This morning I received the following note in my inbox from Robin, board member of Mahoning Valley Health, dedicated pro-life activist and, most importantly to me, my friend. Read it and weep--I sure did.
By the grace of God, Mahoning Women’s Center has closed. The Center had been aborting children since 1976 and since that time people of faith have united in prayer for its closing. The center was moved to the location at 4025 Market Street in the early ‘80’s. It was the last abortion mill in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown. The building was listed for sale on April 10, 2009 but the abortions continued every week.
Mahoning Valley Health formed a new nonprofit organization to buy the building to stop the abortions. On November 27, 2009, the feast day of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Mahoning Valley Health made an offer to buy the building. The offer was accepted.
We had faith but no funds. After much prayer and discernment, we appealed to you for help. Over a period of 21 days, we received enough money to buy the building for cash, which would stop the abortions.
The last monetary contribution needed to secure the purchase price was received on December 12, 2009 on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The abortions ceased being performed in mid January in anticipation of MVH owning the property. The equipment and furnishings were auctioned off on January 21 (the feast day of St Agnes) and the building was emptied on January 22 (the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade). We were expected to close on the property by January 30, 2010.
Due to many bureaucratic city delays beyond our control, the date was pushed forward. Mahoning Valley Health obtained ownership of the building on March 19, 2010 on the Solemnity of St Joseph. There is no longer an abortion center in the Youngstown Diocese thanks to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of Our Lady, of St Joseph, the saints and angels, your prayers and your generous monetary contributions. You each have now seen the answer to your prayers. The building was blessed and consecrated for the cause of life on March 29, 2010.
This without a doubt is a direct answer to prayer. For years pro-lifers (including me on occasion) have peacefully protested across the street from this facility, praying for this day to come. Now the real work begins---Mahoning Valley Health is carefully discerning its options for the building.
What do you think should be done with the facility?
Your suggestions are most welcome. I will provide contact information on the sidebar of this blog for you're convenience. If you have a suggestion, please forward it to Mahoning Valley Heath before May 30, 2010.
...and keep Mahoning Valley Health in your prayers.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protectress of the Americas, Pray for Mahoning Valley Health!
4 comments:
Sell the property (after having a qualified priest perform the rite of exorcism over it) and use the proceeds as seed money for similar purchases. IOW, use this victory to do likewise elswhere -- shut down more clinics!
A pro-life bookstore/reading room/information center? Mebbe with a little museum inside, displaying the instruments used to perform the abortions, some wall of memorial with the dates of death for the victims of the center?
Stories from any women who might be willing to share about losing their child to the center? That could be an ongoing project--an open invite in the literature for the place, with the promise of anonymity if desired. Perhaps a chapel/tomb of the unborn?
All dedicated to and under the patronage of the Holy Family at Bethlehem, under the titles Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph, Patron of Fathers, and the Infant of Prague, with a special image commemorating the Holy Innocents.
Glenn, the property was exorcised. I hope to speak with the priest soon, as I have a lot to share about their experiences.
Caspar, that is an idea that has been suggested before. I think it would be a great way to go.
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