As you know, our garden shed was burnt down and we lost all our garden tools. As a result our garden is now out of hand, so we have decided to organise a “Garden Day” on Saturday 26th of June.

We will meet for Bacon Butties at the Initiative at about 10.30-10.45 (after the 9.30 Mass at Holy Cross). If you can spare us a couple of hours to help – come along and bring garden tools (forks, spades, rakes etc).

Thanks for your support and remember to pray for us.

New members are always welcome – let us know you’re coming by phoning 0141 433 2680 or email us at gospeloflifesisters(at)googlemail(dot)com

The next meeting of the Confraternity will take place on Tuesday 22 May, from 6pm.

You’ll all be glad to know that there’s plenty to do – you may have noticed in passing that the poor shed has come to a sad and tragic end, but of course Sr Roseann and Peter are already moving on to bigger and better things! Also, it’s getting into gardening season once again, so you’ll certainly not be bored! See you soon!

What emanates from the figure of Saint Joseph is faith. Joseph of Nazareth is a “just man” because he totally “lives by faith.” He is holy because his faith is truly heroic.

Sacred Scripture says little of him. It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness.

Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God.

We see how the word of the Living God penetrates deeply into the soul of that man, that just man. And we, do we know how to listen to the word of God? Do we know how to absorb it into the depths of our human personalities? Do we open our conscience in the presence of this word?

- Pope John Paul II

Thank you all for the wonderful support you’ve given us over the last year – we’ll be praying for you all especially today!

The programme for the rest of 2009 is as follows:

• 29^th September – Meet @ hall 6-9pm
• 13^th October – Meet @ hall 6-9pm
• 27^th October – Meet @ hall 7.30-9pm – Talk to commemorate the 42^nd anniversary of the Abortion Act
• 10th November – Meet @ hall 6-9pm
• 24th November – Meet @ hall 6-9pm
• 8^th December – Meet @ Convent, 106 Dixon Avenue, 7.30-9.30pm – PrayerEvening for Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• 22nd December – Meet @ hall 7.30-9pm

Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese human rights activist has served more than one thousand days in prison for his opposition to China’s vile one-child policy. A petition to ask the Prime Minister to act on Chen’s behalf has been launched at the Number 10 website.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to take whatever action he can to put pressure on the Chinese authorities to secure the release of Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese prisoner of conscience who, on 20th May 2009 has served 1000 days in prison since being sentanced for highligting abuses of the one-child policy of the Chinese authorities, including forced abortions and sterilisations.

Chen Guangcheng is a blind lawyer, currently imprisoned in China for “damaging public property and gathering people to block traffic”. However the real reason is more likely to be to prevent him from carrying out his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities, including his efforts to bring local officials to justice for conducting a campaign of forced abortions and sterilisations, possibly affecting thousands of women.

Some reports say that Chen Guangcheng is in extremely poor health, is allowed very little food and drink, has been beaten, and been denied medical treatment as well as stopped from having family members and friends visit.

If you’re a British citizen or resident, please do go and sign the petition. If you’re of Facebook, you can join ‘ACT NOW to help Chen Guangcheng!’.

Please pray for Chen, his wife, family and supporters, who’ve been repeatedly victimised for their efforts to protect Chinese women and families.

Pro-Life Initiative

is delighted to host two talks:

“Society Wounded by Abortion: the Road to Healing”

by Vicki Thorn

founder of the worldwide

post-abortion healing ministry,

Project Rachel

http://www.healing-after-abortion.com/

When: Wednesday 13^th May 2009 at 7.30pm

AND

“Rising to the Challenge of Secularism”

by Raymond de Souza

EWTN host, international lay apologist,founder and director of Saint Gabriel Communications (Australia), Program Director for Portuguese-Speaking countries for Human Life International (HLI) and Chairman of the Sacred Heart Legion (USA).

www.RaymonddeSouza.com

When: Monday 18^th May 2009 at 7.30pm

Both talks will take place at the Pro-Life Initiative, 104 Albert Road, Crosshill, Glasgow, G42 8DR

Entrance is by ticket only – for a free ticket, please contact us:

0141 433 2680 or gospeloflifesisters(at)googlemail(dot)com

Here is Bishop O’Donoghue of Lancaster’s statement:

It has been widely reported in the media that the Advertising Standards Authority is considering allowing the abortion industry to advertise through the broadcasting media. This deeply damaging proposal originates from the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health & HIV and therefore comes from the heart of the abortion industry – threatening yet another hammer-blow to the sanctity of human life in this country.

I am appalled that this proposal will result in the deaths of many more preborn children and cause untold harm to women. As a society, we need to wake up and stop treating abortion as a quick-fix solution to pregnancy and offer compassionate and practical support to women facing crisis pregnancies. The Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative in Scotland is a shining example of the Church and others reaching out to pregnant women who find themselves isolated and frightened, offering emotional support and practical help such as liaising with families and providing financial assistance to women in need.

The killing of the innocent can never be a genuine solution to a problem. I urge all those who care about the sanctity of human life to voice their opposition to this proposal with one voice. At the same time, please consider lending your support to our pro-life organizations that care about mothers and their preborn children..

For more information, read the Lifesite News article, John Smeaton’s blog, and Fr Tim here and here.

It is vital that as many of you as possible respond to this consultation. For more information, have a look at Jane Teresa’s post.

Sorry for all the links – we’ll hopefully post in more detail later.

Stephen Barrie, education officer for the Linacre Centre, gave a very enlightening and incisive talk in which he demonstrated how deeply entrenched our society is in the culture of death, and at every level – political, philosophical, scientific and street level. Men have to play their part in being aware of the issues and so be confident in how they talk about them. Stephen also spoke about having solidarity with the child in the womb: although tiny and hidden, the baby already has a network of relationships surrounding him/her. We can already point to a man and say, ‘He’s the father’ and to a woman and say, ‘She’s the mother’. Grandparents, aunts and uncles are already tied to this child and therefore must speak out in his defence.

After the talk, the men were invited to a buffet during which time they could chat to each other. After that, we all gathered round and a number of questions were asked and comments made. It was interesting that some concentrated mainly on the practical work that could be done, while others were especially keen to learn more about men and abortion and generate more discussion on a topic that is often disregarded or forgotten.

There was a very positive atmosphere around the place and a strong sense that this was only the beginning – which is true, in fact. There were 11 apologies on Thursday night and, since then, we’ve had another 20 join our number from all over the country. Please keep this new and very necessary venture in your prayers!

(Most of) the first members of the Confraternity

Our speaker Stephen Barrie, with some of the members.

The Holy Family