March 25, 2020

Prayer Program

November 3, 2023

Good afternoon:

After prayerful consideration, the Board of Directors for Marriage Material and Philomena House have unanimously decided to merge our efforts to save babies from abortion.  Our vision is to create a larger family that provides more support for women facing crisis pregnancies. 

“Elizabeth” is a one our clients that we intercepted online searching for an abortion a few years ago.  She’s doing great but I can see ways she will be doing even better with the merging of our 2 programs.

  1.  By merging our talents, knowledge and experience, Elizabeth might finish high school more quickly.  The Life Coach at Philomena House will now be able to help her set concrete goals and will meet with her weekly to help her.
  2. Streamlining our operations by integrating administrative tasks will free up more staff time and we will no longer have 2 people doing the same bookkeeping tasks. The additional staff time will be used to training volunteers to support Elizabeth as she moves forward as a young mom.
  3. Now Elizabeth will be welcoming to join the other young moms living at Philomena House for dinner.  Lauren, our housemother, makes everyone feel so welcome as she combines meals and nutrition education.  
  4. Elizabeth might be encouraged by the culture of life she experiences at Philomena House to explore her faith more deeply. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the pictures of St. Philomena, and the crucifix, which have found a place of honor in Philomena House, hold spiritual truth reflecting the reason for our joy.
  5. As the “Navy Seals of the Pro-life movement,” our strong marketing program will help bring more clients to Philomena House so we can increase the number of women in crisis pregnancies that need our love and support.

Be sure and flip over for a picture of Elizabeth’s daughter.  Since Elizabeth is so young, her mother is shouldering the burden of continuing to raise Elizabeth and to take care of her granddaughter too.  We are currently helping them explore the options for moving into a bet

This exciting good news is almost too much to capture in one letter.  I would love to have the chance to chat in more detail over a cup of coffee.  Or better yet, we could meet at Philomena House!

God bless,

Nancy Kiolbasa

Director

(651)373-1205

Marriage Material & Philomena House

June 24, 2023

Written by Molly Judd for the Eucharistic Congress:
In my young adult life, I have had the privilege of walking with mothers. Mothers who had the amazing courage to say “yes” amidst hard circumstances and suffer heroically for their children.And incredibly brave mothers who have received outrageous grace to claim their maternity and the mercy of God after having an abortion.

One story in particular has been a life-changing grace for my life. (Isn’t it interesting how that happens, how our graces—especially those of mercy—aren’t just ours? That they affect everyone else too?)

This particular mother, Marie (name changed for privacy purposes), was pregnant with her third child. Circumstances were hard, finances were tight, she had no support, and she felt afraid and alone. As we dreamed about all the possibilities, she wanted to say yes…

However, after not hearing back from her after a few months of reaching out, she admitted that she made a different decision. We cried and grieved together, realizing quite poignantly that her heart was broken in a way she never thought it could be. 

But God does not leave us in our brokenness or misery! This woman, this hero of mine, asked if there was a way to be whole again. This stunned me. After everything she had been through, she was strong enough to seek out something more. She was Catholic and knew that there was confession. She hadn’t gone since she was a child but was desirous to “get right with herself, and get right with God.” 

We made a few appointments with the priests, and she kept skipping them. It was too scary. 

When finally, THE day came. 

“Marie, we are in your neighborhood and Father can hear your confession this afternoon if you want a ride?”

“Okay, yes. I want to do this. Come get me.”

As Marie got in the car, she looked nervous and heavy. Laying out all her fears, she practiced her Act of Contrition and went over the things she wanted to say to Father (not a necessary thing to do, but sometimes it helps to have a friend in it with you!)

When she arrived at the church, Father came and greeted her warmly and invited her to the front of the confession line. She went in. 

10 minutes passed.

20 minutes passed.

30 minutes passed.

Finally, Father came out of the confessional. 

“Marie had a very powerful experience and is ‘resting in the Holy Spirit.’ She is praying in her heart with God right now, so maybe you could pray with her until she is ready to leave… I, actually, need to start Mass!” 

Marie’s countenance completely changed. She looked totally different. Younger. Radiant. Peaceful. Whole. It was amazing. It was like encountering the person that had always been inside of her. 

When she was finished praying, Marie exclaimed, “Wow. I never knew there were so many colors!!!”

Marie had a very special encounter with Jesus that day after receiving his mercy. He gave her new eyes to see. To see the world in all its splendor, its glory, its heavenly mystery…. its outrageous and beautiful color! 

I couldn’t help but think how this echoed Luke 7:36–50, when the woman anointed the feet of Jesus with her tears. Her love and his mercy became one.

We all want to be healed. We want to be seen and to see as God sees, but sometimes it is scary to take the necessary steps to make this healing begin. Friends, June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—the tender, merciful, warm heart that is beating in heaven for you and for me. 

This month, I invite you to ask yourself, “What is the thing that I have been holding onto? What is the thing that keeps me bound in fear? What keeps me seeing the world, others, myself, and God in grey? What do I want—deep down at least—to bring to his mercy and tender, loving gaze?”

As each of us journeys together in these years of Revival, our courageous “yes(es)” to God’s healing and mercy has the power to unleash grace upon grace in the lives of all our brothers and sisters—and in the whole Church. 

Do not be afraid! I am grateful to be in this spiritual car ride together. 

See you in the confession line!
In Our Lady,

Molly Judd
Director of Content

April, 1, 2023

Good afternoon,

“I am all emotional today,” I said to my husband Joe. “Why?” he asked.  “Because this morning a client texted a picture of her baby with the words thank you.  She got off the abortion pathway last October after finding us when she searched for an abortion pill.”  

Then she sent another picture of the father of the baby holding his newborn and she said, “Even his dad came around.  Loves him alot.  He says thank you too.”  

Picture below is from the text that “Mary” sent this morning of the father of the baby holding his newborn son.

You may recall that I shared the story about Mary at our banquet last October. I will cut and paste it below:

From the banquet:

Jennifer mentioned praying for a client a few weeks ago who got off the abortion pathway.  We shall call her Mary. So when “Mary” called asking about the abortion pill,  I asked a question in return, “How many kids do you have?”  She said her son had been adopted.  I replied, “Do you mean you placed your son for adoption? How is the family that adopted him?  “They are awesome.   So this baby you are pregnant with could be a sibling for your son?  But I am worried I might lose custody of this baby.”   She said baby! Now we are in the land of truth.  She is pregnant with a baby.  And we just went forward in truth, set up lunch at a restaurant and the “baby’s” life was saved.  We paid to get her car window repaired that was broken by the father of the baby and next we are calling “1 800 got Junk” to come to her house and help get rid of the hoard.  The help we provide is quite individualized. 

Mary said she found us because she clicked on the link, Open now.  We answer our phone from 9am – 9pm and so we showed up on google maps when she was looking for an abortion pill in the evening. I think its up to 60% of abortions are from abortion pills now.

No doing this work alone. We are a pro-life family. The thank you goes from my text messages to all of you!

God bless, Nancy

Click here to get caught up on your lenten giving! hahaha

Previous Posts:

https://abortionpill.xyz/

Click on his nose to view our new website!

Please pray for the success of our new marketing initiative. Or better yet, pray for an end to abortion!

Our latest client story update:

Mary Ball from Holy Family Adoption Agency called asking us to help a client. We shall call her “Ann.” Ann called Mary and said, “I am homeless and I need to put my 2 kids up for adoption.” Mary asked her a simple question. “If you weren’t homeless, would you be calling me to place your children for adoption?” “No mam I would not,’ she replied.

When I spoke to Ann, she said she had a Section 8 voucher but it was for Nevada. I asked her if she would like me to help her get back to Nevada. She said yes but the voucher was going to expire in one month, on December 25. She actually gave that date of December 25!

So she found an apartment that would take her voucher and we put the deposit down for her. The Stillwater Elk’s gave her $500 to help with the cost of beds. She was able to get friends and family to fly her back to Nevada and now they are happy in their own apartment!

Ann was so thankful that the adoption agency referred her to us. “She could have just taken my kids. Other people might have when you call and say you want to put your kids up for adoption.” I explained to Ann what a good Catholic Mary is and she would never do that to someone in need. Ann said, “I got help from Catholic Charities too.”

This all happened while Ann’s window was open to conversion. She called a Catholic Church in Nevada and signed up on their website to be a member.

Ann said, “I really wanted to make you something from my heart…me and my kids been homeless for 5 months and u are the only people that helped me. I am crying typing this…just when I thought about giving up and then there u was…an angel out of the blue.”

Thank you for making this work possible.

God bless, Nancy

January 11, 2023

Good morning-

Yesterday I testified at the MN Senate committee hearing where the committee members voted in favor of allowing abortions up until the day of delivery.

Abortion is a spiritual battle and will be won by Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Holy Angels, so I really don’t like wasting my time at committee hearings.  But I had a story on my heart that I wanted to share and then I was asked by a friend to testify.  It felt like God’s will for me to do this so I offered the suffering for the conversion of poor sinners.

Speaking of suffering, I don’t know why I am even sharing this link to the Youtube recording of my testimony.  How embarrassing!

On a more positive note, I did get to say the name of Jesus Christ in my opening sentence. 

“I am Catholic, a follower of Jesus Christ, a wife and a mother.  During the week I work…”

https://bit.ly/NancysEmbarrassingTestimony

A better use of your time would be to click on this link that shares “The Wonders of the Holy Name.”

https://olrl.org/pray/wonders.shtml

Why did I want to share this story at the committee meeting? Because it is a story focusing on a woman and not focusing on a baby.

When I was a teenager and pro-choice, I remember people talking to me about the baby but I could not hear what they had to say. Looking back, it was like I was stuck looking at a TV channel about a pregnant woman and they were trying to get me to look at a channel about the baby…but I couldn’t switch channels!

Knowing this, I really wanted to share a story about a woman. I thought the pro-choice state senators would be able to hear this story because they are concerned about women.

The story is about a 16-year-old that hid her pregnancy from her mom because she knew her mom would make her get an abortion. She thought she was far enough along into her 3rd trimester to stop hiding her pregnancy under baggy clothes and that her mom could no longer make her get an abortion. Turns out the mom dragged the 16-year-old to Colorado and she got a late-term abortion.

My point is that by changing the law so that women can get abortions up until the 40th week, they are taking away a tool vulnerable women use to protect themselves from a forced abortion. (even though this tool didn’t work for the 16-year-old)

When does this ever happen? I know it sounds rare. But think how vulnerable women are in crisis pregnancies. The story I shared about the 16-year-old, what was she going to do? Move out of the apartment? Where would she go? How would she get to school? How could she get a job so young and now visibly pregnant?

