Thank you to all who came to the Molieben yesterday, July 22nd.  It was the first time we held it at St. Seraphim Orthodox Bookstore, which was very providential in many ways.  Four parishes were represented which included the faithful from Indianapolis –  Joy of All Who Sorrow, Sts. Constantine and Elena, St. John the Forerunner and from Bloomington – All Saints!   Welcome Jim and Patricia, delighted to have you both.  Thanks to Deaconessa Rebecca for making the delicious vegan sloppy joes  🙂  also to everyone’s contribution, and most importantly your presence. 

May God continue to bless this ministry, through the prayers of the Mother of God and St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, our patron saint. 

Peace greetings to all Pro-Lifers! 

We will resume our Molieben for Life next week, Friday, July 22nd, 6 pm at the Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church downtown Indy. We will have a brief meeting in the Reading room afterwards with some refreshments.  The main church door will be open at 5:55 pm.

Please join us in praying for the unborn, mothers in crisis pregnancy, our government and those who do not uphold the sanctity of life in the womb.  Your prayers are much needed in this perilous and ungodly times we live in. 

Hope to see you then! 

Please take the time to read this inspirational story: 

http://www.hefty.co/tong-phuoc-phuc/?ref=fb

Tong Phuoc Phuc from Vietnam has shown the world what true selflessness is: He has saved the lives of more than 100 children over the last 15 years. It all began in 2001 when his own wife was pregnant. He went with her to the hospital and noticed that pregnant women were entering the next room and coming out no longer with child.  Read the whole story here.

For your info…

NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release July 14, 2016 Contact: Indiana Right to Life: media@protectinglife.com Pence Is Devoted Pro-Life Advocate   Pence Brings Pro-life Credentials to the Trump Presidential Ticket INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Right to Life President and CEO, Mike Fichter, released the following statement upon reports that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is Donald Trump’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket: “Gov. Pence is devoted to protecting the unborn and their mothers. Gov. Pence’s pro-life stance is more than a talking point; Gov. Pence has put his pro-life position into action time and time again. Indiana is a better state for the unborn and their mothers because of the Governor’s pro-life leadership. “Even before becoming the state’s top executive, Gov. Pence demonstrated his willingness to fight for the protection of life in a meaningful way. In Congress, Pence led the effort to defund the nation’s largest abortion business, Planned Parenthood. “Since becoming governor, Gov. Pence has advanced the pro-life cause through legislation and his administration. Under Gov. Pence, there are four fewer abortion facilities. The state abortion rate has been steadily declining every year. The state is enforcing health regulations that protect women’s health, and abortion doctors know they don’t have a free pass. “Gov. Pence’s Real Alternatives program at pregnancy resource centers offers life-affirming and compassionate care to women through pregnancy and as they begin parenting. In a one-year pilot program in Northern Indiana, Real Alternatives served more than 8,000 clients. Gov. Pence also has sought to promote adoption through the first ever state income tax credit for Hoosier families who adopt and by hosting an annual Adoption Fair highlighting this loving option. Gov. Pence has also made sure that Hoosiers are not required to subsidize abortions through their health insurance premiums. “Gov. Pence has signed legislation to bring dignity to the unborn and their mothers. Among the pro-life measures signed by Gov. Pence: Prohibit children from being targeted for abortion on the sole basis of their sex, race, national origin or a potential disability Provide final dignified disposition of aborted babies so that they aren’t treated as medical waste or used for experiments Establish health and safety standards are chemical abortion facilities Provide $1,000 adoption credit for parents Increase penalties for failure to properly report abortions Promote umbilical cord donation, an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cell research Require that abortion doctors document their admitting privileges with the State Department of Health Increase awareness of positive support for parents of Down syndrome children Provide information on perinatal hospice to parents who receive an adverse prenatal diagnosis Increase informed consent measures for women seeking abortions, including full color photos of fetal development printed in informed consent information Protect consumers from being forced to pay for private insurance plans that include unrestricted abortion coverage “Gov. Pence brings his pro-life credentials to the Trump presidential ticket. In contrast, Hillary Clinton has sought to expand abortion access and fund the life-ending procedure with our tax dollars. She has a cozy relationship with the abortion industry and cannot be trusted to protect life. “Gov. Pence will advance the cause of life on the campaign trail this fall and will defend the unborn and their mothers if elected Vice President.” Indiana Right to Life’s mission is to protect the right to life, especially of unborn children, through positive education, compassionate advocacy and promotion of healthy alternatives to abortion.

