May 9, 2013 / Maria News

March for Life 2013: 1,600 people unite ‘voices for the voiceless’ at Candlelight Vigil

LifeSiteNews.com – At the close of an evening pro-life Mass at Ottawa’s St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish — packed to standing room only — an enthusiastic crowd marched to the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights Monument in downtown Ottawa for a Candlelight Vigil where 1,600 young and old honored the victims of abortion with prayer, songs, and speeches.

“Every single person here is put here by God. And every single person here has gifts from God. And every single one of you right now are using those gifts to be the voice for the voiceless,” said Alissa Golob of Campaign Life Coalition Youth, which organized the event.

Golob told the crowd of mostly young people not to be discouraged by Canada’s total lack of restrictions on abortion for all nine months of pregnancy, despite great efforts by the pro-life movement throughout the years.

“There’s only one thing that you have to remember when you feel really down and that is: we have truth on our side and we have God on our side and there is no way that we can fail with those two things.”

Vigil participants were joined by the 25 women who had just finished walking 200 kilometers from Montreal to Ottawa as a witness to life. Their journey was not only a protest against abortion, but to raise awareness that many women who abort their babies feel coerced into making that “choice.”

“I believe we are on the winning team. Truth always wins in the end. If we don’t quit, we win,” said Faytene Grasseschi, organizer of the Back to Life Walk. “If we will continue to do the right thing, there will come a time in this nation when not only is abortion illegal, but it is simply unthinkable.”

Read the full story: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/march-for-life-2013-1600-people-unite-lsquovoices-for-the-voicelessrsquo-at

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May 4, 2013 / Maria News

The Triumph Premiere Live from Chicago!

Maria News – Live from Chicago, I am writing this report from the Official U.S. Premiere of The Triumph, a documentary that explores the mysteries of Medjugorje.

From Award Winning Director Sean Bloomfield and Executive Producer Zaid Jazrawi, comes a film over 2-years in the making. Filmed primarily in the heart of Bosnia-Herzegovina, The Triumph investigates a modern-day miracle that, if proven authentic, has global implications.

The producers of the film are expected to launch a new crowd-funding initiative live from the Premiere. The goal: to host 1000 screenings of The Triumph world-wide.

“This film has been created as a tool for evangilization,” said Producer Zaid Jazrawi. “Through the Grace of Our Lady we can bring this film to the world and show people the Divine Love of Jesus Christ.”

“There is a huge buzz around this film,” said Director Sean Bloomfield. “From Australia, to the UK and here in the US, we are launching screenings around the world in hopes of inspiring a generation to return to God.”

The film accomplishes the producer’s goal of evangelization by illustrating the love of Christ, the hope for reconciliation, the grace of Our Lady and the power of God’s love. No matter how grave our Sin, the film illustrates that God’s love for us is greater. No matter how lost we are, the film gives us examples of how we can find our way home. This is a must see film.

Nearly 200 invited guests are expected to attend the Premiere in Chicago, being held at the landmark Gene Siskel Film Center.

Learn more about The Triumph at thetriumph.org.

I’ll be tweeting live from the Premiere @RoyceHood. Join me!

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April 16, 2013 / Maria News

Angels and Saints at Ephesus – Glorious, Beautiful and Timeless.

By Royce Hood – Glorious! Beautiful! Timeless! There is no simple way to describe the musical wonder that is Angels and Saints at Ephesus, the upcoming new album by the Benedictine Sisters of Mary. Just as with their last album, Advent at Ephesus, I am at a loss for words to adequately describe the beautiful sound of this timeless music.

A masterpiece! In a world of one-hit-wonders and trendy beats, most music becomes forgotten and never has any meaningful impact on our world. The Sisters however, have once again created a masterpiece of timeless treasures. Angels and Saints at Ephesus carries the listener on a jubilant journey through the ages with a beautiful choir of sacred music.

