London Abortion Centre Closes After Nearly 11 Years of Daily Prayer Vigils

Marie Stopes Flagship, central London abortion centre closed down yesterday, Friday 28^th May. The 5 storey building in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia, named Marie Stopes House closed it’s doors on abortion just after noon, and sent its - now redundant - staff home with doughnuts and flowers.

Regular pro-life vigils began at this site in 2010. The first '40 Days for Life' Campaign in the UK began at Marie Stopes, Whitfield Street. The Good Counsel Network (GCN) had been working with Robert Colquhoun to get this off the ground. We had suggested this particular location to 40 Days because it was the Marie Stopes ‘flagship’ building. The building is the 'first descendant' of her first 'Birth Control Centre' in Holloway, London, which moved to Whitfield Street in 1925.

We also suggested Whitfield Street as the site for the first UK 40 Days Campaign because unlike the other abortion centres in London (there were 7 major abortion centres back then as opposed to a few dozen small ones now) this one had never had a regular pro-life vigil.

There was a large Helpers of God’s Precious Infants/Youth 2000 Vigil at the site on 28 December 2000 and over the years a few caring souls stopped there to pray a Rosary for mums of babies when they could.  The aim now was to establish a regular presence offering women alternatives to abortion.

The 40 Days Vigil, managed spectacularly by the wonderful Poppy, whose job it was to fill the schedule, went extremely well.  Several women changed their minds and kept their babies.

At the end of the 40 Days Campaign, GCN decided that in order to serve other women in need, we needed to have a presence there every day if possible and the daily vigil was born. This meant we would be there all year round offering women help and support.

The next Whitfield Street '40 Days' was a 24 hour vigil. One of GCN’s volunteers, Annabel, was working 25 hours a day to fill the schedule, and managed to against tremendous odds. We wrote here about this 40 Days Campaign and its stories, which involved reciting the Litany for Life at 7am surrounded by medical students from the building opposite the Marie Stopes Centre (Student Halls of Residence) who were sent out into the cold in their pyjamas by the fire alarm drill in their building.

The students had plenty of fun mocking our vigil too.

But we had the last laugh; the students were first years who arrived mid-September to find a 24 hour 40 Days vigil on their doorstep. When the vigil finished at midnight on the last day, the students opened their windows and blared “Bye bye baby” by the Bay City Rollers out at us. They cheered as we packed up and went home, glad to see the back of us. When they woke up the next morning our normal daily vigil was up and running. They stared at us crestfallen! 

Another thing we have never blogged about is how during one of several 40 Days at Whitfield Street Marie Stopes were doing internal building work. The builders often arrived very early, so Marie Stopes staff started leaving the clinic front door key in the flowerpot on the doorstep for the builders to let themselves in.

I kid you not - an abortion provider was leaving its front door key in a flowerpot on the doorstep overnight. And they were doing this during a 40 Days for Life Vigil, you know, with those allegedly violent, harassing pro-lifers standing opposite, observing.

It became a running joke between ourselves and the builders that the key was being left. And yet no pro-lifer ever interfered in any way with the abortion centre.

Many people witnessed this practise of leaving the key there. And we do have some photos. I will share one here of the key in the flowerpot. I’m sorry to report that yes, this is genuine, and yes the keyring is appropriately tasteless.

During our 11 years of praying at this site, we have been able to offer help to tens of thousands of women and provide ongoing support to many including Alina and Aurelia, who have shared their stories publicly. 

We have had to assist some women to seek hospital treatment for a variety of problems after their treatment here, including at least one case of missed ectopic pregnancy which ruptured after the woman left the centre.  We have also met many women who regretted taking the first abortion pill and were desperately hoping they could still carry their baby to term.

In recent years some Marie Stopes Staff have come to us seeking help to find alternative jobs. They told us they thought the job with MS would involve helping vulnerable pregnant women who were aborting because of difficult situations but found that they were often facing abusive clients with aggressive partners, and that there was a big focus on money rather than on client health or staff wellbeing.

Thankfully these staff were able to get out and get work.

