Summer 2011 Building a Culture of Life Issue 2

Inside: JPII - a Prototype for Life! Scriptural Thanks to our SupportersPMS root cause identified by NaPro

Lori Mazzurana is one of The John Paul II Life Center’s first and most valued volunteers! Join us today! Email volunteer@JPIILifecenter.org or call 512-243-7929.

Annette* thought she might be pregnant and, since she’d had past abortions, sought another at an Austin abortion facility. But, facility workers said they couldn’t help.

A Coalition for Life sidewalk counselor offered help. When Annette accepted, she was brought to The John Paul II Life Center where Dr. Kalamarides performed a free 4D ultrasound. She was 30 weeks pregnant.

Annette asked if he would be her obstetrician and he agreed.

The John Paul II Life Center connected her with the Gabriel Project where she said she wanted to make an adoption plan. So,

when she delivered a healthy baby boy, he was placed with Marywood.

What an amazing God we have! He worked through four Life groups to provide hope to Annette and

life to her son. Your continued prayers and

support make stories like this possible. Thank you!

*Name changed to protect client’s privacy.

Lori Mazzurana

Putting passion into actionShowing Heartbeats = Saving Lives and Souls! Thoreau wrote, “One is not born into the

world to do everything, but to do something.” In addition to her work as a marketing consultant, wife and mother of two young boys, Lori Mazzurana also volunteers with The John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic. In other words, Lori does more than her share of “something.”

She was drawn to the Vitae Clinic because she had a difficult time finding an OB/GYN who was faithful to Catholic teachings in regard to fertility. “We couldn’t find a Catholic doctor who would look at our NFP charts and help us achieve pregnancy naturally,” she said.

see “Pope Paul VI” on page 2

see “Passion” on page 3

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ns Pope Paul VI was Right

The course of Western culture from the 1930 Lambeth Conference to our contemporary “Culture of Death” has been a remarkably linear and destructive path. Pope Paul VI’s prophetic encyclical Humane Vitae and Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body are beacons of truth and love that guide the faithful with “ears to hear” toward the true path for the human family – Jesus Christ. Pope John Paul II’s call for a “new evangelization” in the face of a culture in critical need of conversion helped inspire the creation of the Vitae Clinic and John

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The Norway massacre. The debt ceiling. The drought. 3,000+ lives lost daily to abortion. It’s easy to let the negatives bring us down and to fear what lies ahead.

But, Blessed John Paul II and the Bible remind us, “do not be afraid!” The world was converted by the simple joy lived by Christians. We insist on focusing on our many blessings!

We are thankful for all pro-life organizations and churches. “Truly, you have formed my inmost being; you have knit me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139).

We are thankful for our medical professionals. “... gifts from the Holy Spirit, healing being one” (1 Corinthians 12).

We are thankful for Relevant Radio and all faithful media for being “the lamp on the lampstand to give light to all in the house” (Matthew 5).

We are thankful for our leaders. “Anyone who wants to be great among you

must be your servant… just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve...” (Matthew 20).

And we are thankful for our volunteers. “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4).

A Scriptural Thanks to our supporters

Paul II Life Center. Sheri and I are grateful for the opportunity to participate in a small

way in welcoming Dr. Jeremy Kalamarides, his wonderful wife Heather and their children to Texas. Dr. Kalamarides is among a very small but rapidly growing number of highly trained Obstetrican / Gynecologists who practice medicine with a sincere and authentic respect for the dignity of women, the teachings of Jesus Christ and his church. We have only begun to understand and appreciate the profound blessing Dr. Kalamarides and his family are to our community.

Chris DanzeBoard Vice President

Pope Paul VI (continued from page 1)

The John Paul II Life Center becomes a prototype for Life

“We never doubted, but it took lots of people working and praying for The John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic to become a reality. It certainly came in God’s time, not ours.”

Board President Tim Von Dohlen shared these words at the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha last September where ten people from ten major cities expressed interest in creating centers similar to ours.

The John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic opened in Austin the month after that speech. Dr. Jeremy Kalamarides, the Vitae Clinic Medical Director, has a growing practice serving hundreds of women of all faiths as he practices consistently with Catholic teachings.

This March, the Christus Medicus Foundation held a conference to discuss Conscience Clause legislation and formation of centers that foster recognition of the dignity of women and the importance of recognizing women’s fertility and child birth as gifts from God. Presentations were given regarding The Pope Paul VI Institute, Tepeyac Clinic, The John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic as examples. Again, many physicians and individuals sought to understand how such centers could be replicated. Persons from Denver and Houston have visited The John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic to learn how they were formed and how they operate. They hope to create similar organizations in their markets.

This May, a meeting was held with Bishops Vasa and Cordileone of Santa Rosa and Oakland respectively, to discuss The John Paul II Life Center and the best way to bring Catholic prolife medical care to each of their Diocese.

Much interest is growing in developing centers that offer medical care for women consistent with Catholic teachings. We are so thankful that we offer a ‘prototype for life’ in The John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic.

We can help others across the United States to make this a reality for them as it has become for us.

Please pray for us to have God’s guidance in the development of each “prototype for life.”