It is hard enough for women to suffer a crisis pregnancy, but then to have to be worried someone is going to make them get an abortion is even more suffering. “It is against the law to force someone to get an abortion,” said one senator. Oh my goodness. Tell that to the mother of 3 young children when her husband is forcing her to get an abortion for baby number 4. Is she going to just pack up and move out with 3 kids and nowhere to go?

This is a hard point to make. I would have needed more than 2 minutes to convey this truth. In the end, it wouldn’t have made a difference anyways.

But saying the name of Jesus Christ always makes a difference!

God bless, Nancy

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Previous prayer e-mails:

August 30, 2022

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR CLIENT TESTIMONIAL IN NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER

Angie holding our client’s baby written about in National Catholic Register

August 4, 2022

Thank you for making this work possible.

God bless, Nancy

Previous Prayer Program E-mails:

July 22, 2022 (Feast of St. Mary Magdalene)

PERSEVERANCE!

Good evening dear prayer warriors!

This is a prayer email of gratitude that our client Mena earned her Driver’s License yesterday — on her 4th try — what perseverance!

We helped her with driver training classes over the last few years and after Nancy let her use her car for taking the driver’s test four times, Mena finally passed. When she heard the words, “I am going to pass you,” she burst out in tears. Today she said, “Now if my daughter ever breaks her arm, I can drive her to the hospital.” ❤️

Today (July 22) we celebrate St. Mary Magdalene’s Feast Day, and offer a prayer for those who are faithful to God in times of trial, as Mary was faithful to Jesus at the cross, then met Him in His glorified resurrected body Easter morning.
May God abundantly bless all for their steadfastness, especially our clients, loved ones and ourselves. And as she was the apostle to the apostles, may we proclaim the Risen Christ to all.

Thank you for all your prayers.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

God bless you,
Ann Manthey
?

P.S. Enjoy the picture of our beaming client Mena:)

Congratulations to Mena!

March 31, 2022 (Prayer request + BONUS online newsletter)

Good morning!

Please pray for “Teresa” who is very sick at home with the flu. She was so ill that she had to be treated by the ER on Tuesday. Teresa grew up in foster care. She is currently working and going to school, all while also caring for her 2-year-old son. Nancy and Angie are seeing what they can do to help her as she recovers. Please keep this very busy, single mom in your prayers. 

Lord, please bring Teresa relief and hope in comfort, health and compassion through others who love her – and help her know that it’s you at her side. Mother Mary, unite yourself with Teresa, share her sufferings with yours, bring her to Jesus through you.
Diary of St. Faustina 915: O Mary, a terrible sword has pierced your holy soul. Except for God, no one knows of your suffering. Your soul does not break; it is brave, because it is with Jesus. Sweet Mother, unite my soul to Jesus, because it is only then that I will be able to endure all trials and tribulations, and only in union with Jesus will my little sacrifices be pleasing to God. Sweetest Mother, continue to teach me about the interior life. May the sword of suffering never break me. O pure Virgin, pour courage into my heart and guard it ).

BONUS – click here for the first newsletter of 2022 – you need to see this! (It was also mailed recently.)

Ann Manthey, Volunteer
Marriage Material Prayer Program

The Prayer Program is the entryway for people to get to know Marriage Material and our ministry.  Need more information?  Contact Nancy soon.

February 24, 2022

Prayer suggestion for Lent:

The link below is a great resource for St. Louis de Montfort’s Marian Consecration. And if you leave near Stillwater, MN, you can join us for a group consecration led by Sr. Maria Ivana.

33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley

Marriage Material

Good afternoon:

Last week I called to see if one of our new moms needed any baby clothes that were just donated.  You can imagine my surprise when she said, “No, my baby died.”

She took her baby in last week for its 2-week checkup.  Everything looked fine.  The next morning, she woke up and her baby was blue.

“Kim” called an ambulance and they worked on her daughter and got her heart beating again. But on the ambulance ride to the hospital, her little heart stopped beating again.

Six hours later, Kim was invited into the room to see her baby one last time as they disconnected the breathing tube. They got her heart started 2-3 times but in the end, there was no brain activity.

It was a very graphic visual for Kim to deal with as she saw her baby for the last time. An autopsy was ordered and Kim might have more information about the cause at the end of the month.

Please keep “Kim” in your prayers.  She is devastated, as you can imagine.

God bless, Nancy

Anniversary of Roe v Wade

January 22, 2022

Good Morning-

Fr. Barnes spoke about love during his homily today about ending abortion.  We love our clients like sisters, and that love is sometimes enough for them to get off the abortion pathway. 

  • We use your donated dollars to address any financial crisis they are experiencing.
  • We lovingly share a meal with them in restaurants, listening to whatever problems they have.  “For where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt 18:20
  • As a sister, we are present and listen to them.  We give them the gift of our time.

Ways you can help save a baby from abortion:

  1. Pray, pray, and pray. This is a spiritual battle that will be won by Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Holy Angels.
  2. Give the gift of your time. Join us as a volunteer. We will learn your gifts and talents and plug you into our apostolate to save babies from abortion.
  3. Give the gift of your treasurer. It costs money to intercept women searching online for abortions and then lovingly walk alongside them.

Volunteer Coordinator:  Angie (612) 695-1807     <<Click here to donate online>>

God bless,

Nancy

December 5, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

Our Lady of Guadalupe feast is approaching, patroness of the unborn.  Sunday December 12, 2021 is the feast day.  Here is a link to our own Marriage Material Novena.  If you don’t have a novena going already feel free to join together as we did prior to the banquet this last fall. Day 2 today!

Recently, we put together a gift box for Jane’s baby. Got to love the message… ‘you matter’!!

With you in prayer,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

December 3, 2021

Novena-to-Our-Lady-of-Guadalupe-2020-1.pdf

Gift of Life – November 25, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

I listened to a local Catholic author, speaker and professor speak on chastity and the sixth commandment.  The talk led to much reflection and prayer. 

Our human life is a gift.  All human life God has created and co-creates in cooperation with us is good.  Therefore, we as human beings made in His image and likeness, should expect nothing less than greatness!   

As male and female (hopefully within the context of marriage) we say we are co-creators or co-artists.  Our Cooperating with God’s grace and uniting with one another creates another human being – a being that is not just a “floating consciousness” or “blob of cells”, but a human being with infinite value – with an eternal soul!

It again makes me grateful for our Marriage Material model of pro-life intervention – care of the whole person – mind, body and soul and care in crisis and conversion of heart which has its sights on eternity!  May God continue to bless us with the opportunity to meet women in crisis, save babies from abortion and mentor women and their families.  

Most Holy Spirit, we know the culture of death speaks opposite of Your divinely revealed Truths about the gift of life.  Women calling Abortion Advice have been deceived and lied to, told they don’t have what it takes, that their baby is a burden.  

In recognition of your unique and unrepeatable gift of life to the world, we want to cooperate with Your Grace to help women and families choose life for their babies and for themselves.  We want to assist women in healing from past abortions, seek Your mercy and recognize themselves as a gift.  

In order to complete Your work, Oh Lord, we pray more volunteers will come forth.  We pray you will call more helpers to serve these women and walk with these families as a part of Marriage Material.  We pray for clear pathways to be established to connect these caring souls with Your life saving work. In gratitude for life, and in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

October 21, 2021

Short clip of client giving her first attempt at testimonial for the banquet. We practiced in my car while she held her baby. Her final version at the banquet was so moving. She shared about how kind her baby Jamilah’s grandmother is to her and that has made Mena want to get baptized. So she turned away from abortion and has had a spiritual conversion. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Click here to view client’s testimony!

August 10, 2021

 <<Click here to read how Marriage Material aligns with the corporal and spiritual works of Mercy as outlined in the Catechism.>>

July 13, 2021

To pray is to engage in spiritual warfare.  We are prayer warriors. We do not stand by in hopelessness or respond passively to those in need.  In prayer, we engage the most powerful source of hope and conversion.

Dear Friend in Christ,

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His Mercy endures forever!

We are giving thanks this week for our 15-year-old clients.  “Quin” had a successful gallbladder surgery and Ann gave birth last week. Ann ended up with a c-section but thanks be to God her daughter (pictured below) is healthy and they are both doing well.  

We at Marriage Material are a small but hopefully pivotal point in a pregnant woman’s journey of life. They call and we answer with prayer.  Through prayer we engage the most powerful source of hope and conversion.  And our volunteers step in like sisters and offer works of mercy.

As I reflected on the story of Thomas the apostle recently, I was able to see a possible connection with our work.  As Thomas heard, he doubted.  It wasn’t until he saw Jesus and touched his wounds that Thomas believed.  Likewise, women often doubt when they first hear that we will help them.  But as they are touched by the love and service of our apostolate, they often are filled with enough hope to stay pregnant.  

As a prayer warrior, I often cannot see the hope for clients who call.  Their stories and circumstances seem impossible.  Later I am amazed as our volunteers look with the eyes of God’s Mercy and give hope. Barriers are removed.  Women choose to stay pregnant.  All glory and praise be to God!

In closing, the gift of life and the call to prayer is not always convenient.  It is wrapped in difficult circumstances and, on the surface, can look hopeless.  But by responding in faith through prayer, God answers with endless Mercy and Love.  Conversion happens and God’s Will is accomplished.  

All-powerful God, Merciful creator and Loving Father,

Today we humbly give thanks for your gift of life. For your endless Mercy.  For the hope given as we entrust Marriage Material clients and their families to You. Truly anything is possible!  We are grateful for the conversion we get to see as you work miracles in the lives of those we serve.  In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

With you in prayer,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Coordinator
Marriage Material

June 23, 2021

Marriage Material

“As we leave high school we need to make our voices heard,” said Paxton Smith.  She went off her approved script to blast the Texas Heartbeat law. 

The bill bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected.

<<Paxton’s Speech on YouTube>>

Her passion genuinely touched me.  The speech went viral and I am sad to think of the thousands of vulnerable young women that will also be touched by her passion.

Here is my pretend conversation with Paxton. I am imagining she is chatting with me at my kitchen table.

Paxton: Recently the heartbeat bill was passed in Texas. Starting in September, there will be a ban on abortions that take place after 6 weeks of pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest. 6 weeks. Most women don’t even realize they’re pregnant by then. And so, before they have the time to decide if they are emotionally, physically, and financially stable enough to carry out a full-term pregnancy,

Me: Wait Paxton. You keep talking about “the pregnancy.” Let us correctly talk about the baby, not the pregnancy. The Texas Heartbeat law is about protecting the life of a baby. You can’t switch the tables on us and start talking about the pregnancy. And then you do it again when referring to a full-term pregnancy. Nope. We have two heartbeats, two lives to discuss. Not a pregnancy.