They told us this branch may close soon. That was the beginning of the hopeful whisper ‘This branch may close soon!’ It echoed around our heads for probably 3 long years before it became a positive statement.

For a few years now we have been praying to GK Chesterton for the closure of this and other clinics.

In October 2017, the relics of Jacinta and Francisco were brought to the vigil.

In 2018 we held a 9 day novena of prayer and witness outside Marie Stopes, including a Eucharistic Procession to the abortion centre. We were joined over the 9 days by 29 priests and 1 deacon, and on the final day, the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel with Fr Stephen Boyle offering Mass in thanksgiving for the closure of this abortion centre (although it was not yet closed…)

There are some who will point to new MSI centres springing up like weeds as a reason why we should not rejoice at the closure of this centre. But we do rejoice, for the Mothers and children who have been hurt and killed there. And because we see the rush to open as many little centres as they can as what it is; a desperate attempt to increase the number of abortions and to reduce costs in an "industry" that has trouble recruiting and retaining staff at every level.

But for those who doubt God's hand in the closure of this centre, this is how we heard the news that the centre would close on Friday:

On Tuesday the following conversation appeared on our staff message group.  

Staff member Marco “Photographer is here at Marie Stopes taking photos of the building. It’s for an estate agents. I decided to stand aside in case they thought I came with the building”

Me: Lol! I really hope that is why he’s taking photos.

Marco: It is definitely no doubt. He is here on behalf of Chestertons Estate Agents. And the locals are all saying the staff have been made redundant Friday is their last day.

Me: Wow! Please God that’s all true. Chestertons Estate agents is that for real? You know they were actually owned by his GK Chesterton’s family (though they aren’t now).

Marco: Gosh I hadn’t even thought of what I was saying.

J: Google says its permanently closed.

Marco: I’m even flying the flag today (*attaches picture of his jacket*, see below)

Badge of Frances Chesterton, wife of G.K. Chesterton.

This is how we heard the news of the closing of the Whitfield St Abortion Centre.

By the way did I mention that Friday 28 May is the ‘Vigil’ of Chesterton’s Birthday? Meaning Whitfield Street will wake to an abortion free day, today - on GK’s Birthday.

A huge thank you to all the faithful staff, volunteers, vigil leaders, especially Siobhán the current Vigil leader, and all the Priests, religious, sisters and faithful pray-ers who have prayed and worked for the closure of this centre.

Gilbert & Frances Chesterton, pray for England, for the end of abortion and pray for us! Amen.

Clare McCullough

St George's Day 2021, 3rd Anniversary of Ealing Buffer Zone

The Feast of St George this year marks the 3rd Anniversary of the introduction of a Buffer Zone to reduce the effectivity of the pro-life Vigil in Mattock Lane. Since the Buffer Zone came into force, offers of help to women entering abortion centres have been removed from the immediate vicinity of the abortion centre entrance. The vigil is still allowed to operate on a small patch of grass 150 metres away from the Marie Stopes' abortion centre, but of course many women going for an abortion never see the pro-life vigil, nor know that it is there or what help it offers. During the first and third lockdowns the Vigil was not allowed to operate at all, while abortion figures rose and abortion centres remained open while also providing abortion pills via the post to women who could not travel. 

During the lockdowns we have had many women contacting us in distress to seek help or counselling after taking the abortion pill. Some have opted to seek medical help to try to reverse the effects of the pills they have taken, usually successfully. Others have contacted us after losing their child seeking a listening ear and moral support.

Today I have been speaking with Jenna, a young Christian mum who took the first abortion pill because her children's father is totally unwilling to commit to her and she is trying to work and study so she can support her children more fully. Without his support it is almost impossible. But she does not think it was the right decision. She has not taken the 2nd pill and is hoping she can keep her baby. She wept as she told me how hard it has been, how wrong she believes abortion is, but how she is struggling to cope. She wept even more as I told her about the help we can offer with childcare to enable her to complete her studies so that she can support her children, and how much support we can give her around this. "If only you were there to tell me about this when I went to the abortion centre" she said "I would never have taken that pill." 

Yes, if only.

