This Saturday: Helpers of God's Precious Infants Vigil

I cannot make this vigil, but I hope people in metro Detroit will join Bishop Hanchon and others this coming Saturday.  It is Divine Mercy Saturday - a good time to remember the mercy and compassion needed to fight for life in a culture of death.

These are prayer vigils, not protests.  There are no signs; only the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Crucifix are seen at these vigils.  The aim is to pray, not just for the mother, but for those pushing her to abort her child, the abortionist, and staff.  Helpers of God's Precious Infants has considerable success in persuading mothers to follow through with their pregnancies.  They never condemn, or force women to take materials, some of which encourage them to visit crisis pregnancy centers that can help them with most of their needs.

This gives me an opportunity to point out that Imago Dei Crisis Pregnancy Center that was on 7 Mile Rd. in Detroit is now in Warren on Schoenherr Rd. between Common and 13 Mile Rd.   They take donations and always welcome volunteers.  Spread the word about their new location.

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Archbishop Vigneron leads pro-life prayer vigil in drenching rain

Detroit's Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron (front, pectoral cross visible) leads the prayer vigil

The Helper's of God's Precious Infants of Michigan holds several larger prayer vigils from spring to fall, in addition to daily sidewalk counseling and prayer that members do outside of two abortion mills in close proximity to one another.  They are both on 8 Mile Road - one on the Eastpointe side and the other on the Detroit side about a block or two apart.

[Note: Photos may be used online with attribution to me; news sources wanting to use photos for print should contact me at TeDeumBlog@gmail.com for high resolution pics].

The day starts out with Mass at 7:30 am, usually celebrated by a bishop of the diocese, or other leader, and it is followed by a Rosary procession under the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe (see Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Pro-life Movement).  All 20 mysteries of the Rosary are prayed in procession and in front of the two mills before vigil concludes with Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament around 10:15 am.

It was a challenge at times to photograph due to the subdued lighting in St. Veronica's Parish, but it all worked out.  I do not use flash during Mass, and the high ISO can make photos grainy.

Only some of the photos are embedded here.  A link at the bottom will take you to the full gallery.

St. Veronica Parish in Eastpointe is packed at 7:30 am for the Mass

The First Reading: 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Beloved:
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example
for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples:
"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

"Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."

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Archbishop Vigneron delivers an "off the cuff" homily.

Here are some notes from Archbishop Vigneron's homily. 

Archbishop Vigneron, speaking of the First Reading (1 Tim 1:15-17), reminded us that that we are all sinners. Then reflecting on today’s Gospel reading (Luke 6:43-49) he also recalled how every tree is known by its own fruit. While we are all sinners, “we are expected to bear good fruit.” Without a solid foundation, we are like the tree that produces nothing and is cut down.


After recalling in the First Reading how St. Paul considered himself the first among sinners, the Archbishop said, “implicitly then, we all get in line behind him.” He then pointed out that God did not leave us after, "The Fall”, giving us the Holy Spirit to assist us in the way spoken of by St. Paul in his letter to Timothy, “Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life." The point that he drilled home was that, just as God is patient and merciful with us – as weak and sinful as we are - we must be a witness to these things for others. In this way, “we are transformed and become the good tree that bears good fruit." Archbishop Vigneron emphasized the need for humility because without the grace of the Holy Spirit we would not be able to do the work. He explained that the good work we came to do today – to pray outside of two abortion mills – must be done with humility, as cooperative instruments of God.



The Archbishop of Detroit then discussed the assuredness with which we must do this good work. He assured us that our work, in cooperation with God’s grace, will bear some good fruit, not necessarily visible to us. He then gave a gentle admonishment, “We do not boast of that for our own sake. This is not the reason for what we might call, ‘pro-life trash-talk.’ You don’t do that. We act humbly as instruments of God’s purpose.” Before ending his homily, Archbishop Vigneron encouraged us to look to the Blessed Virgin Mary as an example. She cooperated with God’s will with humility and without hesitation in all that He wanted of her.

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The Elevation of the Host

After the Mass, the procession began.  Rain came down in sheets as we exited the parish church.  It is about 5 blocks or so to 8 Mile Boulevard.

Through some of these photos you will see priests and sisters from a number of orders.  It is often difficult for diocesan priests to participate because of funerals and other duties which often fall on Saturdays. As Archbishop Vigneron pointed out today, seminarians of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) have entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary and are living locally. I was able to speak to some of them after Benediction and if memory serves, there are 16 members from the order here in Detroit.  Several were at the vigil, visible in their light to medium gray habits under ordinary coats.  Please keep them, and all seminarians at Sacred Heart in your prayers.

Archbishop Vigneron is seen with the pectoral cross.  He is flanked by other priests who will all take turns leading a decade through walkie-talkies.  These are distributed throughout the crowd so the leader can be heard.

Both Eastpointe Police and Detroit Police provided safe passage across the busy 8 Mile Boulevard
remaining nearby until all were headed back

After some time facing the Eastpoint abortion mill, the crowd walked another block or two and faced the Detroit side where there is a second abortion mill (again escorted by police from the two cities).

As most of the crowd was outside, back at St. Veronica's, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament took place and those who could not walk the distance remained in prayer.

Just as the procession ended back at St. Veronica's the rain ceased.  They are completing their prayers.

