to confront the fact that she was pregnant, and she would need to make plans that would decide the future of her unborn child.”
Want to hear the rest of the story? Be there January 25 at the Walk for Life West Coast!
There’s commitment, there’s dedication, there’s steadfastness…and then there is this man! A recitation of his efforts, accomplishments, and accolades would take more time and space than we are prepared to give. He has served as a member of President Trump’s Catholic Advisory Council. You know him, you love him, and you’ll be able to see and hear him January 25 at the Walk for Life West Coast!
MORE Great News! The Kids Just Keep on Coming!
Say hello to the newest additions to the Walk for Life West Coast family: Fulton Johnson and Josephine Zèllie Williams! Fulton (left) is the son of Abby and Doug Johnson and Josephine (right) is the daughter of Brian and Tessa Williams.
You first saw Fulton and Josephine this past January 26, on stage at the Walk for Life West Coast, their tiny heartbeats articulating the pro-life truth more convincingly than any words:
What wondrous gifts we have been given! And just imagine the conversations these babies will have when they grow up: “YOU were at the Walk for Life?!? I was at the Walk for Life TOO!”
We send our joy and prayers to all these families! May God continue his abundant blessings!
Trump Administration Gives $5 Million to Pro-Life Clinics!
From the New York Times:
Trump Administration Gives Family Planning Grant to Anti-Abortion Group
The Trump administration took an important step on Friday in its push to restrict access to abortion and contraception, announcing that it would give as much as $5.1 million in family planning funds to a nonprofit organization funded by allies of the Catholic Church.
The grant from the Department of Health and Human Services went to the Obria Group, a Southern California-based nonprofit that describes itself as being “led by God” and that aims to siphon patients — and money — away from Planned Parenthood.
The grant to Obria, which includes $1.7 million in the first year and the prospect of that amount in each of the next two years, represents a fraction of the total amount of family planning money awarded by the department on Friday. But both supporters and opponents of abortion rights cast it as a potentially significant move to try to defund medical clinics that provide abortions, such as those affiliated with Planned Parenthood….
Obia was founded by Kathleen Eaton (now Kathleen Eaton Bravo), who was one of our speakers at the 2011 Walk for Life West Coast. Bless her!
The Times also quotes Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, calling Mr. Trump as “the most pro-life president in our nation’s history.” Bless him too!
Best Possible News CONTINUES! Harper Anne Bjornstrom!!!
Say hello to the newest Walk for Lifer, Harper Anne Bjornstrom!
What an angel! Darling Harper was born on March 14, and you first saw her sharing her Heartbeat for Life with Mommy Olivia on January 26–that’s them at left:
As you can imagine, Mom and dad Olivia and Tommy are proud and absolutely delighted:
The entire Walk for Life West Coast shares in your joy and sends our love, prayers, and congratulations!
#babiessavingbabies #walkforlifewc #WalkForLife #WFLWC
Great ‘Culture Project’ Video of the Walk..and More!
Those great young people from the Culture Project made a great Walk for Life West Coast / ONE Life L.A./ March for Life video. Check it out:
Photo: Jason Weinrich/Walk for Life West Coast
LIFE Runners Across America!
Our Friends at the LIFE Runners weren’t only at the Walk for Life West Coast (although they were; check out the photos here)!
They were also all over the U.S. Check it out!
#babiessavingbabies #walkforlifewc #WalkForLife #WFLWC
Arizona State Students for Life at the Walk!
Members of Arizona State University’s Students for Life gather in the Civic Center Plaza at the San Francisco Walk for Life Jan. 26. (Ryan Everson/CATHOLIC SUN)
The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix, has the story:
“Do not be ashamed to bear your testimony to our Lord, but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel,” said Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco. The remarks came at the Walk for Life Mass Jan. 28 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco, where Pope Francis granted a plenary indulgence to all Catholics.
The day of pro-life activities on began with the special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Cordileone alongside nine other bishops from the region. In his homily, the archbishop addressed how secularized moral values, including the rise of abortion and contraception, has harmed the sanctity of the family and human life. The bishop told the faithful they will encounter adversity when defending their Catholic values, just as the Apostles did when Jesus sent them out “as lambs among wolves.”
“The world will hate us for it, and attack us for it. That’s what happened to Pope Paul after Humanae Vitae,” the bishop said, referring to Pope St. Paul VI’s 1968 papal encyclical that reaffirmed the Church’s teaching on the use of artificial contraceptives.
#babiessavingbabies #walkforlifewc #WalkForLife #WFLWC
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