Life Letter
September 2012
Our Services:
 24 Hour Hot Line
 Free and Confidential
Pregnancy Tests
 Ultrasound
 Peer Counseling
METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY
Our Mission: Promoting the Value of Life
Life … Against All Odds
On July 3, 2012 we welcomed the birth of little baby Joshua whose mother
Lilly chose life despite intense and persistent personal hardship. We applaud
this courageous and beautiful mother and everyone at Life Choices who helped
bring her precious child into the world …
 Material Aid
 Post Abortion
Counseling
 Adoption, Medical &
Housing Referrals
"Beware that you
don’t look down
on
any of these little
ones.
For I tell you that
in heaven their
angels are always
in the presence
of my
heavenly
Father.”
Matthew 18:10
She had nothing of her own and no one that really cared about her—a newcomer to this country, betrayed by her lover on whom she depended for everything.
He threatened to throw her out because she refused to abort and now with one
child to care for and another on the way, the force of reality was beginning to
crush her resolve. Abortion seemed like the only solution even though she’d
already had one and was still reeling from the pain. With no one to turn to and
nowhere to go, how could she possibly make it on her own? So with a heavy
heart and abortion on her mind, Lilly picked up the phone and called Life
Choices. By the grace of God and the compassion of the hotliner, she made an
appointment, and kept it. It was the first of many visits with various counselors
and thanks to Deb—even her boyfriend agreed to come in. Unfortunately, he
wasn’t moved. At his insistence Lilly soon ended up at the local clinic, only to
call Deb in tears begging for a ride home. Her decision was final … she was
keeping her child.
But the devil doesn’t rest. A few weeks later Lilly was faced with the original
threats of homelessness and a new challenge in her pregnancy: gestational diabetes. She feared her life was in danger. So coupled with her fragile immigration status and absence of medical resources she again opened her heart to
abortion. She called the hotline looking for Deb and they suddenly found themselves back to square one. What happened next fills me with such pride, it’s
hard to put into words. An amazing convergence of counselors: Deb, Bunny,
Elaine, Maureen and Irma—all united in one effort to save Lilly’s child and resolve her complex issues: legal, medical, housing and spiritual. There was no
time wasted and no prayer left unsaid. Within two days Lilly met with an adoption agency right here in the office that promised to cover every expense of her
pregnancy. That was just one option, but there were others to explore. The
miracle was that she was once again willing to explore them. In the end Lilly
chose to care for Joshua herself. At this writing, mother and baby are doing just
fine. Our joy is so great it cannot be measured.
We give all Praise and Glory to God and we thank YOU for your
continued support and belief in Life Choices. We could not do this
work without you!
— Rosanda Grau
A.
Did you know? The Health & Human Services “Contraception” Mandate went into effect on August
1st, 2012, requiring virtually all health plans, including private religious institutions such as hospitals,
universities, k-12 schools etc., to cover abortion inducing drugs, contraception, & sterilization.
This forces employers to choose between violating their conscience and deeply held moral convictions
or dropping health care coverage for their employees.
Prayer for Protection of Conscience
Rights & Religious Liberty
Father, we praise you and thank you for your most precious gifts of
human life and human freedom. Touch the hearts of our lawmakers
with the wisdom and courage to uphold conscience rights and religious liberty for all. Protect all people from being forced to violate
their moral and religious convictions.
In your goodness, guard our freedom to live out our faith and to follow
you in all that we do. Give us strength to be bold and joyful witnesses.
Tributes
Tributes - Gifts of Hope
What better way to remember a loved one,
honor some one special or acknowledge a
special event?
I am enclosing a gift of hope in the
amount of $_______
This gift is__________________________________
(In memory of, In honor of, Birthday gift, to Celebrate…)
Name:_____________________________________
Address:___________________________________
My Name:_________________________________
My Address:_________________________________
Phone:_____________________________________
To send your own tribute, clip form and mail it with your
donation to:
Life Choices Resource Center
503 Main Street
Metuchen, New Jersey 08840
In Honor of
Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Zamorski’s
40th Anniversary
by: Elaine & Bob Yunker
In Loving Memory of
Rev. Michael McGuire
by: Grace & John Bertucci
In Loving Memory of
Edward Przybylek
by: Ronda & Paul Shaffery,
Honey Levine & Ed Sinatra
Don Harris
In Honor & Celebration of Robert Yunker’s
Ordination to the Diaconate, Diocese of Metuchen
by: Your friends at Life Choices
In Loving Memory of
Antonio Roubo
by: St. Peter’s Hospital I.T. Group
Maureen Scaturro,
Champion of Life
… Never Can Say Goodbye
The inscription on the cake said it all “Thank you, Maureen, W e Will Miss Y ou”.