Paxton:  …before they have the chance to decide if they can take on the responsibility of bringing another human being into the world, that decision is made for them by a stranger. A decision that will affect the rest of their lives is made by a stranger.

Me: Paxton let us stay rooted in reality. The human being is already here. When you are 6 weeks pregnant, you are already a mom. The baby just needs to receive nutrients from its mom to keep growing. Isn’t that wonderful? I always get excited to think of a new life growing in its mother’s womb. God is the author of life and death and He’s no stranger!

Paxton: I have dreams and hopes and ambitions. Every girl graduating today does, and we have spent our entire lives working towards our future, and without our input and without our consent our control over that future has been stripped away from us.

Me: You unfortunately have fallen victim to the lie that having dreams and hopes and ambitions can’t co-exist with having children. That is a lie. You don’t have to get an abortion. You can have dreams, hopes and ambitions and be a parent. I work with young moms that have to sacrifice to give birth with limited resources. Each one will tell you that it is worth it. Children are the stars of our existence.

Paxton: I am terrified that if my contraceptives fail,

Me: Paxton, (I am speaking very sincerely, hence the bold type so you don’t miss this!) Please close your eyes for a moment and try to imagine a world without contraception. You might find this hard to believe, but I know women that never use contraception, that only have sex with their husband and only have sex with their husband when they are open to life. It is a very beautiful thing. I wish this for you. Contraception and Abortion are fruits from the same tree. I don’t want you to use contraception and I don’t want you to suffer the trauma of an abortion. When a Planned Parenthood moves into an area and promotes contraception, the number of abortions increases.

Paxton: …I am terrified that if I am raped, then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter.

Me: Killing another human being that has its own hopes and aspirations and dreams will not bear good fruit. Please do not believe the lie that anything will be better for you if you get an abortion. You mention rape, which is so very, very sad and unbelievable common in this hook-up culture we find ourselves living in. When women call me looking for an abortion because of rape, I do what I can to take care of them. That is just having basic human compassion for another suffering human being. I continue down that pathway of caring for her and tell her to look online about how women turn out in the long run, abortion vs. birth. Every study shows, in the long run, women who stay pregnant from rape are better off. Some describe the abortion as the second trauma of the experience.

Think about this quote from Julie who was conceived in rape: Regarding her own view of her origin, Julie proclaims: “It doesn’t matter how I began. What matters is who I will become.” https://thelifeinstitute.net/learning-centre/abortion-effects/children/conceived-in-rape#

Paxton: I hope that you can feel how gut wrenching that is. I hope you can feel how dehumanizing it is to have the autonomy over your own body taken away from you. 

Me: I feel your pain. I love your passion. But it is a lie that anything good is going to happen at the expense of your baby’s life. And the beauty of the Texas Heartbeat law is that it celebrates the fact that another (autonomous) human being has a heart beating inside its mother. Two heartbeats, two human beings.

Paxton: And I can not give up this platform to promote complacency and peace when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights, a war on the rights of your mothers, a war on the rights of your sisters, a war on the rights of your daughters. We cannot stay silent.

Me: There is a war. We live in a culture of death. The battle isn’t only over the life of a baby. We trust in the mercy of God and I like to picture Jesus holding the unborn baby in His arms. This culture of death is a battle over the soul of the mothers. I tell my clients that they must get up every day and resist the temptation to get an abortion.

Paxton: We cannot stay silent.

Me: Have you ever heard of the video called “The Silent Scream?” We cannot stay silent as the unborn are taken from the safety of their mother’s wombs.

End of my responses to Paxton. Thank you for your prayers and financial support so we can save babies from abortion by taking care of their moms.

God bless, Nancy

June 4, 2021

15 year old hospitalized with COVID 19 and Pregnant

Prayers needed for a 15 year old that found out she is pregnant today while in the hospital with Covid. Nancy and a volunteer are going to meet with “Quin” and her mom next week.  We have another 15 year old giving birth this month.  Holy Angels, protect these young moms.

This past weekend I was able to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, WI. The memorial to the unborn touched my heart and brought to life the spiritual realities of babies being aborted. 

The devotional area for the unborn is shaped like a womb. Interred in the mausoleum walls are the earthly remains of children not brought to full term.  The statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Unborn (pictured below) holds three babies in her arms.  A statue of a Guardian Angel (pictured below) cradles a baby and guards two other children.  The devotional area left me with a feeling of peace. God is God.  There are no mistakes.  He has got this!

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mother of the Unborn
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mother of the Unborn
Guardian Angel

At Marriage Material we are small, but cooperate with much more powerful entities.  We are Gguarding, guiding and standing for the dignity of each human life.  Praise God for His mighty works.  Thanks be to God for his mighty Angels and Mary, Mother of the Unborn.  

Let us give glory, honor and praise to God.  In a special way also hold up all Marriage Material volunteers and prayer warriors who respond to the call and are guided by the Holy Spirit.

Gracious, Merciful and Ever-Living God,  You always were and always will be.  Omnipotent, Alpha and Omega.  We give you our 15 year old clients, their babies and their families. May you guard and guide them from the womb to the tomb. We also offer up to you all Marriage Material volunteers and intercessory prayer warriors.  Guide them by your most Holy Spirit.  As we cooperate with your graces, may we see the fruits of Your work. 
In Jesus name, Amen.

With you in prayer,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Coordinator
Marriage Material

Bearing Eternal Fruit

May 21, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

The relational realities of our work sink in when I think of this client’s story I am about to tell you.  The work of walking with women and supporting families choosing life at all stages and ages is an act of mercy.  Only by the grace of God, with your support and prayers, are we able to do this work.  And as you will see, it bears great fruit!

Three years ago a woman called, looking to abort her third child.  Following our prayers, the intercession of the Holy Angels, and her oldest son’s persuasion, she chose to stay pregnant. 

Fast forward to this week. See this adorable picture of the oldest son, Blessing, 15 years old, and the baby, with the rest of the story. Yes, his name speaks to his presence.  In this photo he is coming out with a cart to pick up groceries we delivered.  

P.S. Now, a little more of the back story. The child saved from abortion is now two years old.  He prefers big brother Blessing’s arms to any other place in this world.  The family still struggles.  We have stepped in occasionally to help with child care, coordinate rides, access services and provide other support.  Mom is working as a nurse to support her three boys.  We are helping Blessing get his driver’s permit.  The middle son is in third grade and almost nine.  He is an amazing little soul… in the process of a big conversion.  He is dying for God in his life, and the door has opened for him to learn and grow in his faith.

You see, the middle son has seen this stream of love and charity poured on his family over the past two years.  At the age of reason, he has been observing and asking lots of questions.  At one time Nancy brought him inside the church where his inquisitive nature couldn’t get enough of what he was seeing. You could see in his eyes this look of desire.  Yes, Love had come into his life – the love of Christ, and he wanted more… 

Long story short, we are helping him to attend faith camp this summer.  Baptized at birth, he is now asking for the sacraments.  So next fall we will help him enroll in faith formation and begin sacrament preparation.

Praise God for His mighty works!  By hanging in there and walking with this family, Christ’s love and mercy are bearing eternal fruit.  The door has been opened and I can’t wait to see how Christ moves through this family as they receive His love sacramentally.

Loving God, we are grateful for your work in and through us.   We humbly recognize your work and purification of us and those who are blessed by our acts of charity.  We thank you for the gifts given and the ripple effect of these generous gifts.  God bless Blessing as he continues to give sacrificially to his family.  Thank you for opening the heart of this third grader and may he convert many more souls in the process of growing in faith.  And continue to work in this mother’s selfless life for her precious family. 

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

With you in prayer,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Coordinator
Marriage Material

Knees on the Ground

April 20, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

I had a profound reaction to Nancy’s email last week “Boots on the Ground.”

When my husband came to tell me there had been another police shooting in Minneapolis, I was immediately anxious.  As he encouraged me to stay home from my class in Saint Paul that night due to the rioting I was a bit upset.  But then I received Nancy’s email and the Holy Spirit moved me with a call to action.  For me it was to get “knees on the ground”.  To turn this great suffering of mine and so many others into a prayer.  

Nancy’s email is below this one. It starts with a short update.

As the church militant, we understand the work of suffering and the abundant graces made available to us. The experience of suffering is a prayer – mind, body and soul. United with Christ it can bear much fruit.

Your Sister in Christ, Jennifer

P.S As I went to prayer, I could visualize Christ on the cross, so vivid from Good Friday just recently celebrated.  At the foot of the cross, I met Mary, who so quickly joined our suffering to her and her son’s heart.  A sense of peace filled my soul.  

The words of scripture then rang through my mind as I turned to Nancy meeting with our clients. “I was sick and you visited me.”  I prayed that she would be filled with God’s grace through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

It is at moments like this that the veil seems so thin and the power of prayer so real.  Moved from a place of anxiety, powerlessness and limitation within our suffering, to a place of peace and transformation.  For me it did not take the suffering away, but my soul found a place of peace. I repeated several times Jesus, I trust in you as I thought of so many people and sufferings.  Offering them to Jesus, now risen and on His throne in heaven.  Him acknowledging every single one. Showering us with grace and abundant mercy.

God’s grace moves us to action. May He continue to guide us to greater peace and healing.  

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

Short update to Boots on the Ground e-mail sent out April 12

April 19, 2021

“Helen” followed our advice and got the baby “into the light.” She told her brother, mother, grandmother, etc. Women are much less likely to get an abortion when everyone knows about the pregnancy. Helen’s grandmother asked Helen to go to church with her on Sunday and during the service, the minister stopped and said, “I feel the Holy Spirit telling me to pray over anyone her today who is pregnant.” The grandmother nudged Helen to go forward and be prayed over. Also the minister spoke to Helen afterwards and it gave Helen a needed confirmation that God wanted her to stay pregnant. Hurray!

We are now helping her apply for the Jeremiah Program where she can get support to finish her college degree.

God bless, Nancy

Boots on the Ground

Monday, April 12

Good Morning-

The Applebee’s we were heading to in Brooklyn Center is closed down from the rioting in Minneapolis last night.  A new client “Helen” got off the abortion pathway on Friday and today is our first time meeting with her.  When I called to confirm with her this morning, she told me it was blocked off now from the rioting.  A young man was shot in Brooklyn Center during a traffic stop.  Here is a link from the Kare11 website.  