Executive entertainment industry veterans Kevin (SONY Music) and Monica (DreamWorks SKG) Fitzgibbons had been so moved by the music of the Sisters that they approached them about formally recording for their label devoted solely to the releasing music of religious orders called De Montfort Music, a division Aim Higher Entertainment. Their first album, Advent at Ephesus spent six weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Music Chart and the Sisters ended up as the #1 Classical Traditional Artist of 2012, according to Nielson’s Soundscan. The album went viral, being featured on some of the biggest media outlets in the country including NPR, USA Today, The Washington Times and others.

Nine-time International Grammy® winning producer Christopher Alder, who hails from Germany and two-time Grammy® winning engineer Mark Donahue were enlisted to record the new album and to capture the Sisters singing in their contemplative environment.

“Music is a vital part of our spirituality, and it has been a blessing to have it blossom and broaden in recent years. We are all very excited about this release,” said Sr. Scholastica, the Order’s sub prioress and the designer of the album’s artwork. “Gathering the hymns we have learned and loved, it seemed only natural to suggest the theme of the Angels and Saints, the heralds of God’s glory and grace for this album.”

The Sisters are unique for a couple of reasons. First, their music has the ability to evangelize without being overly preachy. The album is filled with sacred music, yet the beautiful sound is one that any ear (religious or not) would enjoy. Second, the success of the Sisters’ last album demonstrates the overall hunger for beauty in entertainment. Their last album went to number one defeating the secular 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack. If these Sisters went on tour their concerts would be sold out!

As I write this review, (with the album playing in the background) the imagery that comes to mind is a choir of saints proclaiming the promises of a peaceful and eternal life. I imagine that indeed, the angels and saints in heaven are celebrating the beauty of this album!

Join me in helping to support this album! We have a unique opportunity to show the secular music world that there is BIG DEMAND for beautiful and sacred music. By pre-ordering your copy of Angels and Saints at Ephesus, we can help the sisters climb up the charts and once again be #1 in the country! Let’s turn some heads. Let’s evangelize. Let’s support the Benedictine Sisters of Mary in their quest to spread God’s love through music.

Order your copy here

Related: Check out the Official De Montfort Music site here

Visit the Benedictine Sisters of Mary website here.

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January 19, 2012 / MariaNews.com

The Law of Life Summit 2013

By John Audino

Catholics Called to Witness – It is that time of year again! The March for Life in Washington D.C. is right around the corner and as public struggle against legalized abortion in America turns 40 years old, it is time to take note of how the event has grown up. Though the principles for such a large annual gathering in the nation’s capital have never changed, the organization surrounding the day has. The political protest continues to demand the basic human “unalienable Rights” of unborn children to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Those rights are the basis for the American Declaration of Independence, and it is those rights that have been denied to all unborn children. What started with 20,000 people on a sunny, 70-degree day in January 1974 has now grown into the “largest pro-life event in the world.” The protest against legalized abortion now draws more than 400,000 participants, and the single-day March is growing into a multiple-day event.

With the objective of better organizing and promoting communication between the many pro-life organizations that come to Washington D.C. each year, practical steps have been taken to unite the efforts of groups from across the nation. One of the newest and most exciting endeavors surrounding the March for Life is the Law of Life Summit.  The Law of Life Summit is a bi-annual gathering of national pro-life leaders and students dedicated to overturning Roe v. Wade.  In an effort to expose and laud this relatively new event, I caught up with Mr. Royce Hood, organizer of the Law of Life Summit, to get an idea of just what this new event is all about.

JA: Mr. Hood, tell us about yourself and how you got involved with the Law of Life Summit?

RH: I am a graduate of Ave Maria School of Law (‘12), and an Illinois Licensed Attorney (although I was born and raised in Jupiter, Florida). I am a board member with the March for Life, founder of MariaNews.com, co-director of CatholicDaily.com and organizer of the Law of Life Summit. In a nutshell: I am active in pro-life and Catholic media. The Law of Life Summit was started as a way to unite national pro-life organizations.
JA: What exactly is the Law of Life Summit and what is its connection with the Ave Maria School of Law?