President of HGPI-Michigan, Dan Goodnow holds a walkie-talkie
for Archbishop Vigneron who addressed the crowd before giving a blessing.

Fr. Stanley Pachla, pastor of St. Veronica's, ends the vigil with Benediction

Above the baldacchino of the original altar at St. Veronica's is this painting of...  St. Veronica

There are many more photos, even though I was hindered by rain.  Please visit my Smugmug gallery for this event here:

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Photopost from the June 25, 2011 prayer vigil in front of abortion clinics in Detroit

Fr. Eduard Perrone leads the summer 2011 Helper's of God's Precious Infants Prayer Vigil

Assumption Grotto's pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone led the summer prayer vigil for the Helpers of God's Precious Infants of Michigan. 


What follows is a photo slideshow, and a link to the online gallery if you cannot view the slideshow or want to look through them at your own pace. 

Here is an audio clip of Fr. Perrone's homily which packed an awful lot in less than 7 minutes. 

Here is the slideshow.  I recommend setting it to "fast" and it will cycle through at a nice pace. There are some seemingly redundant photos, but some of these were taken for stock photos and the slideshow function only lets me create what is in the folder.

Here is a direct link to the gallery if you prefer to click through them one at a time. You might want to click through other vigils and pro-life events I have photographed in recent years, in my Culture of Life tab.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Helpers of God's Precious Infants Prayer Vigil this Saturday

These events by the Helpers, usually draw several hundred people. Please come and join the peaceful prayer event.

In my inbox, for this Saturday in metro Detroit

Dear friends of Helpers of God's Precious Infants:

The next Prayer Vigil for Life will held on Saturday, June 25th. The celebrant of the Holy Mass will be Fr. Eduard Perrone, pastor of Assumption Grotto Church and will also be held there, followed by the rosary procession to the 2 abortion mills on E. Eight Mile.

Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will conclude the vigil back at the church and refreshments will be served afterwards in the school.

These formal prayer vigils are so very important and we pray that you will attend if you possibly can, and ask your help by spreading the word and inviting all your family, friends, priests and parish, and all of your prolife internet contacts. Attached are copies of the flyer for your perusal.

Thanks and God bless you - hope to see you there!

Mary B.
Helpers of God's Precious Infants of Michigan

To see photographs from several of these events, visit my section for the Helpers of God's Precious Infants prayer vigils. This includes photos from the last event, led by then bishop-designate, Byrnes - Detroit's new auxiliary bishop.

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Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Photopost: Mass with Bishop-designate Byrnes and Helpers of God's Precious Infants prayer vigil



The weather predicted for this year's first Helpers of God's Precious Infants prayer vigil was pretty initimdating.  Threats of heavy downpours, high winds, coupled with cold more suitable to March than April was predicted.  This, I'm sure played in the minds of many who wondered whether to venture out.  I've covered many of these events by HGPI-Michigan and they normally net about 200 on up to 700 or more.  This was one of the lower turnouts I've seen at about 100, but given the weather predictions, understandable.  It was no surprise to us that the worst of it happened as we came in for Mass, then things seem to come to an end by the time we got out there.  Only a light drizzle hit us at times near the beginning and it was warmer than I expected.

Bishop Francis Reiss was originally scheduled to have the Mass and lead the Rosary procession on 8 Mile Blvd, but he had a scheduling conflict.  Bishop-designate Michael Byrnes, who will be consecrated as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Detroit on May 5th, stepped in for the Mass, but could not stay for the vigil.  I am quite hopeful to see him lead a full vigil in the future. The Helpers of God's Precious Infants is very good about engaging diocesan hierarchy and here in Detroit they have all been generous in participating.

A few people were curious about the zucchetto seen in this first photo soon after Mass began.  The zucchetto is among the episcopal regalia that a bishop-designate may wear after he is named, before his ordination.  Consider how seminarians are often seen wearing clerical collars before they are ordained. 




I had brought a recorder for the homily so I could pass a long a few notes, but forgot to turn it on. 

Seen in this photo below, as the gifts are brought up, is the pastor of St. Barnabas in Eastpointe, Rev. Clarence E Williams, C.PP.S.

Truly, it is Our Lord who is at the center of this next photo.

Following Mass, participants commuted a short distance to St. Veronica's in Eastpointe which is just a few blocks from the abortion clinics.  All 20 mysteries of the Rosary are prayed along the route and in front of two clinics about a block apart, on either side of Eight Mile.  A priest of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross who was there, led the vigil.

For those who have not been to such a prayer vigil, it is not a protest.  No signs are permitted and only the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe is carried, along with a crucifix lead the way.  They not only pray for the women heading in for abortions, but for those encouraging them, the abortionists and staff.  The figures for "turns", or those who choose to have their baby after alternatives are presented to them, numbers into the thousands over the years that HGPI has been at work in Detroit.  Besides these prayer vigils, there is a core group of people, from sidewalk counselors to prayers warriors who are out there daily. 

During every prayer vigil there is Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  Here we see the monstrance on the altar at St. Barnabas where a number of people who could not go out remained with Our Lord.

After Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament, there is a brief meeting with refreshments for those who can stay, to discuss the work of the Helpers and the days work.

That concludes the photos taken at this event.  If I heard correctly, the next vigil is planned for June 25th so mark your calendars.  Details to follow.

If you want to see more photos from past events, start with this one led by Archbishop Vigneron last September. More links are at the bottom of that post.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.