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For most of my life I have had to struggle with premenstrual syndrome. I thought this was normal and everyone went through this.

For me, the symptoms were primarily irritablility, fatigue, feeling down and crying easily. Once I started, I would feel good until next month.

I started noticing this happening about the same time each month and began thinking something must be different about my system. My hormones must be dropping lower than normal.

Then my sister told me that a friend had told her that Dr. Thomas Hilgers at the Pope Paul VI Institute treats women with low progesterone. I learned to chart my cycles with the Creighton Model. Then with the use of that charting, the blood tests showed that on a particular day of my cycle, my progesterone dropped lower than normal and stayed low until the end of the cycle. I started on progesterone shots... and have been receiving them for almost two years now. I am amazed at the difference in how I feel.

I am much calmer and the fatigue and depression symptoms have significantly decreased. There are some months when I feel so good I do not realize my cycle is about to start. I only know by my chart.

In additon, Dr. Hilgers also looked at other aspects of my health. I found out my thyroid and beta-endorphins were low. I have been receiving treatment for these, and I feel like a different person. I am able to handle the stresses of life so much better.”

This is an exerpt from the book “In Their Own Words: Women Healed.”

PMS root cause identified through NaPro Technology

There are some months

when I feel so good

I do not realize my cycle

is about to start. Thanks to the science behind NaPro Technology, Lori delivered their first son right after their one-year anniversary.

Lori blends her passion for God with her professional experiences in how she volunteers. In fact, she started strategizing our marketing plans before the Vitae Clinic doors even opened. Today she works closely with Larry Walters, from Pow Design Studios, to design and place ads in Catholic, holistic medicine and family print media along with radio spots for Relevant Radio.

She enjoys developing the best ways to provide faithful, hopeful options to women and encourage them to call for an appointment.

“I’m so grateful for NaPro Technology,” Lori said. Disseminating information about the Vitae Clinic to other Catholic couples trying to conceive while remaining faithful to our Catholic faith is very important to me.”

The John Paul II Life Center appreciates Lori and her gifts of

time and talent. We are finalizing our volunteer plan and welcome individuals who have a passion for our mission. Specifically, some of our immediate needs include:

Martha Stewart Wanna-Be volunteers help decorate at our benefit dinner, priest dinner, and other events.

Prayer Soldiers pray at our chapel in the office.

Pretty Handwriting volunteers help hand-address envelopes for our events.

Sal the Socializer helps plan and execute events.

Jacks & Jills of All Trades help with everyday duties. If you have a special talent that isn’t mentioned, please let us know.

To find out more or to sign up as a volunteer, please email volunteer@JPIILifecenter.org or call 512-243-7929.

Share this newsletter with your family & friends!

Passion (continued from page 1)

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” - 1 Corinthians

In essence, we are many parts,

we are all one body. That is evident in the way many pro-life groups are working together to save souls and lives in Central Texas.

The John Paul II Life Center has formed, and continues to form, relationships with groups such as the Gabriel Project, Knights of Columbus, Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, Coalition for Life, Catholic Charities and more.

We realize that God blesses each of us with unique talents and gifts. Join us in praying that all religious and Life groups work closely together, keep our souls open to God’s will and have the courage to do what God asks.

Many parts, but one body in Christ

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1600 W. 38th St., Suite 115Austin, TX 78731 Info@JPIILifecenter.org512-407-2900

Building a Culture of Life!JPII Board: Tim & Pat Von Dohlen - Chris & Sheri Danze Dr. & Mrs. Jeremy Kalamarides - John & Nancy Carrano

Sept. 1 - JPII Life Center Tour (6 pm).

Sept. 7 - Sarah’s Hope (JPII Chapel). Support for couples who are infertile or have had miscarriages.

Sept. 13: Priests’ Appreciation Dinner (Green Pastures). Make sure your priest attends!

Nov. 1: An Evening with Fr. Jonathan Morris (Four Seasons Hotel). Wall Street Journal contributor, author, and national broadcast analyst, Fr. Jonathan will discuss “The American Media: Creating or Destroying a Culture of Life.” For more: give@JPIILifecenter.org.

Pro-life Rosary (JPII Chapel). Email mail volunteer@JPIILifecenter.org to sign up.

Mark

Your

Calendars

!

Mark

Your

Calendars

!

Introduce your church, organization or school to the first fertility-care based medical approach, rather than a fertility-control approach. NaPro Technology provides holistic medicine that addresses the whole woman. Topics we offer include:

1. The New Sexual Revolution: Reproductive Medicine in light of

Theology of the Body (diocesan approved).

2. Living a Chaste Life3. Take Back Your Life: How

NaPro Technology helps with PMS, fertility, thyroid health and more.

Contact us to schedule a presentation: 512-407-2900 or give@JPIILifecenter.org.

Bringing it Home to your Church or School

$400 donation = one 4D SonogramSave a soul and a life!

Every dollar helps. Donate at www.JP2Lifecenter.org.

Our Mission: The John Paul II Life Center builds a Culture of Life through the beliefs of the Catholic faith, pro-life medical care and educational programs.