RH: The concept for the [Law of Life] Summit came about during my third year of law school. During my first two years of law school I was blown away by all of the people who participated in the March for Life. I was impressed by all of the wonderful organizations, but I had a question: How can we get all of these people and groups marching together for more than just one day? The idea for the Law of Life Summit was to bring together national pro-life groups and students. Specifically, we would focus on legal professionals.
JA: What is the intended purpose of the Summit, and what do you particularly hope to accomplish with this year’s theme: ‘Calling out the media!’ ?

RH: The Law of Life Summit = national pro-life leaders and students creating measurable and achievable objectives for overturning Roe v. Wade and for defending the sanctity of human life. Our goal is to unite national organizations and to inspire the future leaders of the pro-life movement. The only way to defeat Roe v. Wade is by combining legal strategy with an effort to achieve a cultural victory. We must educate and win the hearts and minds of the people if we will ever defeat abortion. This year’s theme, “Calling Out the Media,” was chosen to recognize the critical role of the media in promoting our pro-life efforts. This theme represents a double challenge. First, we must call out the secular media to engage in their responsibility to cover all newsworthy cultural events. For the last forty years, the coverage of one of the nation’s largest yearly gatherings in Washington DC has been dramatically overlooked by the mainstream media. Second, as pro-life leaders, we must take the challenge and fill in the gap with our own media outlets. The March for Life deserves loud, emphatic national media coverage!

JA: Finally, what kind of person is this Summit geared toward, and why should the average American be aware of and support this endeavor?  

RH: The Law of Life Summit is geared toward action-oriented individuals. While we hope to engage legal professionals, aspiring students, and pro-life organizations, this is a free event with open registration. We welcome all pro-life individuals to attend the event or log in to the livestream coverage (see below).

JA: Do you have any final words for our readers?

RH: Registrations are nearly full, however folks can watch a live webcast here:

https://new.livestream.com/cc2w/lawlife

Livestream coverage of the Law of Life Summit “3” is being provided by Catholics Called to Witness. For further information concerning the Law of Life Summit, please visit their website, www.lawlife.org. We thank and congratulate Mr. Royce Hood and Ave Maria School of Law for organizing and hosting the event.

Thus far, more than 55 million children have lost their lives in the United States alone due to legal abortion. May our prayers and efforts not be in vain. The journey to the nation’s capital promises to be a somber, yet hopeful one. In the face of such a great tragedy, perpetrated over forty long years, the resolve and newfound unity among Americans of all races and creeds is something to be celebrated. The Law of Life Summit is an excellent example of the pro-life movement’s creative and concrete attempts to bring an end to forty years of the legalized slaughter of infants in the US.

For those of you who are unable to join us in Washington D.C. please tune in to our livestream coverage of the Law of Life Summit ”3”. Please join us also in prayer as we make this pilgrimage with the intention that our nation may learn to treasure the sanctity of life and safeguard the right of every individual to that which was promised by our Founders.

The Law of Life Summit “3″

Calling Out The Media!

—————————————————————————-

WHAT: Pro-Life Leaders and Students Creating Measurable and Achievable Objectives for Overturning Roe v. Wade.

WHEN: January, 24 2013  (11:00 am to 2:00 pm)

WHERE:  The Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

400 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C., USA 20001

Copyright: John Audino 2013.

Related links:

CC2W.org 

LawLife.org 

Summit webcast

Ave Maria School of Law

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January 18, 2012 / MariaNews.com

Overcoming Pro-Abortion Media Bias

Law of Life Summit Provides Pro-Life Media Strategy with Legal Experts, Media Professionals 

(Washington, DC) January 17, 2013 – The 40^th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade will draw thousands to the nation’s capital, including activists, lawyers, and journalists. The Law of Life Summit “3”, hosted by the Ave Maria School of Law, will be “Calling Out the Media!” on Thursday, January 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Washington DC’s Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. The frank, no-holds barred workshop will teach pro-life advocates and their legal representatives how to harness the power of the media to their advantage.