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/brooklyn-center-police-shooting-daunte-wright-protests/89-00f84fad-9304-4d63-bc3b-1a97e93f9276

We are now meeting at an Applebees a bit further out.  This new client is coming with her friend and I am prepared for the microaggressions that will pop up during the conversation.  These microaggressions just began happening last year with our clients from Minneapolis.

Please keep us in your prayers.  Helen is dealing with the news that another woman is currently pregnant from the father of her baby.  We will do our best to support her so that her baby doesn’t die from abortion.  

God bless, Nancy
Nancy Kiolbasa(651) 373-1205

April 8, 2021

Marriage Material

Happy Easter Week

Good Morning-

I couldn’t help asking that question, “Do you know it’s Good Friday?” when a young woman called last week looking for an abortion.  We shall call her Terry.


Terry said, “Yeah I know.  I was thinking about that.”  After about 5 minutes of a very interesting discussion, she said, “I want to talk with you in person.”  It made me think of Matt 18:20: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am, in the midst of them.

I said to Terry, “If the father of the baby is even just slightly excited, we can often offer support and help the mom stay pregnant. But if someone calls looking for an abortion and I ask, ‘What does the father of the baby think?’ When they say that he wants them to get an abortion, it is really hard to support them enough to get them off the abortion pathway.”

“I know,” Terry said. “He was happy and then we got in a fight and now he wants me to get an abortion.”

I said, “So much for the pro-abortion line, my body, my choice. It actually looks more like his choice.”

She was very irritated that the father of her baby was now telling her to get an abortion when he was happy about it before. I was able to use her anger towards this unfair situation and strengthen her new resolve to stay pregnant.

“God has picked you to be the mother of this baby.” I love that line and all credit must be given to the Sisters of Life in New York.

Thank you for making this work possible. If you feel you didn’t do enough alms giving during lent:

<<Click here to donate towards our efforts to save babies from abortion by taking care of their moms.>>

God bless, Nancy

The Cry of Mercy and Love

March 27, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

Lent is my favorite liturgical season.  Yes, it is true.  Prayer, fasting and almsgiving (however imperfectly offered) bear great fruit!  I have been in prayer for all of you and joining you in prayer for the clients of Marriage Material.  I pray you have known the fruits through the Holy Spirit in your lives.  As we journey together through Holy Week and into Easter may the great Paschal mystery come alive in our souls.

As God has shown me so many times in my life, the Paschal mystery is not just something that happened over 2,000 years ago.  It happens in our hearts and lives today as we continually die to self and rise anew with Christ.
In whatever work we do, we are called to imitate Christ.  As a parent, we so often give until it hurts.  When we see another struggling, we lend a hand.  This imitates Jesus.  To know the Love of God, we can then start to cultivate a love for His children.  By loving others, we begin to spread His peace in the world.

As we continue to respond to women and families presented to Marriage Material, let us pray that we see them in the light of Christ.  Crying out for Mercy and Love.  Opening their lives to conversion and the grace of God.

Dear Father God,
We need you, your yoke, your Love.  We want to see others through the perspective of your Mercy and Love.  We humble ourselves and ask you to enlighten our hearts and minds with your wisdom.  In this moment we also recognize and lift up all clients of Marriage Material – past, present and future.  They need you.  Your Grace. Your Love. Your Mercy.  They are straining to find You in this world.  We praise and honor you for the new gift of life present in the wombs of mothers everywhere.  We turn to you, our own creator and say thank you.  We honor this new life and You, in our midst.

Amen.

To pray for current clients individually and give thanks for the great work God is doing through Marriage Material, please click the link below to be directed to our client updates page on our website.

Prayer Requests & Client Updates – Marriage Material (mymarriagematerial.com)

In Prayer and Praise,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material
——————

Solemnity of St. Joseph
Good morning-
We are heading out this morning to meet up with “Alice” who is 7 months pregnant and has to sleep in her truck.  And then on our way to visit “Cindy” who is the one pregnant with baby number 7 and finally our last stop will be to meet up with our 15-year-old client “Ann”.  
Please beg St. Joseph for special graces to fall on all of our clients.  I’m including a link to Pope Francis’s writing on St. Joseph that be published December 8 when he declared the Year of St. Joseph. Fr. Izen recommended we read it during his homily this morning.


<<click here to read Apostolic Letter on St. Joseph>>

God bless, Nancy

Wednesday, March 10 – Starting date of St. Joseph Novena

Saint Joseph Novena and “My Second Chance”

Dear Friend in Christ,

There have been a few women who called recently considering abortion.  A couple women are young, feeling alone and scared.  Another woman called who has six children, a history of abortion, and now pregnant with number 7!  What a perfect time to pray our Saint Joseph Novena, patron saint of families!  We will pray for nine consecutive days, culminating on the feast of Saint Joseph on March 19th.  We will join our brothers and sisters praying with praymorenovenas.com

<<Click here for the Novena link>>

Love, as we know, is not a feeling.  It is to will the good of another.  I certainly cannot imagine the gift of a seventh child and how overwhelming this may seem.  Or how scary it would feel to be alone, abandoned, young and pregnant.  However, with a phone call they have found the support of Marriage Material and several have turned the corner, at least temporarily. 

I wanted to leave you with a quote from a client this week who previously had an abortion and this time, with the help of Marriage Material, is choosing life.  Let’s pray she stays off the abortion pathway and finds healing from her past abortion.  Hope this will inspire you in prayer over the next nine days.

“Spiritually I felt I was where I needed to be at that time running into you guys rather than abortion clinic, that it was a sign, that this time around things were going to be ok and to move forward with my baby because this was meant to be, her life and my life was meant to begin, my second chance at being a mother.”

With you in prayer,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

March 4, 2021

Love over Violence and Death

Friend in Christ,

As brothers and sisters in Christ we have the opportunity to pull together in prayer.  It has been on my heart to pray for Marriage Material clients and especially their families.

The family is a beautiful, dynamic and ever changing gift. Saint Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to families and I wanted to share a short quote for your meditation and prayer:

“The history of mankind, the history of salvation, passes by way of the family… the family is placed at the center of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, between love and all that is opposed to love.”

The family continues to be the target of much persecution in our modern world.  We see this within the work of Marriage Material.  Meeting women and families in crisis and considering abortion.  Each story is unique, but the underlying struggle between good and evil persists.  But as we know, the story doesn’t end there.

Through the power of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit guiding our volunteers we have reason to rejoice.  When we witness women step off the abortion pathway, they are saying “yes” to life and love.  Often our volunteers will inquire about the father of the baby and other family support.  Engaging them to say “yes” as well.  These families are opening the door for God’s mercy and endless grace.  They are choosing love over violence and death.   I am moved by such a commitment, in the face of the circumstances that trouble them.  I am humbled by this opportunity to walk with them, to serve and be a channel of grace.  Let us pray.

Heavenly Father and Creator God, We praise and thank You for Your love and for your abundant grace and mercy.  We give You all Marriage Material clients – past, present and future.  Be present to them, their families and loved ones. Continue to stir in us, by your most Holy Spirit, the work You are calling us to do.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.  Saint Pope John Paul II, pray for us and all families.

In Christ,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

February 26, 2021

Good Morning-
How have I gone my whole life and not know that a basinet existed called a Moses Basket?  A donor just dropped one off on my front porch to pass on to a client.  Isn’t it the cutest thing ever?
I am going to bring it to a client this afternoon to cheer her up.  We will practice driving together, and she will use my car for her driver’s test next month. Don’t anyone mention this to Joe! 


<<Click here for St. Joseph novena beginning March 10th>> 


God bless, Nancy

Our prayers were answered

February 19, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

I join you in prayers of thanksgiving today.  Our sister in Christ, “Ann”, who we have been praying for this week is veering off the abortion pathway.  If you recall, she is 15 years old and 4-5 months pregnant. 
 
Nancy and another volunteer (who happens to be a nurse) met up with her yesterday.  By the grace of God, the nurse was inspired to ask, “What is your greatest worry?” Ann replied, “I am so afraid of labor because of what I have seen in the movies.”  I wanted an abortion to avoid the pain…”
Our volunteer told her to make sure her doctor knows about this fear. Since Ann is a basketball player, our volunteer compared labor to running a marathon and talked about the pain Ann has endured as an athlete.

The work of taking care of Ann and her family begins now.  First step is to get her in for an ultrasound on Monday.  Let us pause for a moment and offer prayers of thanksgiving as we begin this journey with Ann and her family.

Heavenly Father,
We thank you for showering us with your abundant grace and mercy.  We are so thankful for Ann and the gift of her conversion of heart.  We hold Ann and this baby up to your throne.  Such a beautiful creation Lord!  Continue to encircle Ann and her family with your protection.  Guide good friends and healthy support to her during this time.  Inspire us as we walk with Ann on this journey.  All glory, honor and praise, be the most Holy Trinity.  Father, Son and Most Holy Spirit! Amen.

With you in prayer and praise,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

Can I get a substitute?

February 16, 2021

Today we have the opportunity to make Christ present to a 15 year old and her family.  Her mom called looking for an abortion for her daughter.  It didn’t take long to turn the situation around.  The Holy Spirit spoke through Nancy as she said, “God is going to hold your soul accountable because at the tender age of 15 your daughter is going to do whatever you say”. 
The 15 year-old’s twin brother also stepped forward and told his sister “I will get a job and support your baby.  Don’t get an abortion.”  Isn’t he the sweetest?

Thanks be to God for our strong prayer program, aiding in these conversions of heart! 

Please keep this 15 year old and her family in your prayers.  Nancy and another volunteer will be meeting with them this Thursday!

Let us invoke the The Holy Angels; leaders of the heavenly armies as we pray:

Oh Holy Angels of God, bring our intentions to our Heavenly Father.  Make real your presence to our Marriage Material client, our sister in Christ who is 15 years old and with child.
May she find in her family the support needed to nurture this new life.  Encircle her and all of us in the protection of your angelic glory.  Watch over us as we bow and send our guardian angels to be with this family and the volunteers who minister to her on Thursday. 
We offer these prayers through Jesus Christ.  True God and true Man. Amen

Finally, I will leave you with an extra little jewel. A story about the beauty of a child’s perspective. Recently my children and I were praying for a family member who was ill.  We sent our Guardian Angels to be with her.  We asked for her pain to be relieved through the intercession of our Guardian Angels.  When we were finished praying my son said, “Can I get a substitute angel?”   How precious and profound!  At the age of 8 he could recognize the power of his Guardian Angel.  And he didn’t want to be without his Guardian Angel for a single moment!

