League staff recognized at the Chicago CCHD awards dinner (from left: Ann Scheidler, Joe Scheidler, Eric Scheidler, and M.C. Fr. Frank Hoffman) [Photo by Matt Yonke]
On September 1, the Pro-Life Action League was honored as a recipient of one of the grants awarded in 2010 by the Chicago Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), along with 20 other Chicago-area groups working to alleviate poverty and injustice on all levels.
The evening began with Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish on Chicago’s near north side, celebrated by Bishop Francis Kane, auxiliary bishop of Chicago and former head of the Chicago CCHD.
Among the concelebrants was Fr. James Moriarty, the founder of Chicago CCHD, who was presented with a special plaque at the end of Mass in recognition of his many years of dedicated service by Rey Flores, the new director of Chicago CCHD.
League Among 21 Chicago CCHD Grantees
The awards ceremony took place next door at St. Stan’s School, and was emceed by Fr. Frank “Rocky” Hoffman, with remarks by Flores and Fr. Moriarty. After a simple fajita dinner, Fr. Rocky recognized each of the 21 groups receiving Chicago CCHD grants—a diverse group addressing such wide-ranging problems as urban violence, prostitution, poverty and addiction.
Representing the League were Ann and Joe Scheidler, Eric Scheidler with his wife April, John Jansen and Matt Yonke. Eric offered a few remarks on how the League plans to use the Chicago CCHD grant, in light of the group’s mission to fight poverty and injustice.
“Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said, ‘It is a poverty to decided that a child must die so that you may live as you wish,'” Eric said. “We see a great poverty of hope in the women and men going into Chicago’s abortion clinics. We’ll use this grant to bring a message of hope to these desperate parents through our sidewalk counseling ministry.”
Renewal at the Chicago CCHD
This year marks the first time that pro-life organizations are among the recipients of Chicago CCHD grants—an encouraging sign of the renewal of the Campaign since Flores was brought on as director last year by Francis Cardinal George .
The Pro-Life Action League is honored to be among this year’s grant recipients and is eager to use the grant to expand our sidewalk counseling outreach and bring the riches of Christ’s hope to abortion-bound mothers and fathers.