As you begin your new life’s journey in Texas, we reflect with gratitude on the
many faithful years you have dedicated to Life Choices and the countless ways you
have contributed to making the Center the success it is today. Your legacy will
live on forever in the lives you have touched … whether they be mothers, babies,
counselors or volunteers. Anyone who knows you can attest to the fact that you
are an endless source of inspiration and knowledge someone we have always relied on for help. Your compassion, strength, wisdom and humility will be missed
more than you know, not to mention that infectious smile. With the heart of a
champion and the spirit of a child, it’s safe to say, you’re one of a kind … and we
love you! We wish nothing but the best for you and your family.
**Among her long list of accomplishments, Maureen has served as Director of Life
Choices Resource Center where she spearheaded the campaign for our first ultrasound machine. She was also the President of Middlesex County Right to Life, an
abstinence educator and an avid pro-life speaker on the college circuit. Throughout the years she has opened her home to many pregnant women and has been
instrumental in the creation of beautiful new families through the gift of adoption.
Maureen has also acted as a birth coach to several clients and has witnessed the
birth of at least seven children. She has a wonderful family of her own—her husband John and two beautiful daughters, Marion, 16 and Amiracle, 12.
God Bless You, Maureen!
Friends & colleagues gathered to bid Maureen a fond farewell
We will miss that SMILE!
Maureen with daughter Amiracle at a local parade
A “Saving” Grace …
“Give yourself fully to God. He will use
you to accomplish great things on the
condition that you believe much more in
His love than in your weakness.”
─ Mother Theresa
(July 3, 2012)* Today we were graced with what we call a “confirmed” save in Woodbridge (the
abortion clinic just a few miles from Life Choices). That’s when the mom who changed her mind
and decided to keep her baby stops and tells us as she is leaving.
It was very busy today in Woodbridge. The three of us were there praying together on the sidewalk
and reaching out with help to women and men who were going into the abortion mill. We’re guessing that it was because the mill would be closed tomorrow for the fourth of July. Two women were
in the car that entered the driveway about 9:15am. The driver dropped off the passenger and drove
away. In the short time the passenger was outside we offered her help and tried to persuade her to
change her mind and not go in but she did. We continued to pray. About three quarters of an hour
later, we noticed that she came outside and was on the ramp by the door talking on her cell phone.
Again, we offered her help and tried to persuade her to save her baby. She continued to talk on her
cell phone. After she talked for quite a while, her driver came back and picked her up. This was before the “doctor” had arrived. The car stopped in the driveway on the way out to accept the literature that we were offering.
When we asked her if she had changed her mind, she said “yes”. There were tears in her eyes but
her face was peaceful and we could sense her relief. It was so beautiful. She talked to us for a few
minutes from the car and she took the information for help. When she saw the brochure with information for adoption, she said that she didn’t need it because she was going to keep the baby.
Praise God and Thank Him! And thank all of you for your continued prayers because it is the prayers that change hearts and minds and ultimately, save the babies.
Because there is such joy when a baby is saved, please share this message. Saves renew our spirits.
*This article was written by a sidewalk prayer warrior and friend of
Life Choices who requested to remain anonymous
Do you have an abortion center near your home? Consider joining 40 Days for Life, an
international prayer campaign and historic display of unity where participants pray and fast for an end
to abortion. The next campaign runs from September 26th thru November 4th.
Visit 40DaysforLife.com for more information and to find a location near you.