WHAT: CALLING OUT THE MEDIA! Law of Life Summit “3”

WHEN: Thursday, January 24, 2013, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: The Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave, NW, Washington, DC
Congressional Rooms A & B

WHO: Leaders in the pro-life movement, attorneys, media experts

DETAILS: www.lawlife.org

A rash of recent new stories has brought the question of liberal media bias to the forefront of the discussion. The Summit’s Media Workshop and Panel will harness techniques and present approaches for engaging and utilizing the media to further a pro-life message. Attorney Dana Cody, executive director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation, will open the Media Workshop section of the summit.

“We have the passion, and we understand where the law works in our favor,” Cody said about those fighting for the sanctity of life. “What we need to improve on is leveraging the media to bring the deeper issues to light. We hear so much about the fight for abortion rights and so little about the humanity of the over 55 million unborn children who have already perished, and even more unborn babies whom some want to keep killing.”

Joining Cody during the Summit are:

• Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor-at-large for National Review Online
• John-Henry Westen, editor-in-chief of LifeSiteNews.com
• Ryan Scott Bomberger, co-founder of the Radiance Foundation
• Anne Carmichael, vice-president of development at the Vitae Foundation
• Tom Ciesielka, president of Chicago-based TC Public Relations
• and more!

For details on Law of Life Summit “3” visit: www.lawlife.org

If you can’t make it to the Summit, you can catch a live webcast here: https://new.livestream.com/cc2w/lawlife

About the Law of Life Summit:

The Law of Life Summit is a bi-annual gathering of national pro-life leaders and students dedicated to creating measurable and achievable objectives for overturning Roe v. Wade and for defending the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. All pro-life organizations are invited to attend. Our goals are: (1) to foster dialog and unity within the pro-life movement; (2) to create goals and objectives designed to advance the pro-life movement; (3) to educate and inspire the future leaders of the pro-life movement; and (4) to transform a culture of death into a culture of life. Find out more at www.LawLife.org

Watch the live webcast on January 24 here:  https://new.livestream.com/cc2w/lawlife

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January 13, 2012 / MariaNews.com 

MUST SEE: Obama Speech turned into Pro-Life Video

By Royce Hood

MariaNews.com – With just days before the 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, pro-lifers across the country are gearing up for one of the largest gatherings in respect life history – the March for Life.

Over the years the March for Life has become an opportunity for prayer, pilgrimage, penance and hope.  Folks from around the world come to participate in this amazing but sad occasion.  Each year, hundreds of thousands march for life to protest Roe v. Wade.   This year marks the 40th year with over 55 million abortions in the United States since 1973.

The March for Life founder Nellie Gray (who passed away in August of 2012) talked to me on several occasions about how she believed we could convert even the hardest of hearts.  Specifically I recall several conversations when she mentioned that she was praying for the conversion of President Barack Obama.  She would say something like “imagine if he were on our side, imagine if he had a conversion and became pro-life.  He would be one of our greatest advocates.  People listen to him, he could help us convert others.  I am going to pray for him.”  Nellie firmly believed in the power of prayer and conversion.  She believed that all people were capable of seeing the truth.

One organization BlackStone Films has created an amazing video using President Obama’s Sandy Hook Speech.   This video is not meant to take away from the senseless tragedy that occurred in Newtown, NJ, rather the video materializes the images that so many pro-lifers felt when hearing Obama’s speech for the first time.  We in the pro-life movement mourn for those who were lost at Sandy Hook, and we also mourn each day for the nearly 5000 babies who are lost to abortion.  We pray for the healing of all hearts which have been damaged by the evils of false choice.

Check out this film:

Related: Countdown until the Law of Life Summit 3  – Join us on January 24 for the of Life Summit!

