St. Joseph and Knights of Columbus Founder, Fr. Michael McGivney interceded as we witnessed the blessing of our Father’s Day Icon by Pittsburgh, PA artist, James Sulkowski. The blessing was imparted by Bishop Mark Brennan, Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Wheeling, WV on the evening of September 19, 2020.
 

Members of the Knights of Columbus belonging to the Wheeling, WV District, were present with the following Councils represented:

Corpus Christi Council 12830,
Carroll Council 504,
Our Lady of Peace Council 12195,
and Moundsville Council 1907.



It is through their grassroots efforts that our pro-life Father’s Day Icon Project was launched as a means to pray for the healing from abortion, especially caused by lost Fatherhood.

The Father’s Day Icon with St. Joseph added to the original painting by the artist, was completed in the spring of 2020, after consecrating our work to St. Joseph. Remarkably, it coincided with the announcement of the miraculous healing of a baby in the womb, attributed to the intercession of Fr. McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, leading to Fr. McGivney’s upcoming beatification scheduled to take place on October 31, 2020. The painting portrays St. Joseph looking with great kindness with the genuine heart of a father as intercessor for lost Fatherhood and restoration of the fathers with their aborted children.

The Knights of Columbus from the Councils in Wheeling, WV and beyond will keep the Father’s Day Icon traveling, to pray for the restoration of the wounds of lost Fatherhood.   

In collaboration with us, and in recognition of the miraculous healing in utero, attributed through Fr. McGivney’s intercession involving Dixon, TN brother Knight, Dan Schachle’s son, “Mikey,” the Bethel Park, PA South Hills Council #3084 represented by Mark Cotter on behalf of this generous Pittsburgh Council, gifted Dan Schachle his own Father’s Day Icon, which he hopes to use to join in the grassroots efforts to pray for lost Fatherhood through the intercession of St. Joseph and Fr. McGivney with his family and his brother Knights.

Our Father’s Day Icon is now available at the FJDM Shop.

Please continue your prayers for our work and especially this new pro-life initiative!
St. Joseph pray for us!
Fr. McGivney, pray for us!

Related Articles:

The Pro-Life Icon
Fr. McGivney Miracle Video

Fr. Daniele Vallacorsa blessing the image of "Vessel of the Preborn Jesus" and "The Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Ark of The New Covenant, Throne of The Divine Mercy Incarnate" icon at the Pregnancy Resource Center South Hills on September 2, 2015.

Fr. Daniele Vallacorsa blessing the image and the icon in the Women's Mobile Clinic. The ultrasound was donated by the Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus in May 2015.

First Friday, March 6, 2015, Mary, Ark of The New Covenant warms the hearts of many at the abortion mill on Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA. The World Mission Rosary and The Divine Mercy Chaplet were prayed to save the lives of the unborn, globally.

One of the Mother of God's many titles is Mary. Ark of The New Covenant. It was first given to her by St. Augustine but is becoming more popular as theologians like Dr. Scott Hahn and others unveil more and more about the typing from the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament and Mary as the New Ark of The Covenant based on Rev 11:19-12:1. In many cities Jericho Marches are held in an attempt to bring down the walls of abortion facilities, just as the walls of Jericho came down when marching with the ark from the Old Testament. Based on the image, Vessel of the Preborn Jesus, and the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the newly rendered replica statue of the carved original arrived from South America, just two weeks ago. It was a great blessing to bring her to the 40 Days for Life vigil today.You can read more about the Replica statue and the Scripture passages at www.prebornjesus.com.

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The Knights of Columbus recently presented their Ultrasound Initiative's 500th ultrasound machine in the US to a Baltimore pregnancy care center! Mary McClusky describes the great impact that the Ultrasound Initiative has had on the lives of men and women facing an unplanned pregnancy. (Image courtesy of the Knights of Columbus)

A Picture is Worth Countless Lives - by Mary McClusky

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Bridges Of Mercy For Post-Abortion Healing


40-plus years after Roe v. Wade, opponents press for limitations

Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy blesses a painting during the Prayer Breakfast for Life at the Willow Tree Comfort Inn on Saturday, January 16, 2016.

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AN APPEAL FROM PREBORN JESUS MINISTRY

IN COLLABORATION WITH

FOUNDATION OF JESUS THE DIVINE MERCY

There is a wound that many carry that only The Divine Mercy of God can heal.  Pope Francis is aware of the need for healing in the Body of Christ for the sin of abortion and has brought this to the forefront with this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

In one of Pope Francis’ homilies for the Jubilee of Mercy he said:  “It is the favorable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and to touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

In April, our original icon entitled by Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, M.I.C.; The Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Ark of The New Covenant, Throne of The Divine Mercy Incarnate icon was taken to Pope Francis in Rome.  Prior to our December departure for Rome for the opening of the Year of Mercy, our new Jubilee icon with the babies included was completed by artist, James Sulkowski.  This new icon encapsulates our Jubilee prayer initiative as it depicts the precious aborted babies, praying for their parents to open their hearts to God’s merciful love.  This will help to bring about healing and the restoration of their parent/child relationship once severed by abortion. 