Have a great Lent!

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Marriage Material

January 29, 2021, March for Life, Washington DC

Marriage Material


Good afternoon,
Someone said that abortions are not done virtually, so why have a virtual March for Life?  


It was an extraordinary day today.  More police officers on bicycles and walking during the March for Life today than 80 or so representative marchers.  


Someone said another group was marching on a different street and merged with the official March for Life group.  The representative marchers each carried a red rose to put down on the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court building.


In any case, a virtual gathering would not have been my choice.  We are a resurrection people and do not need to be afraid to proclaim our love for the unborn and their moms and dads.  #WhyWeMarch  


We march because we love. 

Uploading a few pictures from today:

Ran into Fr. Frank Pavone and Janet Morana from Priests for Life. I made them take a selfie with me!
Staff members from March for Life organization had dinner at our hotel last night. I disrupted their meal for this picture. Brian at the top of the table was sipping his soup but I politely asked him to smile. He stopped eating but he sure didn’t smile! Was that too bossy? Who wants a picture taken of themselves sipping soup?
Abby Johnson from her Facebook page.
Looking at this photo of the very first March for Life, one can’t help but wonder when the last March for Life will be.
My husband Joe just texted me this to show how much Mrs. Cooper is missing me!
Dashed off in the middle of the day to have lunch with a previous client that moved to DC. She turned away from abortion and chose adoption. It was such a treat to meet up with her again. I left feeling so filled with hope!
Our Lady of Guadalupe made it into the Bible Museum. Hurray!
One last picture from the Bible Museum An actor was dressed like Gutenberg and demonstrating how he created the printing press to print the first Bibles. Of course I had to ask, “And what religion was Guttenberg?” He said Catholic and I gave a little cheer.

And we’ll end with the quote from Students for Life: “The flip side of our ‘Pro-Life Generation’ signs that you always see, instead of saying ‘Defund Planned Parenthood’ this year, they say, ‘The future is anti-abortion,’ because there was no point in saying defund Planned Parenthood” in light of Biden’s stance on reproductive rights, said Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life, an anti-abortion-rights nonprofit that focuses on college campuses.

God bless, Nancy

Marriage Material, January 22, 2021

Good Morning,

Almost every year on this date, we get a call from someone who is seeking an abortion.  Let us thank God ahead of time that the baby will be saved from abortion today.

As the disciples asked Jesus in the gospel, “Lord, when did we see you . . .”

Let us see Jesus in the unborn baby.

“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)  I wonder how I would respond if I thought that Jesus was the baby at risk of being aborted.

Today we sadly commemorate the anniversary of Roe v Wade. Let us embrace this Day of Reparation. We are called to prayer, acts of mercy and penance.

<<Click here for clients that need prayer.>>

God bless,  Nancy

P.S. Link to the video of our client testimony recorded for our banquet.

http://bit.ly/ZoeTestimony

https://relevantradio.com/2019/01/how-to-fast-and-ideas-for-fasting-alternatives-2/

Here is a link to the majority opinion for Roe v. Wade:

https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18

“You are very good at your job!”

Dear Friend in Christ,

When I was first introduced to the work of Marriage Material, I was astounded by the frank truth shared with clients.

“Jean” called this week saying, “I want that abortion pill because this baby is only five weeks.” 

Nancy rejoiced that Jean used the word baby.  She responded, “Age doesn’t make us more or less human.  Is your 10-year-old more of a person than your 3-year-old? Life begins at conception.”

Jean continued to argue. 

Jean said, “I was arguing with my friend not to get an abortion at four months, but this is not the same.”

Nancy said, “Is it because you don’t think your baby will know what you are doing?  But it’s not okay to kill someone anesthetized on an operating table just because they wouldn’t know it was happening.”

For good measure, Nancy added, “And location doesn’t matter.  Just because your baby is in your womb doesn’t make her less human.  Are people located in Georgia less human than people in Minnesota?

The baby inside you is a person and will continue to be a person when she is born.

Jean responded, “You are very good at your job.  You should talk to my friend.” 

When Nancy and Jean met at Applebee’s the next day, Jean called Abria and set up an ultrasound appointment.  After lunch, they went shopping for boots for her 3-year-old. Jean seems to moving forward with her pregnancy.

The truth will set you free.  This verse from the gospel of John points us to the Truth of Christianity.  Through embracing the Truth we can be set free from sin, misery and ignorance.  The truth illuminates a new path away from temptation and onto a new path of freedom and Grace. 

Marriage Material apostolate surely embodies this sentiment from the gospel.  We share the truth of life with those who call.  It is a gift to witness these women step off the path of abortion and onto a new pathway of life.  For the truth has in fact set them free!

And how beautiful that Jean wanted the truth to be shared with her friend.

Father God, 

In gratitude for the great gift of life, we bring you all clients of Marriage Material – past, present and future.  Guide our words and actions.  Open their hearts to Your truth.  

May we be as brave as Jean.  As your disciples, may we respond to the call from the Holy Spirit to share Your truth in a world desperately seeking a path to greater hope and freedom!
Amen

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Coordinator
Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net

P.S. This is an interesting link on a logical argument against abortion by Peter Kreeft:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/abortion/articles-and-addresses/a-logical-argument-against-abortion

Six in a Row

January 8, 2021

Dear Friend in Christ,

Sometimes there are patterns that develop in our work of helping women avoid abortion.  Six women called recently and they all agreed to an ultrasound!  We know that this is only one step off the abortion pathway, but a step toward accepting the blessing of new life.

This week we also get to celebrate the birth of “Kim”, a child welcomed into this world in-part due to your generosity and prayers.

If my math is correct that is seven miracles! Seven is significant in our history. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. In the New Testament it has been written that seven symbolizes the unity of the four corners of the earth with the Trinity!

Let us join in prayers of thanksgiving for these miracles!

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

O Most Holy Trinity,

Thank you for the opportunity to serve the six women who called recently and all agreed to an ultrasound.  As we walk with them, guide our actions and our words.  Soften their hearts as they see the beauty of your creation growing in their womb.

We praise you for the birth of “Kim” this week.  We will continue to cooperate with the graces you provide as we assist this family in realizing the gift given.

You created each of these women and their children in your image and likeness.  As they respond to your hope, make their path clear and straight.

O Holy Trinity, Spirit of Love and Source of Life, we are honored to be witness to your life changing work!

Amen

Kim

In Christ,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net

December 23, 2020

Nancy Kiolbasa

“I Was Wrong.”

We had been working with “Sarah” for months and I was devastated when she said she had an abortion scheduled for the next day.  Yesterday, I dug down to muster up some charity and called to see if her children had gifts for Christmas.

“I meant to call you,” she said.  “I didn’t get the abortion after all.”

I stopped over at her apartment yesterday to drop off money to help with Christmas presents. Her face was just beaming. I said, “Thank God you stayed pregnant. There is no way you would have that beautiful smile on your face right now if you had suffered the trauma of abortion.” She agreed and shared her joy in still being pregnant and that she was feeling better and able to eat a little bit now.

Thank you for making this work possible.

<<Click here to donate.>>

Merry Christmas, Nancy

“I regret my abortion real bad”

December 12, 2020

Dear Friend in Christ,

On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, let us storm heaven on behalf of our clients.  Our Lady of Guadalupe said, Am I not here, who is your mother? Are you not under my protection?

Our mothers hold a special place in our hearts.  They know us inside and out and love unconditionally.  Over the past nine days I have had the opportunity to reflect on the gift of motherhood in a special way.  My own mother has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Please join me in praying for Anna Mae, my mother.  We boldly ask for a quick and miraculous healing!
Let us ask for Our Lady of Guadalupe to intercede for these clients today:
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

  • For “Ann” who said, “I regret my abortion real bad.”  That she goes on retreat with Rachel’s Vineyard.
  • For “Sarah” who got an abortion yesterday.  May God hold her aborted baby close in His loving arms and convert Sarah’s heart.  May Sarah and her baby be reunited in heaven.
  • For “Diane” who is 19 and bravely moving forward with her second child.  That God will bring healing to the relationship with the father of this baby.
  • For “Ann” who is delivering next month and is staying in a homeless shelter.
  • For “Kim” who recently sent a Christmas list to Nancy requesting winter coats for her nieces and nephews.  May God fill us with gratitude as we respond out of abundance and love.

Our beloved Lady of Guadalupe,
We offer you the sisters in Christ named above. 
May they be surrounded by your love, uplifted in hope and converted in faith. 
Through your intercession, Holy Mother, we ask that they be healed and protected. 
May our service and charity make Our Lord more known and loved in the world today.  
May the fruits of these prayers be known and shared bringing greater glory, honor and praise to our God.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

With confidence in prayer,
Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator

Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Start December 3 – End December 11

Dear Friend in Christ,

Today we begin our prayer novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of the Americas, the pro-life movement and Marriage Material.  

Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego, a young indigenous widower and convert to the faith in 1531.  During her final visit to Tepeyac Hill (near Mexico City) on December 12, she arranged flowers in Juan Diego’s tilma (cloak) leaving the image of what we know today as Our Lady of Guadalupe.  

Click here for a copy of the Marriage Material Novena of Our Lady of Guadalupe.   I look forward to storming heaven together with you over the next 9 days. May these short prayers produce abundant fruit for Marriage Material clients – past, present and future!

In Christ,
Jennifer Smith

————————

November 28, 2020
Click the link below to read Guardian Angel stories!

https://www.opusangelorum.org/English/Guardian.html

Novena of Gratitude

In Preparation for our Virtual Banquet October 29, we are praying a Novena of Gratitude below. For a handy one page pdf, <<click here>>.

Marriage Material Novena of Gratitude

Start October 21 and finish on the day of our virtual banquet, October 29!

Thank you for joining in prayer. May you see the fruits in your own life and be assured of the fruits in the work of Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net.

Day 1 – Gracious God, thank you for the opportunity to serve pregnant women considering abortion. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)(St Juan Diego, Pray for us.)

Day 2 – Gracious God, thank you for the babies, each a generous gift and blessing. Given with all the graces necessary for this life into the next. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) (St. Pope John Paul II, Pray for us.)

Day 3 – Gracious God, thank you for the women served by this apostolate. May they experience continuous conversion of heart. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) (St. John of Capistrano, Pray for us.)

Day 4 – Gracious God, thank you for all fathers, biological, adopted and spiritual. May they be empowered as great stewards of life. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) (Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Anthony Mary Claret, Pray for us.)