January 25: The March for Life

January 26: Pro-Life 5k with the National LIFE Runners

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January 11, 2012 / MariaNews.com

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March for Life Featured on Drudge Report and Washington Examiner

By Royce Hood

MariaNews.com – “40th March for Life crowds could top Obama Inauguration” – was the headline yesterday in an article published by the Washington Examiner. The article was picked up a short time later (and is still being featured on the home page) of the DrudgeReport.com, “March for Life crowds snap up DC hotel rooms; Could top inauguration..,” read the headline.

The biggest crowds ever for the annual March for Life protest are expected to hit Washington January 25 as hundreds of thousands attend the 40th anniversary rally to protest the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, according to organizers.

The march, expected to attract tens of thousands more than the record 400,000 two years ago, could rival President Obama’s Inauguration Day crowd, propelled by the growing youth support of efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, which the president has embraced with open arms. Obama drew 1.8 million in 2009. Just 600,000 are expected January 21st.

WashingtonExaminer.com

The March for Life began 40 years ago as a peaceful demonstration against Roe v. Wade. Since 1973 thousands of people have gathered in the streets of the Capitol to march for the defense and respect of human life. The March for Life has received very little attention from the media in years past. Headlines from the mainstream press have historically shunned what is one of the largest protests in the Nation.

In 2011 CNN reported that “thousands rally against abortion on Capitol Hill” – that was close, but “tens of thousands” would have been more accurate. In 2011 it is estimated that over 400,000 people marched-for-life. This year estimates are projecting attendees to the March for Life could exceed 500,000. Only 600,000 are expected to attend the Presidential inauguration (down from nearly 1.8 million in 2008).

This years March for Life is different than the rest. This year we March knowing that 40 years have gone by and over 55 million babies have been aborted in the US since 1973. This year we also mourn the loss of the March for Life founder Nellie Gray. Nellie passed away last August. She dreamed of unifying the pro-life movement, of converting pro-choice advocates (like President Obama) and she believed we could end abortion. Her dream lives on and Nellie will continue to inspire the pro-life movement for years to come.

Jeanne Monahan is the new President of the March for Life. Jeanne has picked up the reigns and is marching forward as she leads efforts to organize this years March for Life.

The March for Life has launched a new website which will allow marchers to stay connected all year. The site will feature cutting edge technology which hopes to provide recourses and tools to the pro-life movement.

This year the March for Life is also co-sponsoring a pro-life 5k with the National LIFE Runners. LIFE Runners co-founder Pat Castle was working with Nellie Gray to bring the event to life. Folks can register for the 5k here.

The March for Life is also co-sponsoring the Law of Life Summit “3” with Ave Maria School of Law. This is a gathering of national pro-life leaders and students dedicated to creating measurable and achievable objectives for overturning Roe v. Wade. Space is limited but folks can register here.

Washington Examineer Article here.

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December 17, 2012 / MariaNews.com 

Domino Pizza’s founder sues over stipulation in health care law

By Catholic Online

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – Monaghan filed a lawsuit last week in federal court. Domino’s Farms is listed as a plaintiff, which is a Michigan office park complex that Monaghan owns.

Monaghan offers health insurance for his employees, but excludes abortion and contraception. According to the new federal law, employers are required to offer insurance including contraception coverage, or risk heavy fines.

Monaghan maintains that the law violates his rights, pointing out that it is not his responsibility to pay for the sexual habits of his employees, He is asking a judge to strike down the mandate. Monaghan’s sentiments are echoed nationwide, as there are similar lawsuits pending nationwide.

Monaghan is not the first pizza chain to speak out against the president’s health care overhaul. Aside from former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, Papa John’s founder John Schnatter said it was “common sense” that there would be cutbacks as the result of thousands of pages of new regulation. Schnatter later rescinded.

The Obama administration maintains in the meantime that the contraception mandate actually benefits women.