After receiving the Holy Father’s Apostolic blessing and going through the Holy Door, we set out for Assisi.  Throughout our pilgrimage in Assisi, our new initiative was confirmed many times over.  As we prayed with the great Sts. Francis and Clare, it became clear they were chosen to be the patrons of these precious baby boys and girls.  They were chosen because of their love for all creation and their great comprehension of what a precious gift life is. 

How clear is the reason why Pope Francis chose the name “Francis” and called for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy!  It is a time for the church to be “repaired” and restored, most especially the wound of abortion.

We provide a means for The Divine Mercy Shrine in Poland to receive, in confidence, the names or initials of a specific person in need of healing from abortion.

Prayer Petitions

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Pro-Life Divine Mercy Icon

On December 10, 2015, being in Assisi at the tombs of Sts. Clare and Francis, we were inspired to choose St. Clare (girl babies) and St. Francis (boy babies) to be the Patrons of the new prayer apostolate for the Restoration of Relationships between babies and their parents who have aborted. This Apostolate is being launched at the beginning of this Jubilee Year of Mercy through Preborn Jesus Ministry and Foundation of Jesus The Divine Mercy Foundation.

The icon was placed below the original San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to Francis in the 1200's to "rebuild" His church.

Entering Canaan

Lumina… a ray of light in abortion's darkness

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78th International Eucharistic Rosary March

On Sunday, October 4, 2015, the 78th International Eucharistic Rosary March was held in Pittsburgh. JTDMF's members, Pat, Bernadette, Sister Jean, Renee, Mary Jane (and family) and Celeste attended. Pat and Bernedette processed the two icons. Fr. Tony Gargotta gave a profound homily on marriage. Fr. Tony blessed the four corners of the city and all 4 mysteries of the Holy Rosary were prayed as we processed with Jesus throughout the city. First Communicants spread rose petals before Our Lady of Fatima and the Blue Army was on hand to lift Our Lady high to honor her in the Eucharistic procession. Surely great blessings were brought to the city this day and for many days to come! Legion of Mary members, Linda Nevins, Joanne Boyle and their team did an exceptional job of bringing this beautiful day to fruition.

Jericho March at Planned Parenthood on
The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The new 3 ft. statue of Mary, Ark of The New Covenant debuted in her first Jericho March around the Pittsburgh Planned Parenthood, 933 Liberty Ave, on Saturday morning, June 13, which was the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Feast of St. Anthony.
Also present for the march was the icon of The Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Ark of The New Covenant, Throne of The Divine Mercy Incarnate, which is a replica of the icon gifted to Pope Francis just 6 weeks previous.
We prayed and sang, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Holy Rosary, for an end to abortion and the healing of the men and women involved in the industry.
We thank all who came out to join us.

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A Mobile PRC Clinic is an RV with a waiting room in the front and an ultrasound room in the back.

This newly acquired unit enables Women's Mobile Clinic- Pregnancy Resource Center of the South Hills (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - to go to the women who can't come to them!



This state-of -the- art, first of its kind in the nation unit, was available for touring at the Knights of Columbus PA State Convention held in Cranberry Twp., Pennsylvania, on Saturday May 16, 2015, where it was blessed by Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop, David A. Zubik.



Also present for the blessing was Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Archbishop of the Ukranian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

It was the dedicated hard work of many, many Knights that made the purchase of such a new, sophisticated machine possible. As in every ultrasound machine purchased, the Knights sponsor many fundraisers, collect the funds and then the Supreme Council matches up to a set amount. What an inspiration! These joyful men unselfishly serve the Church, from Esquires to the State Deputy, the many members of the K of C exemplify Christ in His Mystical Body because of their deep appreciation for the gift of every human life.

It was an honor to work with the PA Knights of Columbus to make it possible to arrange for Pat Polachek and Bernadette Conklin to gift Lori Szala, Executive Director of Women's Mobile + Clinic, the framed image of the Icon, The Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Ark of The New Covenant, Throne of The Divine Mercy Incarnate, as well as Vessel of The Preborn Jesus.

The evening ended with Pat and Bernadette addressing the nearly 800 attendees at the PA K of C Convention with proposals to work with the K of C through several initiatives for Family Eucharistic Holy Hours, use of the Jesus-The Divine Mercy Cookbook/Prayer Book, and presenting the icons to ultrasound machine recipients.

Please continue to pray!

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My name is Lea Marie Ravotti, and I am a freelance book illustrator and art teacher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a master’s degree in fine arts and art history. My work has been featured in several Catholic publications, including Signs and Mysteries—Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols by Mike Aquilina (Our Sunday Visitor), Joyful Expectation by Jean Frisk (Pauline Books & Media), the Theology of the Body workbook series for teens (Ascension Press), and the adoption book How Will You Find Me? by Tina Tyra (CreateSpace Independent Publishing).

I would like to present to you my latest work—a watercolor painting entitled Vessel of the Preborn Jesus. This painting was done for the Preborn Jesus Ministry (founded by Bernadette Conklin) located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ministry’s vision is to save the lives of the unborn children by bringing mothers to a closer relationship with their calling to motherhood, finding strength and grace in the example of Mary nurturing the Preborn Christ in her womb.