Day 5 – Gracious God, thank you for volunteers and all those who support this apostolate. We offer them up with their intentions. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

Day 6 – Gracious God, thank you for all families. May they embrace children as a gift from God and live out their mission. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

Day 7 – Gracious God, thank you for our leaders, that they will experience true conversion to support life at all ages and stages. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

Day 8 – Gracious God, thank you for the donors of Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net apostolate. May our outreach endure and grow according to God’s purpose. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) (Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Pray for us.)

Day 9 – Gracious God, thank you for all prayer warriors, in touch with God’s abundant Mercy, especially you! (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) (To our patrons Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint John the Baptist, Pray for us).

May God bless you abundantly!

“I am doubly blessed,” she said.

Good afternoon-
An update on our client that was expecting twins.  If you recall, she said after the ultrasound, “I am doubly blessed.”  We spoke early this week and she shared the grief about her miscarriage.  “My body couldn’t hold on to them.”  Prayers needed to heal her heart.


On a more positive note, a new client, “Terry” got off the abortion pathway this morning.  It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes the conversation begins with tears, transitions into anger and ends with laughter. Your prayers make this possible! 


This is “Terry’s” first pregnancy and she is 30 years old. 
“There is no way I am going to be able to have this baby,” she said.  I knew there was hope when she said the word baby.

We had a long conversation. I said, “Your 30 years old. You could totally do this!” I asked if she was ever happy about being pregnant. Terry said, “Yes, but I am so sick of fighting and he told me to get an abortion.” I said, “It is a crazy world where a couple gets into a fight and the next thing you know, the baby gets aborted.”

“Your baby is going to part of an exclusive group of Corona Kids,” I said. And you will be one of the rockstar moms that managed to stay pregnant during a pandemic.” She laughed outloud.

Terry is going into Abria for an ultrasound and we are going to schedule lunch together next week. Hurray! Thank you God.

God bless, Nancy

Celebrating the Birth of Corona Kids!

July 24, 2020

“Your baby is going to part of an exclusive group of Corona Kids,” I said.  “Susan” quietly giggled. 

“Susan” is one of six women that got off the abortion pathway during the Fourth of July week.  

She was scheduled for an ultrasound at Abria later that week, but Susan texted me wondering if she could get an ultrasound that day in the emergency room.  I said, “No.  They are going to have no reason to give you an ultrasound.”

Later that day, I got a text that she was able to get the ultrasound because her back hurt, and she had gained a ton of weight.  The ultrasound showed she is having twins!

In response, I shared my excitement and sent her this picture:

Susan said, “I am being doubly blessed.”

Tomorrow we are going to take her to DMV for her driver’s test. Fingers crossed that she passes the test and gets her driver’s license.

We couldn’t do this work without your prayers and support. Thank you.

God bless, Nancy

Imago Dei ~ Stories of Hope

July 6, 2020 – Feast Day – St. Maria Goretti

My dear friend in Christ,

We have the opportunity to walk beside two women and their babies in prayer.  Both wrestling with the temptation of abortion.  

Our first sister-in-Christ is a teacher.  She initially called, upset that the abortion provider she was scheduled to see the next day was not going to let her bring her fetus home after the abortion.  With a little bit of information from Nancy she opened up as to why she was considering an abortion in the first place.  She had been drinking during the pregnancy and was concerned about the baby.  After further conversation she hung up the phone and we prayed.  A week later Nancy followed up with her over the phone and she was still pregnant and going to be having a girl!  Praise be to God!

Another single mother who is Hmong called recently.  She has two children and is now pregnant with her third.  She is struggling with the thought of “doing this alone”.  After further conversation she was open to meeting with Nancy.  She has found hope in connecting with a Catholic church with a significant Hmong community. We will have the opportunity to continue walking with her.

While praying for these women and preparing this email I was inspired to open our beautiful Catechism of the Catholic Church.  I was reminded of a few words spoken by Sister Maria Ivana, O.P. at our last Marriage Material banquet.  “Imago Dei”, the image of God as translated in English.

The divine image is present in every man… Endowed with “a spiritual and immortal” soul… The human person participates in the light and power of the divine Spirit.  By his reason, he is capable of understanding the order of things established by the Creator.  By free will he is capable of directing himself toward true good.  (CCC 1702-4)

The divine image of God is present in each person.  Beautifully and wonderfully created by God.  By gazing upon the image of God within each person, we can look past the circumstances.  With empathy and by the grace of God, we too can ‘participate in the light and power of the Holy Spirit’ to give hope.  What a gift!

This passage also reminded me that these women are totally capable of understanding and directing themselves toward the truth.  We are given the opportunity, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to walk beside them.  To share the truth, provide hope, a new perspective and support them on this journey of motherhood.  We get to experience the image of God, as present in another.  To serve our Lord as present in another.

Let us lift these women and others struggling with abortion to the throne of our loving and merciful Father in heaven.

Eternal Father,  
Wonderful Creator,
Merciful God,
We look to you in total confidence – Our creator and lover of our souls.  
We bring you all women struggling with abortion and post-abortion syndrome.  
Clothe them with your love and mercy.  
Enliven their hearts and minds with your Spirit.  
Inspire them to behold this life as a gift.  
Guide them toward your light, truth and goodness.
Thank you Lord for this opportunity to be in your presence, to serve you, and know you as our loving creator.

Amen

Thank God for the intervention of Marriage Material and AbortionAdvice.net.  Praise be to God for His work in leading all of us, volunteers and prayer warriors.  

In Christ,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net

June 25, 2020

Last week a new client was sharing about how much she regreted her two previous abortions.  “Sherry” said she talks to Jesus all the time.  She said she is very close to Him.  I was so glad to hear her say this!

Sherry has 4 children and started sharing her sorrow for the 2 previous abortions she had.  “But I can’t possibly have a baby right now,” she said.  Since we’d been talking for over 10 minutes and felt bonded over our mutual love for Jesus, I felt safe to share some advice I received from Fr. Grabner.

“Sherry, repentance always involves asking for forgiveness and having a desire to turn away from sin,” I said.  “You can’t be very sorry for your 2 abortions if you are willing to go and do it again.”

“I get what you’re saying.” Thank you God that she had ears to hear. I will let you know how things turn out.  Thank you for your prayers and financial support to make this work possible.

God bless, Nancy

P.S. This is what St. John Paul II wrote about this topic:

No repentance without purpose of amendment

It is also self-evident that the accusation of sins must include the serious intention not to commit them again in the future. If this disposition of soul is lacking, there really is no repentance: this is in fact a question of moral evil as such, and so not taking a stance opposed to a possible moral evil would mean not detesting evil, not repenting. But as this must stem above all from sorrow for having offended God, so the intention of not sinning must be based on divine grace, which the Lord never fails to give anyone who does what he can to act honestly.

Come Holy Spirit

My Dear Friends in Christ,

Prayers for deliverance, peace and hope have marked these last few weeks.  First, with the pandemic and now in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Yesterday morning I woke up with a strange feeling of consolation.  I checked the news briefly and then put down my phone to pray.  Something was different; but I could not put my finger on it.  I praised God for the peace He had given.  I held up the many public servants who continued to risk their lives in service to others.  I imagined the gifts of the Holy Spirit flowing down from heaven upon each person.  Touching each of them with the fire of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and counsel.  I extended my thoughts and prayers to the many pregnant women calling Marriage Material recently who are overcome with fear. A sense of warmth filled my heart as I saw the Holy Spirit wrapping them in God’s Love.

Let’s join together in prayer for an end to the violence in our communities.  Hold up the many heroes who risk their lives in service to others each day. Pray for the souls who have lost their lives. Ask God to wipe the Corona virus off the face of the earth.  And surround all the women that have called Marriage Material seeking an abortion with our love.

Holy Spirit, drive out the fear 
that has sunk its dagger so deep into our hearts.
Surround those most vulnerable with your love and light.

Fill us with your peace and consolation.
Most Holy Spirit, great consoler and giver of gifts, 
as God is love, You are love poured out onto the world.  

Come down upon us, that we may experience your power and
bow in humility at your grandeur.

With you in prayer,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net
(Posted June 1, 2020)

Prayer Changes Everything

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Prayer changes everything.  During this unprecedented time I find myself resorting to rote prayers that bring comfort and peace.  It releases me from our earthly context into the truth and beauty of my relationship with God.

In these times of uncertainty and isolation we can praise God for His continued work through Marriage Material and Abortionadvice.net.  Based online, we continue to get calls from individuals considering abortion.  We continue to meet women where they are at to provide support.  God continues to convert hearts through this ministry! (Picture of her precious newborn at end of this entry.)

A woman we have been working with had her baby and has been discharged to a homeless shelter.  She is sharing a room with another mother who has two toddlers.  I cannot imagine!  We will continue to work with her to find housing. 

Now let us embrace our spiritual nature; connecting body, mind and soul in prayer.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
For all women who are enduring challenging circumstances to either stay pregnant or support a newborn –
    Jesus, I entrust them to you.
For fathers who are struggling to provide and considering abortion or abandonment – 
 Jesus, I entrust them to you.
For all those who are homeless and pregnant – 
 Jesus, I entrust them to you.
For mothers who are victims of rape and considering abortion –
  Jesus, I entrust them to you.
For all those struggling with fears and loss related to COVID-19 – 
 Jesus, I entrust them to you.
Father God, you are so faithful.  No reality escapes you.  No circumstance to big.  Thank you for being so close to us and to our brothers and sisters.In Jesus name,
Amen.

Prayer changes everything!

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material – Abortionadvice.net

Precious baby – prayer changes everything!

Update on “Sherry”

As you recall, our client “Sherry” was struggling being homeless and having a young infant when she called us 8 months ago. She delivered a healthy baby girl last week and here’s the latest picture.

Someone donated this beautiful pink blanket and Sherry is so happy to have received it!

Sherry just signed a new lease and will hopefully be able to move into her new apartment soon. “I am just putting everything in Gods hands. I don’t want to get too stressed out.” We will all rejoice when she is no longer sleeping on her mom’s couch with her newborn and 10-month old daughter.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Sherry has received love and support over these past months and we couldn’t do this work without you! Thank you. My heart is so full of gratitude. One last time… THANK YOU!

March 19

Good afternoon:

We are busy taking care of our pregnant clients and celebrating a baby being born yesterday.  I will attach her picture.  The mom, “Sherry,” was struggling with being homeless and having a young infant.  The two babies are just 10 months apart.  We are so thankful she was able to stay pregnant.  

