2014-03-27 Updated - Upcoming Pro-Life Events and News Washtenaw County and Beyond!

Partial list as of March 26th, 2014 Compiled by Sandie Weathers

PREGNANT?  Know someone who might be? Find out for sure. Free and confidential services for all ages including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds to date and confirm pregnancy and options counseling. Where: Arbor Vitae, downtown Ann Arbor located at the corner of State and Liberty (below Starbucks) When: Monday and Thursday 9am-4pm; Tuesday 2pm-8pm How: Walk in or make an appointment online at http://arborwoman.com/request-an-appointment/ Questions: Call 734-994-8863.

40 Days For Life News:

253 communities across North America and around the world began 40 Days For Life 2014 Spring Campaigns on Ash Wednesday, March 5th and will conclude on Palm Sunday, April 13th. 40 Days for Life (40 DFL) is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion.

Ann Arbor: We are again holding a prayer vigil at the Ann Arbor Planned Parenthood Facility, 3100 Professional Drive. To sign up for an hour of prayer at Planned Parenthood, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/annarbor.html.   For add’l info contact Campaign Director, Kate Astrakhan at kateastrakhan@gmail.com or 734-249-4944. LIKE us on FB:  www.facebook.com/40daysforlifeannarbor    International website: http://www.40daysforlife.com/

Ann Arbor: Please join us, Saturday, March 29^th at 11:30 am at Planned Parenthood, 3100 Professional Drive, Ann Arbor for Byzantine Catholic Pro-Life Activism--Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God. For centuries, Eastern Christians, both Orthodox and Eastern Catholic, have prayed the Akathist Hymn to ask the intercession and protection of the Mother of God. Therefore, it is the perfect prayer to use for the purpose of asking for the Blessed Virgin's assistance in defeating the culture of death. FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1409424212653395/?notif_t=plan_user_invited.

Ann Arbor: Visit by Steve Karlen from National 40 Days for Life team on Wednesday, April 2^nd at 9:00 AM - Steve will be visiting all of the Michigan 40 DFL sites in a whirlwind tour of our state.  Steve was instrumental in having abortions stopped at a Wisconsin hospital and is now on the National 40 DFL team. Come and hear Steve’s inspiring stories.

Southfield: The Spring/Lent 2014 40 Days for Life campaign at Womancare of Southfield, starts March 5 (Ash Wednesday) and ends at 4 p.m. on April 13 (Palm Sunday).  We are emphasizing the Fasting aspects along with the Prayer at the vigil site (and elsewhere).

Our Lady of Czestochowa - the Black Madonna, coming to Michigan locations:

 -March 26 – SS. Peter and Paul Church (West Side) in Detroit, MI
-March 27 – Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lapeer, MI
-March 28 – Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Sterling Heights, MI
-March 29-30 – St. Isidore’s Church in Grand Rapids, MI
-March 31 – St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lansing, MI

The Black Madonna has been traveling the world since 2012 defending LIFE and for the pro-life movement. More details will be coming! Learn more at the Ocean To Ocean Campaign In Defense of Life at http://www.hli.org/hli_campaigns/ocean-ocean-pilgrimage/

The 40 Film is showing on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday, March 30th at 4:00 pm at Madonna University’s Franciscan Center (Room S100) at 36600 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI 48150. This documentary investigates the effects of abortion over the last 40 years. Open to all students, faculty and community members, with babysitting for families with children available. Watch trailer at: www.the40film.com. Dr. Monica Miller, Director of Citizens for a Pro-life Society, Madonna University professor and author of Abandoned: The Untold Story of the Abortion Wars will be present at both screenings. Admission is a free will donation. Buy tickets here: http://40-film-screening-madonna.eventbrite.com/. For info contact: Marisa Rosenbaum at respect.life@my.madonna.edu or 248-825-7395. or 248-825-7395.

Pregnancy Helpline Annual Celebration of Life will take place April 3, at 6:30PM. Nationally renowned speaker and former abortionist Dr. Levatino and his wife Ceil will keynote the annual Pregnancy Helpline Celebration of Life fund and awareness raising celebration. The event will also feature our famous Appetizer & Dessert Buffet, Baskets for Life Challenge, Silent Auction, a client testimony, great music, and more! Where:  The Brighton Church of the Nazarene - 7669 Brighton Rd, Brighton. Cost:  $20 each - groups of 10 or more $18 each. Pastors and a guest Free!