A New Use For
An Old Machine
When we at Life Choices became the beneficiary of a new ultrasound machine this year, we pondered what should become of
the old one. It still was in working order and could offer service
elsewhere. One of our volunteers has a connection with missionaries in Uganda and we thought it would be a great asset to a
pregnancy center there. However, the cost of transporting it
there and the unreliable source of electricity made that an unlikely choice. That same volunteer, Darleen Chyu, recalled volunteer
Deb Vokral, Rhonda Mapes & Mary
opportunities at a pregnancy center through her church when she
Wolfram. They say “Hello” and we say
attended college in Ithaca, NY. We received our machine “Goodbye” to the old ultrasound machine.
through the efforts and generosity of many donations through
the Knights of Columbus. Since Ithaca is a liberal area, Darleen reasoned that perhaps funding wasn’t so readily available and they would benefit from our machine. “One day on a whim” she contacted the Ithaca Pregnancy Center and learned from Rhonda Mapes that, yes they have been praying
for an ultrasound for a new site for a second pregnancy center, and they specifically used the model
we had. After arranging all the necessary paperwork, Rhonda and friends made the journey to our
area on a weekend in May to pick up the machine and bring it to Ithaca. Unfortunately, the zoning
board rejected their plans for the new site and the machine is safely packed away awaiting a new
home. They continue to search for a new location that will meet with board approval. We join our
hopes and prayers with theirs that their new site, complete with ultrasound machine, will soon become a reality.
─ Carolyn Glodek
Help Wanted ...
Life Choices Resource Center is in URGENT
need of a volunteer ultrasound technician.
Training in OBGYN can be provided. Please
call us at (732) 516-0911 and ask for Carolyn.
Thank you and please keep in prayer all of
God’s children that we work so hard to
protect.
Faces & Places
Two separate groups from Cardinal McCarrick High School visited Life Choices in the spring. The Faith Alive group and
members of the Bishop’s School. It was truly a pleasure spending time with these young Defenders of Life!
Jo Flanagan and granddaughter Anna, who has
been volunteering with our
Helping Hands Ministry
Thank you to dear friend and volunteer
Lala Vadala who organizes a beautiful baby
shower for us in her church every year
Counselor Bunny Brinck-Lund is all
smiles with happy mom and baby.
Congratulations to Volunteer
Diane Strickland who
successfully became a
Nurse Practitioner
Rev. Carina & members of Most Holy
Redeemer Pro-Life Group hosted a
fantastic baby shower for Life Choices.
Thank you all for your
hard work and dedication!
Happy 85th
Birthday to
Gen Pfister,
tireless defender of
Life!
WE LOVE YOU!
“Am I too cute
or what?”
All Are Welcome to Walk, Stroll, Bike or Rollerblade
DJ-Refreshments-Prizes-Games-SERVICE HOURS
Visit LifeChoicesRC.com to download a pledge form
Please consider making a donation
even if you cannot attend the Walk.
Remember: All of our services are FREE
But the cost of staying open isn’t
Every dollar you pledge enables us to continue our mission of saving
babies’ lives & serving women & families … THANK YOU!
Name ______________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________
Pledge Amount ____________
Visa __ MasterCard ___ Check ___
____
____—____
EXP. DATE: ____
____
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
New Brunwick,NJ
Permit #40127
503 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 08840
[email protected]
(732) 516-0911
www.lifechoicesrc.com
Board of Directors
Deborah Vokral, Board Chair
Michael Gilligan, Treasurer
James Vokral, Secretary
Birger Brinck-Lund, Director
Bunny Brinck-Lund, Director
Rose Mary Lyons, Founder
James R. Leathem, Director
JoAnn Gerling, Director
Rene Cordero, Ph.D., Director
Janet A. Morana, Director
Dr. Leonie Watson, Medical Director
Sam Convery, Esq., Legal Advisor
“God loves each one of us,
as if there were only one of us”
- St. Augustine
We deeply appreciate your generous donations which enable us to continue educating women and
saving babies from abortion. We pray for your continued support and blessings in our mission of
Promoting the Value of Life. Thank You & God Bless You!
When Do I Qualify As A Person?
23 Weeks —I Have Dreams
20 Weeks —I Can Hear My Mother’s Heartbeat
11 Weeks —I Have Fingernails
6 Weeks — My Brain Becomes Active
21 Days — I Have A Heartbeat
Day 1 —
I have a SOUL
“Before I formed you in the
womb I knew you”
─ God