Domino’s Pizza is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1960, Domino’s is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States (after Pizza Hut) and has more than 10,000 corporate and franchised stores in 70 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Domino’s Pizza was sold to Bain Capital in 1998 and went public in 2004.

According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, one of  Domino’s Pizza biggest claims was quick delivery. Starting in 1973, Domino’s Pizza had a guarantee that customers would receive their pizzas within 30 minutes of placing an order, or they would receive the pizzas free. The guarantee was reduced to $3 off in the mid 1980s.

In 1992, the company settled a lawsuit brought by the family of an Indiana woman who had been killed by a Domino’s delivery driver, paying the family $2.8 million.

In another 1993 lawsuit, brought by a woman who was injured when a Domino’s delivery driver ran a red light and collided with her vehicle, the woman was awarded nearly $80 million, but accepted a payout of $15 million. The guarantee was dropped that same year because of the “public perception of reckless driving and irresponsibility”, according to Monaghan.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM

Related:

Ave Maria School of Law Tribute Video by Royce Hood

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December 5, 2012 / MariaNews.com 

Cloistered Nuns Top National Charts at #1

By Royce Hood
 

MariaNews.com -  It’s not everyday that we have the privilege of reporting awesome news: MariaNews.com has just learned that Advent at Ephesus is #1 on the Billboard Classical Charts.

The album was recorded by Benedictine cloistered nuns and has been toping the charts since its release on November 20.

So far this week the album is #1 Classical at iTunes and Amazon and is the #1 overall selling album at Barnes and Noble.

Founded in 1995, The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, are a young, monastic order of Sisters. United with Our Lady at the foot of the Cross; the sisters seek, above all else, a life of union with God in prayer as guided by the Rule of St. Benedict. The Sisters sing together eight times a day as they chant the Divine Office in Latin.

“Our way of life here is truly one of great peace and tranquility,” Mother Cecilia said. “Since not everybody can come here – and since we’re not going out into the world – ADVENT AT EPHESUS is a way that we can just give a little taste of our life and let people experience it and be part of it.”

De Montfort Music is a division of AimHigherMedia – both founded by music-industry veterans Kevin and Monica Fitzgibbons. Its special mission is to sign, develop, produce and bring to market the very best in Sacred Music.

“To be around these sisters is like a glimpse into Heaven,” De Montfort Music co-founder Monica Fitzgibbons said.

Twitter has been all abuzz about the chart-toping album.

Twitter user Jeff Miller, (aka @CurtJester ) who is a Retired Navy Chief  and a Catholic convert from atheism, recently tweeted “Awesome, Advent at Ephesus continues to be at top of music chart. I love this album.“

Sarah Reinhard (aka @peerybingle), also a Catholic convert, wife/mom/reader/writer tweeted, “Wooooohoooooo! –> Benedictines’ Advent Album Tops Rod Stewart, Taylor Swift at Barnes & Noble“.

Maria News favorite, “the movie nun” – Sister Helena Burns (aka @StHelenaBurns) re-tweeted “Yay! Nuns chanting (“Advent at Ephesus“) bumps soundtrack for “50 Shades of Grey” off #1 on Billboard’s classical charts!”

“Nuns top 50 Shades in Classical Music Smackdown” – this was a recent headline on NPR.org.   In a recent interview on NPR’s All Things Considered, hosts Melissa Block and Robert Siegel discuss how the Benedictine sisters have knocked off the 50 Shades of Gray soundtrack.   “I think  that, along with the hidden desire, maybe, in many souls to turn to the spiritual side, I think  that’s what is making us a success” said Mother Cecilia.

Here is the NPR interview:

National Charts, National Radio and Cloistered Nuns!  Wow!  Maria News encourages all of our readers to buy Advent at Ephesus today!

“It has been a great start” said Kevin Fitzgibbons, the co-founder of De Montfort Music.

So where will Advent at Ephesus go from here?   That’s up to the Holy Spirit.  As my dear friend Father Orsi always says “The Spirit is Moving!” Indeed it is!

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