First Fruits Friday - Standing For Life
”Standing for Life: A Personal Experience of Sidewalk Advocate Ministry at Seneca” By Ziemek Janaszek
I got to Columbus in October 2022, ready for my Pastoral Year assignment and excited about the ministry opportunities. There were several ways to get involved, such as the school, the outreach center, youth groups, and a young adult group, but Seneca, a women’s center, caught my attention. I had always wanted to be part of this type of ministry because it’s a signi"cant challenge. One day, I joined a group of men from the Knights of Columbus, praying the rosary outside an abortion facility. I was struck that the facility shared a parking lot with Seneca. Although I had previously visited a facility in Florida with my fellow seminarians, this experience was different. That day was an abortion day, and I saw many women arriving to seek the procedure. The scale of abortion in the United States is enormous, with more than 600,000 abortions performed in 2021, according to the CDC (as someone from Poland, where abortion is illegal, the statistics were quite shocking to me). But being present and seeing women walking into the facility was overwhelming. It was a powerful reminder of the gravity of the issue and the need for compassionate outreach through prayerful intervention and tangible support for those women and their families. Despite the emotional weight of the experience, I felt a sense of purpose in being there to pray for them and their unborn children. This encounter profoundly impacted me. I decided to attend a Sidewalk advocate training to fight for the dignity and sanctity of human life.
Training and My First Experience
Sidewalk advocate training is an intensive process where you get prepared to speak confidently and compassionately about the value and sanctity of human life. During the training, you learn how to engage with people from different backgrounds, listen actively, and respond respectfully to objections. The training also includes knowledge about the legal and ethical aspects of advocating for pro-life. Armed with this knowledge and skill set, as a sidewalk advocate you are able to approach people on the streets, at abortion clinics, or in other public places with confidence and empathy. You can help change their hearts and minds, inspire hope, and encourage women to choose life for their unborn children. After completing the training, I embarked on my first experience as a Sidewalk advocate. It wasn’t difficult to talk to people, but resisting the urge to judge them and their families was even more challenging. I saw young women coming to the facility alone or with their boyfriends, husbands, or parents. It wasn’t easy to comprehend, and I struggled to process it all. I had so many questions for God: Why was this happening? Why are You allowing it? As I waited for the next client to arrive, I constantly prayed, asking God to allow me to save at least one child. It was a small prayer that gave me a great deal of meaning. One day, a 19-year-old girl came to the facility, but instead of entering the abortion center, she decided to use the services at Seneca. She had a free ultrasound and was informed she was eight weeks pregnant. Despite speaking with a professional counselor, she still decided to undergo the procedure. Luckily, her appointment was rescheduled to Saturday (which was two days away). I approached her in her car, where she was sitting, shaking, and nervously looking around. I introduced myself and asked if she was a nurse as I noticed she had a school badge hanging from her rearview mirror. She said yes, and I pointed out the irony that someone who studies to save and protect lives is considering an abortion. I asked her if she thought the procedure would bring back her smile in the picture on her badge. She replied with a “no.” I realized I might make a difference in her choice. I finished with a short prayer asking God for peace and clarity, hoping she would make a good decision.
I returned to the rectory that day and prayed harder than ever for God’s intervention to save a child and protect that young girl from a traumatic experience that would impact her entire life. I begged that she wouldn’t come to her appointment on Saturday, and to my surprise, she didn’t. I don’t know what happened to her, but this experience deepened my understanding of the role of spiritual fatherhood in a priestly ministry.
Seneca: A Place of Hope and Ministry for Pregnant Women
Now, let’s talk about Seneca. It is an incredible place that offers pregnant women valuable resources and support. Not only do they provide assistance during pregnancy, free pregnancy tests, and ultrasounds, but they also offer financial support, counseling, clothing, and more, for the mother and child after birth. I am amazed at how heroic the staff and volunteers are in supporting women facing tough decisions. They offer reliable information that empowers women to make informed choices about their pregnancies. Seneca is also an excellent opportunity for those who want to defend life. In 2022 they witnessed 205 babies’ lives spared. You can join a prayer group or visit anytime to pray for mothers and their unborn children. If you want to get more involved, you can volunteer or receive free training to become a Sidewalk advocate. This ministry is fulfilling and impactful, and it also serves as a path to healing for those who have had abortions or were involved in the process. While we believe that God is always merciful and forgiving, extending that same compassion and forgiveness to ourselves can be incredibly challenging. Many volunteers have been able to experience self-forgiveness through this ministry.