We are listed with the new Coronavirus 2020 program started by United Way as a resource to help get food to pregnant women.  We’ve been ordering from Instacart and having the food delivered directly to our clients.

Click here to donate to help get food directly to pregnant women in need.

Yesterday we received a call to help a  young pregnant woman sleeping in her car by the library.  Last night she slept safely in a hotel and our next step is to get her reunited with her mom in California. Thank you for making this work possible. 

The first picture of Sherry’s newborn!

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As members of the mystical body of Christ, we carry the burdens of each other out of love.  Lately, we have received calls from women who, for various reasons, have not been interested in our help.  For example, a young mom found our website after searching online for an abortion.

“I have to get an abortion,” she said.  “We step into women’s lives like a sister and offer support so you don’t have to feel like abortion is your only choice,” Nancy replied.

“I am addicted to heroin and my mom will kick me and my two kids out if she finds out I am pregnant.”  She then hung up and moved on with her search for an abortion appointment.

As discouraging as this sounds and feels, I am reminded of our call.  It is to pray.  Conversion is “above our pay grade”.  It is the work of God and the Holy Spirit.  So let us do our part and pray for the following individuals and all those struggling with a crisis pregnancy.

·  A mother of 2 teenagers couldn’t imagine having another baby.  She had a previous abortion.

·  Friend called.  Trying to get information so her friend could abort baby number 4.  Asked if we knew good counseling for her friend after she gets the abortion.  When challenged to support the mother during pregnancy and to help her friend avoid suffering, not plan how to cope after the suffering, she got upset and hung up.

·  Mother just broke up with the father of the baby, has two other kids and was not even going to tell the father of the baby she is pregnant.

·  Eighteen years old, 10 weeks pregnant, called looking for an abortion.  When asked if her parents know about the pregnancy, she said, “I am living with my Dad, but he is no help.  He is a crack addict.”  She didn’t want to meet up.

Father God, Creator of all life,

We bring to you in prayer all people struggling with the gift of new life.
In the form of a pregnancy, a conversion of heart or the opportunity to help another in crisis.

Give them courage to be open to the possibilities new life brings.  
Give them the grace to trust in a plan greater than their own.  
Stir from complacency and judgment all those around them.  
May their family and friends support this new life.  With a word, an act of charity or a listening ear.

Now we engage all the powers of Heaven in this battle against human life. 
Lord Jesus Christ, we ask for Your direction and intercession.  
May your angels protect, guard and guide.  
May the Saints intercede out of Love.  
May the church militant bow our heads and get on our knees in thanksgiving for the gift already given.  
May Love and Mercy triumph!

In the name of Jesus.
Amen.

For more information on the mystical body of Christ from The Most Reverend Venerable Fulton Sheen, CLICK HERE.

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material – AbortionAdvice.net

January Miracles Part II

My Dearest Prayer Warriors,

Praised be Jesus! Your prayer offerings, invoking the name of “Jesus” and the graces that abound around the anniversary of Roe v Wade have had miraculous outcomes!

These January miracles continue to unfold, and I ask for your continued prayers. We are working with a mother of 6, who works overnights in fast food and is choosing to stay pregnant. A 17 year old on her third pregnancy is choosing to stay pregnant. These women each called Marriage Material looking for an abortion. Let us pray for their continued conversion and that they be blessed in their decision to stay pregnant!

Before we conclude with a prayer I wanted to share a fruit of the document highlighting the power of the name “Jesus”. One prayer warrior wrote “Jesus” on a piece of paper and put it under her pillow. She also shared the document with each of her adult children. For another look at the document and the three promises CLICK HERE. I hope the document was inspiring for all of you as well. I know as I have prayed the name “Jesus” over the past few weeks I have experienced a sense of peace and hope. I think to myself, “He has got this!” The Holy Spirit is giving me the gift of understanding. The revelation I’ve received is that Jesus is bigger than this and in any situation we find ourselves in need.

Jesus.
Thank you Jesus for letting us partake in this process of conversion.
Thank you for giving us the grace to walk beside these women and their families.
Thank you for the gift of these women who have chosen to cooperate with your grace.
Thank you for the gift of new life you have sent into the world.
Jesus.

With you in prayer,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

Bear in mind that each time we say, “Jesus,” devoutly:

  1. we give God great glory,
  2. we receive great graces for ourselves,
  3. and we help the souls in Purgatory.

January Opportunities for Prayer

Story continued from Nancy’s e-mail.

Good morning-
Today is the anniversary of Roe v Wade, a day for prayers & sacrifices to make reparation for all our sins committed against life. I’m including a story shared on social media by a young husband. His wife went into premature labor. She caught a virus and that caused the baby to be born alive at 20 weeks.

He said:
They (the contractions) didn’t stop. We were afraid at one point both Nicole and the baby would die. Nicole yelled in the middle of a contraction she wanted the baby to be named Cecilia Joan. It seemed like a million years ago at that point but, Nicole and I had tentatively decided Joan as a middle name a few days before. Nicole had also suggested Cecilia as a name and we decided we would pray about it. The midwife turned and looked at me and said: are you okay with that name? I remember laughing and saying: I can’t argue with that.

Then Nicole yelled at me to pray the rosary, out loud. I froze, realizing I had left my rosary at home. Our midwife said she wasn’t the best catholic but led us in the Hail Mary. That gave me time to get out my rosary app on my phone and start praying the prayers. It was a Tuesday and the sorrowful mysteries about Christ’s suffering were the day’s prayers. I chose the joyful mysteries about Jesus’ birth instead. I kept praying, holding Nicole and comforting her. Nicole was, somehow, explaining our faith to the nurses in the delivery room. She was explaining why we believe life starts at conception and why Cecilia would be a Saint in heaven.

Cecilia was born right about halfway through the 4th joyful mystery about Christ’s presentation in the temple. In hindsight, It’s amazing this would be the decade Cecilia entered the world: Simeon predicted how a sword would pierce Mary’s heart at the death of Jesus. We were living through it in our own way.

At 7:53 pm, Cecilia was born. One of the most important details in this story is that she was born ALIVE. Cecilia was not a miscarriage. Unfortunately, at 20 weeks, her body was too underdeveloped to be sustained even with the aid of medicine. It’s a sad part of this story that if this infection had happened only a few weeks later, Cecilia could have survived. We were told most babies lived about 20-30 minutes in this condition. Nicole told me to take pictures as we took turns holding our baby.

Just looking at her laying on Nicole’s chest, I was amazed. I couldn’t believe all the details I could see at 20 weeks. I could see eyelashes, fingernails, her tiny hands and toes, her rib cage, a little tongue. We decided she had my lips and ears while having Nicole’s nose. Nicole did “hugamuga” to Cecilia, where we rub noses together.

It got to be my turn to hold her and I took her from Nicole. I could feel her heart beating. I could feel her little body moving in my hands. I could feel her struggling the breath. I kissed her and, sobbing, told her how much I loved her. In the middle of all of this, I remember wondering where God was in all of this. In that instant as I held my dying child, I could feel God’s presence around me. It’s as if He was saying: I have not abandoned you in this moment. I am here suffering with you. Nicole would later tell me she had the same feeling, especially as she had driven to the hospital.

I could feel Cecilia starting to move less and her body was starting to get cold. I wanted Nicole to hold her when she died. I passed her back to Nicole and right then our pastor arrived. I vaguely remembered one of the nurses had asked if there was anyone the hospital could call and I told them we were parishioners at St Peter’s in Libertytown. They should call Fr Chuck. Fr Chuck baptized Cecilia moments before she died. Nicole asked for her midwife to be present and all of us prayed the Litany of the Saints, Psalm 23 and the Our Father.

After Fr Chuck and our midwife left, Nicole’s nurse started to sob and turned to us and said she felt like God had been telling her on her drive into work that evening that He needed her to pray for someone who would lose their child that night. She gave us a giant hug and told us she would keep praying for us.

We got settled into a recovery room and Nicole spiked a fever. It would take the hospital three days and several rounds of antibiotics to get her infection under control. Nicole’s doctor confirmed it was an infection that caused everything. While it’s wonderful to have some kind of answer, it’s a horrible realization that there was nothing wrong with Cecilia. Without the infection, she would have continued to develop and grow into a healthy baby.”

A little extra suffering on this day to read such a long story, but I thought it was inspiring. Though I started crying when I saw this picture at the end.

Big sister started crying saying she was sad because she would never be able to change her diaper.

That big sister has a very big heart. The USCCB requests today to be a day of prayer for the legal protection of the unborn, asking us to honor:

…this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and/or giving alms. USCCB

For me, I am fasting by not eating my blueberry scone with my coffee this morning. Notice I didn’t give up coffee! I am suffering by standing out in cold at the State Capital and praying for an end to abortion, but it really isn’t that cold out today. And then the added suffering of having to ask for money on behalf of the unborn…but really, what an honor to beg on behalf of those who have no voice!

Click here to donate!

God bless, Nancy

Cont. of Jennifer’s e-mail

January is Respect Life month. So many prayers, efforts and miracles historically are offered and lived.

Let’s lift “Diane” up in prayer. Volunteers from Marriage Material are meeting with her today in hopes of working out a housing plan for her. She has a 2 year old, 1 year old and a baby on the way. She is currently living with her mother who has asked them to move out. Let us pray.

Praise you Lord Jesus; You are our Champion and Shield.
Your presence is more real and more profound than anything here on earth.
Make yourself known to Diane. Send your Holy Spirit to open a door for her and the volunteers working with her.
Praise you Lord Jesus; You are all that we need.

January is a month of hope and prayer. At Marriage Material we can praise God for three more women getting off the abortion pathway.

Here are a few other local opportunities to pray for the legal protection of unborn children this month, commemorating January 22nd as the day of prayer for the legal protection of the unborn. In Stillwater on Sunday, Jan. 19 attend a Holy Hour for Life at St. Mary’s: Rosary at 2:30, 3-4 Holy Hour, 4-on soup/salad supper to join in prayer and support. On Wednesday, Jan. 22 in St. Paul, an ecumenical Prayer Service for Life (10:30 a.m.) will be held at the Cathedral of St Paul followed by a procession to the State Capitol, for the MCCL March for Life and program, starting at noon. Read more about these opportunities at http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/news/prayer-service-life-january-22nd-1030-am

I am so grateful to be in prayer with all of you! Praise be to God!

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

The Miracles of January

by Nancy Kiolbasa

We had 3 people get off the abortion pathway last week. Praying that they don’t change their minds. This wonderful week made me remember that last January was really a great month. With all the people praying around the Anniversary of Roe V Wade, grace seems to be in an abundance. For the first time, a client called us after her friend shared our contact information. For 6 years I have been texting pregnant women these words:

“It’s me, Nancy. Save me in your contacts as Nancy Pregnancy so you can find me.”