RLM Annual High School Oratory Contest, sponsored by Washtenaw & Western Wayne County RTL, will take place on Saturday, April 5^th at Domino's Farms, EBA Cafe (lobby H, lower level). Obtain application, promotional flyer, rules & regulations go to: http://www.rtl.org/faith_school/oratory/oratorycontest.html. Or contact Karen Walacavage at (734)930-7474 or email:kwalacavage@rtl.org.

On Thursday, April 10th, the Knights of Columbus Michigan State Council will be hosting the 36th Annual Respect Life Dinner to benefit the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund. This year our special guest speaker is Chris Godfrey, Life Athletes Founder and President.  The Burton Manor in Livonia is located at 27777 Schoolcraft 48150. Social hour begins at 6:00 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm. Register on line at http://rtl.org/events/kofc/respectlife.html. For more details contact www.rtl.org or respectlife@rtl.org or (248) 371-0466. RSVP by Friday, March 28^th.

Save the Date: Come join Madonna University’s Respect Life Group for a Pro-Life Youth Conference “Save the Storks” on Saturday, April 12^th from 10-3:00 p.m. This is open to all high school students, college students and young adults. The cost is $15.00 per person ($10.00 Madonna University students). Please contact the Educational Center for Life, at 248-816-8489 or to go to www.edcenterforlife.org. Registration begins on February 3^rd. Location: Franciscan Center, 36600 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia 48150.

Good Friday “Way of the Cross” at Planned Parenthood in Ann Arbor

Please join us for The Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion, on Good Friday, April 18th at 10:00 am at Planned Parenthood, 3100 Professional Drive in Ann Arbor. Through His Holy Passion, Our Lord united Himself with all the victims of suffering in this life. None suffer more innocently than children in the womb whose lives are taken by abortion. None suffer more deeply than their mothers, who carry such a burden of guilt and shame. On Good Friday we remember all the victims of abortion—the children lost, the mothers wounded, the communities blighted—in a solemn, ecumenical prayer service. More info: Call or email Sandie Weathers at 734-434-8447 or prolifeactionnetwork@gmail.com.

Right to Life – LIFESPAN’s Annual “Celebrate Life” Dinner will be on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at the San Marino Club in Troy.  Doors open at 5:45 p.m. with dinner at 7:15 p.m.  There will be a Silent Auction and “Tin Can Raffle”.  Cost is $25.00 per person for 21 years old and younger, $50.00 per person for over 21 years old.  The keynote speaker is Ryan Bomberger, Radiance Foundation CEO.  Ryan’s mother was raped, yet she courageously chose to give him Life.  He was adopted as a baby and grew up in a loving, multi-racial Christian family of 15.  With siblings of varying ethnicities, he grew up with a great appreciation for diversity.  Ten of the 13 children were adopted in this remarkable family.  His life defies the myth of the “unwanted” child as he was adopted, loved and has flourished.  He and his wife, Bethany, have four adopted children.  The Radiance Foundation has made an unexpected impact on the Pro-Life Movement with the bold TooManyAborted.com billboard/web campaigns.  Please call 248-816-1546 or e-mail oakmac@rtl-lifespan.org for further details about the dinner.  Reservations are required in advance.

Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund is hosting a Youth Infographic Contest for high school and college-aged Michigan youth. Prolife youth from Michigan ages 13 to 22 as of July 1, 2014, can create and submit an original infographic, and contest finalists will have their works shared on the RLM FB page and judged by a public vote to determine the winners. An infographic is a graphic or visual representation of information, data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. Contestants will be split into two divisions, 13-17 and 18-22 with a first division prize of $300 and second division prize of $500. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, July 1, 2014. For info and application go to: .http://www.rtl.org/faith_school/infographiccontest.html

Family Life Services is in need of maternity clothing in all sizes and 3T-6 boys/girls clothing. If you have these items (new or gently used) and would like to donate them to a family in need, please drop them off at the center during our open hours. Tax receipts are available. FLS is located at 2950 Packard Road in Ypsilanti. Info contact Emily at (734) 434-3088.

To be added to the Prolife Action Network email group and receive updates for Life Chain,

Local Pro-Life Events and Religious Liberty Issues and Events

and to submit info on a Pro-Life event:

Contact Sandie Weathers prolifeactionnetwork@gmail.com or

Marilyn Geyer at 734-973-2422 or mgeyer@provide.net

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