3 years on from the establishment of the Buffer Zone, women who are coerced into abortion are more isolated and pressured than ever. Ealing Council has decided after their "Consultation" (if you read that document, you will understand why it seems a travesty to call it that) earlier this year to renew the Buffer Zone for another 3 years.

If you can help at our prayer vigils in Whitfield St, Central London and in the "Designated Area" on Mattock Lane, please get in touch here: info@goodcounselnetwork.com 

St George, Patron saint of England, slay the dragon of abortion and give Our Lady back her dowry!

9 Million Babies Lives Lost to abortion since 27th October 1967

The UK Abortion Act was passed in Parliament 53 years ago next Tuesday. Over nine million Babies have been aborted here since then. What will you do next Tuesday? 

You could join in our National Day of Prayer and Fasting for Life on this terrible anniversary. Invite your friends and Family to join us via this Facebook event.

Fast from all food except bread and water for the day

Or

Fast from a particular food or luxury, e.g. chocolate, alcohol, cigarettes, TV.

Fast from whatever you can given your state of health etc, but make sure it is something that involves a sacrifice to yourself.

We are asking people to say a Rosary (or an extra Rosary if you say it daily already).

You could also offer an extra effort such as going to Mass (or an extra Mass) on the day, or going to Adoration. You can even pray before a closed tabernacle if Adoration is not available near you

There are two Good Counsel Peaceful Pro-Life Prayer Vigils outside abortion centres in London that day, one in Ealing and one in Central London, telephone 02077231740 or email info@goodcounselnetwork.com for details and to book to attend. For vigils outside of London see; https://www.40daysforlife.com/vigil-search.aspx 

Wear something Pro-Life on the day and change your profile picture to something Pro-Life for the day, you could use one of these photos;

[You can buy the Blue badge here and the Pink one here]

Ending Abortion, Consecration to Our Blessed Mother

           ‘Nations will be annihilated’ but

‘In the end My Immaculate Heart will Triumph'

            In our last blog post we focused on the immense importance of Eucharistic Adoration in fighting abortion. Now we move on to the next most important weapon we have, which is Consecration to Our Blessed Mother.

In July 1917, Our Blessed Lady appeared to three Portuguese children in Fatima. The children were shown a vision of hell, following which, Our Lady told them "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace … I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays".

It is important to note that Our Lady said that the purposes of consecrating Russia to her were: to save sinners from hell and to bring peace to the world. It is also important that she said that if this Act of Consecration was not made and if devotion to her Immaculate Heart was not established in the world, that Russia would spread her errors around the world and nations would be annihilated.

The years following the message of Fatima saw the rapid spread of communism around the world and the influence of it even in countries that are not officially communist ruled. In the time between the apparitions at Fatima and the second world war, dictators such as Stalin and Hitler perfected the annihilation of nations. As well as war, abortion quickly became a means of destroying nations, particularly the communist nations of Eastern Europe, some of which had such high abortion rates that Doctors comment even now that to see women from some of those countries who have had 8 abortions is common and to see a woman who has had 20 abortions is not so unusual.

In the last years before his death Pope John Paul II made an Act of Consecration of the Whole World to Our Lady. Now there is no better way for us to be faithful to Our Blessed Lady’s request than by: a) living out this Consecration in our own lives, b) Consecrating all that we are and have personally to Our Lady and c) Establishing devotion to her Immaculate Heart in the world – particularly through the promotion of the devotion of the First Five Saturdays.

Through doing this you can be certain that you are assisting Our Lady to save souls from hell, you are helping to bring a true peace to the world and you are preventing the annihilation of nations, through euthanasia, abortion and all attacks on the sanctity of human life.

Fruits of Consecration to Our Lady

Ø St Louis Marie de Montfort’s preaching of the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary in the Vendee area in France resulted in a well-catechised laity, whose descendants fought and died for the Faith in large numbers. [Email us your postal address, UK only, to receive a free copy of St Louis Marie de Montfort's  booklet on how to prepare to make the Total Consecration, info@GoodCounselNetwork.com]

Ø St Maximillian Kolbe, who influenced millions of Catholics to live their faith fully, led the largest monastery in Europe, which was founded on the Consecration of oneself to Mary.