Sanctity of Life Sunday Moleben January 17, 2016 at Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church

OCLife Indy Booth at the Memorial for the Unborn event right after the Moleben

Event Speaker, Jennifer Trapuzzano and her daughter Cecilia

43 roses were put in vases for the 43rd anniversary of Roe v Wade

Lord, have mercy!

An article written by Fr. Ted Bobosh on

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (2016)

Today the Orthodox Church in America recognizes the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. I want to mention of a quote from President Obama’s 11 January 2016 State of the Union speech.   It’s not easy to find something from him to quote for this Sunday, but he said something which caught my ears:

So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. To stay active in our public life so it reflects the goodness and decency and optimism that I see in the American people every single day.

The President called upon us to stand up especially for the weak and vulnerable, and to remember “that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us.” That is exactly the sentiment we who are pro-life and who believe in the sanctity of human life are doing for the babies in their mother’s wombs. President Obama said we should speak up and vote. We do that, and we also pray.

Here is the prayer that the Orthodox Church in America offers for the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. It is a prayer for all, including the unborn babies and also for all politicians, even those who don’t respect the sanctity of human life in the womb.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, Who are in the bosom of the Father, True God, source of life and immortality, Light of Light, Who came into the world to enlighten it: You were pleased to be conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary for the salvation of our souls by the power of Your All-Holy Spirit. O Master, Who came that we might have life more abundantly, we ask You to enlighten the minds and hearts of those blinded to the truth that life begins at conception and that the unborn in the womb are already adorned with Your image and likeness; enable us to guard, cherish, and protect the lives of all those who are unable to care for themselves. For You are the Giver of Life, bringing each person from non-being into being, sealing each person with divine and infinite love. Be merciful, O Lord, to those who, through ignorance or willfulness, affront Your divine goodness and providence through the evil act of abortion. May they, and all of us, come to the life of Your Truth and glorify You, the Giver of Life, together with Your Father, and Your All-Holy and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Fr. Ted Bobosh

Fr. Ted’s Blog

17 / 01 / 2016

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/89752.htm

Orthodox Christians For Life of Indianapolis, a mission of the Presbyters Council of Central Indiana, would like to request that as we celebrate these most precious and holy events of our Lord’s birth and baptism, we pause to reflect on the tragedy of the death of the Holy Innocents at the time of our Lord’s nativity due to human ambition and insensitivity.  We recognize in this the sorrowful reoccurrence to the children of our own times.

        We not only had a beautiful weather but a good turnout as well.  Right to Life and OCLife Indianapolis members and supporters came to pray the Akathist to St. Nicholas, Wonderworker of Myra on his feast day.  The event was a first time joint effort for the defense of life and the family and to restore a heightened sense of the sanctity of life in our culture.  The prayer service was followed by Christmas carols and children had oranges and chocolates. We are hoping this would be an annual event by God’s grace.  A big thank you to all who came out.  Glory be to God!

Fr. Stevan Bauman and Protodeacon Michael Walker leading the Akathist to St. Nicholas

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Mark your calendars! 

Saint Nicholas Day Prayer Event

1. The Moleben for the Sanctity of Life (sponsored by the Presbyters Council of Central Indiana) in conjunction with the 40 Days for Life Prayer Fall 2015 campaign  was a very blessed time of prayer with the Orthodox clergy attended by the Orthodox faithful as well as non-Orthodox.  This service was the first time done by Orthodox clergy at Planned Parenthood on Georgetown Rd., Indianapolis.  God had been merciful as the weather forecast showed rain all morning but it didn’t rain until we finished the prayer service.  Glory to God!  It was a true blessing that parents with their children joined us, especially with two moms on the way!  Children are a powerful witness to the sanctity of Life. 

             Fr. Alex of the Holy Transfiguration Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Crawfordsville, Indiana delivered a concise and inspiring sermon on prayer.  We must pray at all times, at appointed times and in times of trouble which we live in. 

            Lunch followed at St. Nicholas.  A big thank you to the Presbyters Council, the clergy, Very Rev. Fr. Stevan Bauman, Fr. Alex Miller, Fr. David Wey, Fr. Dcn. Michael Walker, Deacon Marco, Subdeacon Max Murphy, the faithful and the generous donors who donated diapers and cash to the Birthline Ministry and OCLife.  We enjoyed Popadia Vesna’s wonderful food that she and daughter Christina prepared for us.  Thank you, Pop. Vesna and of course, Fr. Dragan who graciously offered the use of their church hall for the luncheon.

           May God sanctify this place through the prayers of His people crying out to Him until the innocent unborn are safe in the womb.  Glory be to God for all things!

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