This new client said her friend has saved our number as Nancy Prego. So funny!

When googling Roe V Wade this morning, I opened a website that had the Majority Opinion for us to read. I’ve heard before that Roe V Wade is bad law, but wait to you read how stupid it is. Here’s the link:

https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18

The client referred to us by a previous client, Ann, is pregnant with baby number 6. We are going to take her out to lunch on Friday which also happens to be her birthday. She made two abortion appointments and didn’t show up for either one. Thank you God! Let us pray she doesn’t ever make appointment number three.

We are able to suffer outside at the state capital on Wednesday, January 22 and this brochure copied below has some other ideas for January.

The Wonders of the Holy Name of Jesus

(The Most Holy Name of Jesus Feast Day Jan. 3)

Reveals the simplest secret ever of holiness and happiness by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.)

The first sentence from Chapter 1: “We have been hearing and have been repeating from childhood the Holy Name of Jesus, but alas, many, very many, have no adequate idea of the great wonders of this Holy Name!”

<<Click here to read the entire reflection and prayer on The Wonders of the Holy Name of Jesus >>

Client Visit

by Nancy Kiolbasa

I have a few pictures to show from a client visit this morning. I made Sheri get her picture taken with me. Oh my!

Sheri picked up a check from us to help with the deposit on her new apartment. She is so happy she stayed pregnant.

We first met after she searched online for an abortion. She has a 7-month-old and was sleeping on a couch. It has taken a few months, but we have finally helped her find an apartment.

She shared this picture of her latest ultrasound. Her second daughter will be born in 3 months. Thank God she stayed pregnant!

She has 12 more weeks of living in her mother’s womb. Let’s pray for a safe delivery of the precious little girl.

Dominique – of all the buildings

Below is a link to the latest news article where the mayor of Minneapolis is quoted as saying, of all the buildings, this is the one that has to go up in flames on Christmas morning:

“These are real people that need a roof over their heads and that need help and of all the buildings in the entire city, this is the one that’s got to go up in flames right now,” he said at a news conference with the fire chief.

<<Click here to read the rest of the article.>>

We can’t help all 200 homeless people, but we can help this one pregnant woman that found our website last week.

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.
– Saint Maximilian Kolbe

For me, I become indifferent when a task seems too overwhelming. But right now, we are not faced with an overwhelming task. Our new client texted last night that she needs black pants and a white shirt to wear to her restaurant job.

Dominique had faith to turn away from abortion. We must have faith the Holy Spirit will show us how to meet her needs. So far her need is simple.

I love what she said when we first met up.

“When I looked for abortion and found you guys offering to help, well I thought that was God telling me to not get an abortion.”

It wasn’t just our words telling her not to get an abortion that made a difference. It was also that we offered to help her.

Image result for you can't save everyone catholic quotes

Dominique has a place to stay until Saturday evening, provided by the Red Cross.

We can take one day at a time and meet her needs as they surface. I will keep you posted.

<<Click here to donate towards Dominique’s care.>>

The nation… doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are. Edith Stein

Edith Stein’s quote helps us keep the right perspective. It is who we are and the love we bring to Dominique that will help her. That love will make a difference, and not simply what we have to give her.

It was only a few days ago that Dominique was searching online for abortion. Let us pray to the holy angels to surround her with their strength and protection so this fire does not weaken her resolve to stay pregnant.

Thank you for your support. God bless, Nancy 651 373-1205

First e-mail about Dominique with the subject line that she was drinking and ice skating:

Yesterday I picked up Dominique from a hotel in Minneapolis where homeless people stay. On our way to breakfast, she shared the story with me about needing a new hip. She was drinking and ice skating and kept falling.  A few days later, she couldn’t walk and eventually ended up getting a new hip.

She was looking for an abortion because she didn’t think her new hip could handle a pregnancy and she’s struggling with being homeless.

While waiting for our eggs to be served, we called the U of M and made an appointment with the OBGYN department that helps women facing complications from their pregnancy.

I asked her what made her decide to get off the abortion pathway.  She picks up her phone and shows me our ad that shows up when she types in abortion near me.  “I was searching for abortion and instead, I got you guys offering to help me.  I figured that was God’s way of saying I should stay pregnant.”  All Praise and Glory to God!

Feliticity’s Story

Here is a local story of God’s grace and mercy at work through Marriage Material ministry. Felicity searched for an abortion online a few weeks ago and found AbortionAdvice.net. When she called our number, no amount of help from us seemed to be enough to get her off the abortion pathway.  However, as I like to say… the seeds of hope had been planted. A few days ago she went online again searching, only this time it was to FIND us! Felicity remembered our offer to help.  She called back late last week asking if we could help her so she didn’t have to get an abortion.  PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Her biggest prayer request right now is to find a job in customer service.  Let’s pray that Our Lady opens a door for Felicity.  Just like the Holy Spirit opened her heart to this new life growing within her.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray and intercede for Felicity.  
Saint Juan Diego, pray and intercede for Felicity.
Saint John the Baptist, pray and intercede for Felicity.
Amen.

With you in prayer,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena – December 4 to December 12

Click here for the new Marriage Material novena to one of our patrons, Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I look forward to joining you in this powerful prayer starting today – Wednesday, December 4.

A novena (latin: novem, “nine”) is a nine day prayer sequence, most often in anticipation of a religious feast day.  It is an ancient form of devotional praying.  We will be asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe), the Holy Angels and our guardian angels during these nine days.  Our prayers conclude on December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

With you in prayer,

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material

Joyful Anticipation (cont. from Jennifer’s e-mail)

At times I was so excited I could hardly wait to hold the child in my arms.  Other times I was so tired it was hard to imagine enduring the coming months, childbirth or parenting a newborn.  Overall, laying my life aside and giving up my body for nine months in exchange for a new joy in our home was a welcome reality.

I realize this joyful anticipation is not a reality for all expectant moms.  An unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming and even devastating.

Terry called Abortion Advice recently. She grew up in foster care.   She had lost her job.  She has been so sick during pregnancy that she lost 25 pounds and was hospitalized.  She despaired; calling at 20 weeks pregnant because she found out the father of the baby is now in jail.  After a phone conversation, Terry agreed to meet up for lunch.  

At lunch two Marriage Material volunteers stepped into her life like sisters.  They shared in her suffering, offered support and hope.  She is now off the abortion pathway.  Praise be to God!  

Stay tuned for a new Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe starting December 4th.  As Mary anticipated Jesus’ birth for nine months, we will pray the nine days prior to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I will send an email with more details in early December.

Denise, Nancy & Terry

Father God, we praise and thank you for the gift of Terry.
We are grateful for her conversion of heart and willingness to give up her reality of life, for the sake of this child.  

Mary, mother of the unborn, you know the reality of an unexpected pregnancy.  
Hurrying off to your cousin Elizabeth for the support and love you needed.
As brothers and sisters in Christ,
we pray Terry sees the hope and light of Christ. 
May she anticipate the joy this new life will bring.  
May she experience true friendship, filial love and support during this time of preparation.  

As volunteers and prayer warriors, we are vessels of Christ’s light, love and mercy.  
We pray Christ’s light and love shine brighter than any circumstance or work of Mercy.

Amen.

With you in prayer.

Jennifer Smith
Prayer Program Facilitator
Marriage Material Ministry

Prayer Program

Our apostolate is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. John the Baptist as our Patron Saints. St. John the Baptist died defending marriage. And abortion is a spiritual battle that will be won by Our Lady of Guadalupe and the holy angels.

Mission Statement:  We are a pro-life organization offering hope and support to women in the Twin Cities who are searching online for abortions. We save babies from abortion and then explore the possibility of marriage or adoption.

Fr. Matthew Hincks said that worldwide there has been 1.5 billion (that is billion with a “B”) babies who have been aborted since 1980. He said that evil at this level could not be orchestrated by man.

This is the work of the fallen angels. So, since the horror of abortion has its origin on a spiritual plane, the victory over abortion will also be won on a spiritual plane. Fr. Matthew Hincks preaches that Our Lady of Guadalupe and the holy angels will defeat abortion.

Click here to sign up for our Prayer Program – thank you!

Inspirational piece about our program, our facilitator

My name is Jennifer Smith.  I am the new prayer program “facilitator,” and this letter is simply to do three things. First, I want to share with you how I arrived at this role. The second is to share with you a little about who I am. Most importantly, I hope this letter is the starting point for you and me to build a lasting friendship through this important work.

About 2 years ago I was introduced to the work of Marriage Material by invitation to the annual fundraising banquet. Immediately I felt drawn to support the work.  As I prayed along with many other people involved with this mission, I was humbled by God’s love at work through Marriage Material. 

Marriage Material is going head-on with our culture through their pro-life outreach.  To pick up the phone and respond “abortion advice”, to meeting a stranger for lunch in hopes of changing their hearts/minds, to countless hours of sacrifice, giving and relationship building…all this takes a total reliance on God.  And it takes faith that He will provide!  God not only blesses those who call, but he also blesses those who answer the call and those who go out to respond to the face of Jesus in the needy.

Through my own prayer and financial support of Marriage Material my heart has been opened to love others more dearly, to appreciate my own children and see God in those who are different from me.  This ministry is truly making a difference!

In the hopes of further supporting this ministry, a few months ago I offered to help Nancy build the prayer program.  As you know, prayer is at the heart of the pro-life movement. In the coming weeks and months, you will see communications from me requesting prayers or providing updates.  As the prayer group grows, we will be united in prayer for:

  • God to open the hearts of individuals who call the Abortion Advice phone line
  • guidance as Marriage Material volunteers respond to the needs of individuals who call
  • the resources to meet the needs of those who call
  • an end to abortion

Now a little about me. Below you will find a photo of my family. This is my husband Dave and our four children Chloe (7), George (6), Alice (4) and Robert (10 months).  About two years ago, after a successful 16-year career in healthcare, God called me to be home to support my husband and family.  He also clearly called us to the Stillwater community through Ark of Angels Preschool, St. Croix Catholic School and St. Michael’s Catholic Church.  We have been blessed immensely by the opportunity to belong to this vibrant community.

I thank you for your attention in reading this letter, and I look forward to getting to know you more. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the Prayer Program (or to receive a prayer candle – one of my personal favorite prayer accompaniments) you can email me at jsmithot04@gmail.com or call/text my cell phone at 651-271-1030.

Yours in Christ,

Jennifer