Ø Frank Duff, founded the Legion of Mary in 1921 also based on total Consecration to Mary, the Legion has produced 4,000 martyrs in China as well as 6 candidates for Canonisation.

Ø Pope John Paul II said that the Total Consecration to Mary changed his life.

The Devotion of the First Five Saturdays

Our Lady said: "Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the First Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me".

Later, on 29 May 1930, Our Lord explained to Lucia: "… There are five ways in which people offend and blaspheme against the Immaculate Heart of Mary; blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception, against her Virginity, and against the divine Maternity and the refusal to recognise her as the Mother of all mankind; blasphemies by those who seek publicly to implant in the hearts of children indifference, contempt and even hatred against this Immaculate Mother, and by those who insult her directly in her sacred images".

The devotion of the Five First Saturdays can be summarised as follows: sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, the recitation of five decades of the Rosary, meditation for fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary all with the intention of making reparation to Our Blessed Lady.

Let us therefore, out of love for Our Lady make this devotion our own! Praised be Jesus and Mary!

Eucharistic Adoration: The Way to End Abortion

 

           The Eucharist is the focal point of the Catholic faith because it is Jesus present with us here on earth today. In the Eucharist, Jesus prolongs His presence on earth and most completely fulfils His words: “Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Mt. 28:20)

            The Eucharist is Jesus’ greatest expression of His love for us. Jesus expresses His love for us in three ways in the Eucharist: by re-presenting His sacrifice of the Cross in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, by uniting His life with ours in Holy Communion, and by giving us the gift of continual presence in the Blessed Sacrament. This is another way of saying that the Eucharist is a threefold sacrament, i.e,. it confers grace in three different ways. We will focus here on the third way. Prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is efficacious, and it is the way to secure the graces necessary to put an end to abortion in the world. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “ If people spent an hour a week in Eucharistic adoration, abortion would be ended.”

            Of the many graces received by prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the greatest by far is the sanctification of the adorer. Young people should be encouraged to spend time before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In that way they will fortify themselves against temptations against chastity, which when succumbed to, often lead to the sin of abortion.

            Pope Paul VI said that Eucharistic adoration cultivates in the soul “a ‘social’ love by which the common good is given preference over the good of the individual.” This heightened social conscience makes one more aware of the immense dignity of every human person; it allows one to see clearly that every human person is uniquely created and specially loved by God. Such a sensitised conscience finds abortion abhorrent and could never hold a “pro-choice” position.

            Pope John Paul II, in a recent letter commemorating the 750^th anniversary of the first celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi, said, “through adoration the Christian mysteriously contributes to the radical transformation of the world.” This is a powerful statement that affirms the awesome power of Eucharistic adoration, the power that will transform our “culture of death” into a culture of life. Eucharistic adoration is the most powerful means one can employ to win graces for the conversion and salvation of those involved in abortion and other sins against human life. Blessed Dina Belanger was told by Jesus in a vision that a multitude of souls were saved from the fires of hell by her Eucharistic holy hours of prayer.

           

The heart of the apostolate of every pro-life worker should be a weekly Eucharistic holy hour dedicated specifically to the end of contraception, abortion and euthanasia throughout the world. It is necessary to pray first for the end of contraception because abortion and euthanasia are logical and natural consequences of contraception. If man dares to usurp God’s prerogative and determine when life begins, it follows that he will also dare to determine when it ends.

            Putting an end to abortion is just one of many reasons why every parish should have perpetual Eucharistic adoration. Perpetual Eucharistic adoration is the “devotion of devotions.” It provides an easy and convenient means for everyone in the parish to spend at least an hour a week with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I urge all Catholic pro-lifers to encourage their pastors to start perpetual adoration in their parishes.

[Sign up to commit to an hour of Adoration of the most Blessed Sacrament for the work of the Good Counsel Network, once a week. You can fulfil this in any Church of your choice.]

© Rev. Victor P. Warkulwiz, M.S.S., National Director of the Apostolate for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. For more information contact:

APOSTOLATE FOR PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

MISSIONARY PRIESTS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

P.O. BOX 1428, BENSALEM, PA 19020, USA.    PH:215.244.9211   FAX: 215.244.9211

E-MAIL: apea@webtv.net 

Prayer, Adoration, Lock-down and Abortion

Saint Teresa of Calcutta said “If people spend one hour per week in Eucharistic Adoration, abortion would be ended”. Just think about that for a moment, “abortion would be ended”. Somewhere in the region of 200,000 lives would be saved every year in the UK alone.

Jesus Christ is truly present in The Blessed Sacrament and we receive Him, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity at Mass and we can really Adore Him in the Monstrance at Adoration. If we spend time praying in the physical presence of God is it any wonder that Saint Teresa said “abortion would be ended”.  Before the lock-down started we would have Eucharistic Adoration five days a week in The Good Counsel Network’s Chapel. We have now missed over 200 hours of Adoration. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of hours of Adoration have been missed in Churches up and down the country. It is good that people are finding ways to pray online, live streamed Masses, Adoration, retreats etc. But it is not the same, it is a bit like the difference between going to visit your family and talking to them on the phone or online. We need real contact; we need to Adore God in the Blessed Sacrament.

We all have things we are waiting to see re-open as lock-down is relaxed. My wife, son and myself  have spent a bit of time in the book shops now they have re-opened. I will ‘waste’ some time watching football in due course, (according to my wife). This is all good and well and I trust you can add to the list for yourself. But let us remember that this will not end abortion. So let us be clear with a plan now, such as. ‘Now churches are re-opening, I will go and spend an hour a week in Eucharistic Adoration and if no parish near me has Adoration I will pray in front of the Tabernacle, knowing that Jesus Christ is there.’ If you have been unable to get to Confession during lock-down, go before public Masses start up again (many priests are now offering it on request).

Abortion centres have remained open during lock-down and the government have unbelievably allowed D.I.Y. abortions at home, with the abortion centres posting abortion pills to women they have never even met or examined. The abortion figures for last year are the worst on record, the even easier availability of home abortions as well as those in abortion centres during the difficult weeks of lock-down will be likely to mean this year’s figures will be even higher. We really need to make up for lost time with Our Lord as churches re-open and make up for lost ground in the fight against abortion.

The Good Counsel Network has two prayer rotas. You can join our Rosary Rota where you say a Rosary for our work once a month, we will send you the date and which Mysteries to say to ensure that we have people praying each day for the Mothers that we are helping. You can join our Adoration Rota where you agree to do an hours Adoration each week in a Church of your choosing. You can sign up for one or both of these Prayer Rotas here; https://goodcounselnet.co.uk/sign-up-for-info

52 Years of Abortion

Sunday 26^th April is the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel, which is the 52^nd anniversary of the last day in Britain when it was illegal to perform abortions. Please say the prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel, on this her Feast day: http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/Our-Patron-Saints.html  or see below.

 

Monday 27^th April, is the 52^nd anniversary of the abortion act coming in to effect. Since then, over 9 million babies have been aborted in the United Kingdom. Please join us that day in praying and fasting* for the end of abortion in this Country. Normally thousands of people would hear about our National Days of Prayer and Fasting for Life through their Parishes, with notices and posters. Sadly at this time, this will not happen, would you therefore please forward this email to family and friends and go onto the Facebook event and click Going and then click Share and then use the Invite option to invite others. Thank you. https://www.facebook.com/events/3035268766567721/

The March for Life have said, "27th April marks the very sad anniversary of the abortion act UK. When you go out for your exercise be a prolife witness by wearing a pro-life t-shirt!"

 

And SPUC, who would normally have thier Pro-Life Chains this weekend have also called for a day of prayer on Monday.

Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel:

O, Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are led by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking thee by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel we beseech thee to come to our assistance, when along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray.

Do Thou, O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, Enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good, render them steadfast in the face of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin.

O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from Thy Divine Son a great love of Virtue and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation. If Thy hand sustains us, we shall walk unmolested long the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus our Redeemer; and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the sun of truth and justice under Thy Maternal Star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with Thee in the Haven of Salvation. Amen.

*As we are in the Easter Season please limit your fasting to some small sacrifice.