As Catholics, we meditate on Christ the Babe, Christ the Teacher, and Christ Crucified, but we rarely focus our attentions on the unborn Christ Child, who speaks to the hearts of all mothers, and brings us to reflection on the gift of life.

In December 2013, Father Andrew Apostoli featured the Preborn Jesus’ image and devotion on EWTN’s Sunday Night Prime program. Vessel of the Preborn Jesus was also presented in person to the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Vigano in Washington D.C., to Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz in Cracow, Poland, and to the Holy Father Pope Francis in Rome.

As you can see in the image, the Baby Jesus is depicted in the womb of the Blessed Mother, surrounded by a Rosary. This Rosary represents the spiritual connection between Mary and Jesus and their profound bond as Mother and Son, in imitation of the umbilical cord which is the lifeline between mother and child. Just as the umbilical cord is the font of physical life, the Rosary is the font of spiritual life. By extension, the Rosary reflects the link between Mary and the whole human family.

In the painting, the Blessed Virgin is seen walking at the beginning of time, carrying the Light of the World in her womb. She is the key figure, dominating the painting—she is the woman at the center of our salvation history.

In Mary, Our Lord’s presence shines forth, and shows us all the way of God. This narrow path, illuminated by Christ, will keep us on the safe road to heaven. Isaiah proclaims, “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Is 49:6), and again, “The people who walked in darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:2).

The light motif is seen again and again throughout early Christianity. Psalm 119:105 describes the Law of the Lord as “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Christ is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel” (Luke 2:32). He will “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). When we follow the true light of Christ, we know that we are safely on the right path to the Promised Land (see Ex 13:21). Jesus himself is the light that drives away darkness, deception, and even death (see Jn 1:9).

The stars above Mary’s head symbolize the light of divine guidance, and designate the Virgin Mary as “Stella Maris.” “If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the Star, call on Mary,” Saint Bernard of Clairvaux reminds us. She is our best companion and guide to her Son. “Mary is the Eternal blueprint in the Mind of God, the one whom God loved before she was a creature. He…had her in mind at the beginning of time” (The World’s First Love, Fulton Sheen).

“On this journey [to Christ], the Church proceeds along the path already trodden by the Virgin Mary…we wish to turn in a special way to her, the one who began to shine like a true ‘Morning Star’ (Stella Matutina),” John Paul II writes in Redemptoris Mater. “For just as this star, together with the ‘dawn,’ precedes the rising of the sun, so Mary from the time of her Immaculate Conception preceded the coming of the Savior, the rising of the “Sun of Justice” in the history of the human race…The Blessed Virgin Mary continues to ‘go before’ the People of God. Her exceptional pilgrimage of faith represents a constant point of reference for the Church and for all humanity. Mary does not cease to be the ‘Star of the Sea’ (Stella Maris) for all those who are still on the journey of faith.”

The stars in the painting also allude to the figure of the Messiah. In many parts of the Bible, the Messiah is portrayed as a light or a star, shining in the darkness of sin and death. In Numbers 24:17, it is said that “a star shall come forth out of Jacob.” This star is seen in Jewish and Christian tradition as a prophetic image of the coming Messiah. Even Jesus calls himself a star in Revelations22:16: “I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.” He is the “morning star that rises in your hearts” (2 Pet 1:19). Saint Peter connects ancient references to the planet Venus as the “morning star” to the return of Christ in glory, an event that will dawn upon the world at the end of days.

The landscape depicted reflects words from Proverbs: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning. I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made” (8:22-23).

White lilies are the symbols of purity, complementing the two dimensions of the woman’s personality—virginity and motherhood. Mary is the perfect fulfillment of this personality; both Virgin and mother, she is our example of love, devotion, and joy in the Lord.

The Blessed Virgin is dressed in humble, traditional clothes, but her gold halo marks her as the Queen of Heaven. In her, dignity and humility, majesty and modesty, lowliness and exaltation are one. Through her Fiat, she attains a perfect union with God, thus becoming the archetype of the personal dignity of women. She is the glorious Mother of God, and our mother as well.

Mary’s response of willingness to the Archangel Gabriel is reflected in her face. Her composure is pensive, but fearless, determined to do as God has asked of her. She seeks to understand Gabriel’s world, and to intimately carry Christ in her womb. Grace and joy are brought together in her acceptance of God’s plan.

“The level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood,” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen writes. Through my representation of Mary, I want to bring all women to a new discovery of their supreme vocation, and to the meaning of their femininity.

And by painting Christ as a preborn child, nestled in his mother’s womb, I hope to increase awareness of the infinite value of every human life, and to save the lives of unborn children. In today’s world, hundreds of thousands of children are killed in abortions every day. Vessel of the Preborn Jesus is an attempt to bring the sanctity of human life again to the forefront of our consciousness, to remind viewers that all life—no matter what stage—is a precious gift from God, to be protected and revered. The unborn Child in Mary’s womb grew to be our Savior, and from conception to death he is precious as a child of God, as are all children.

I close with a prayer of devotion to Mary, the mother of the preborn Jesus:

O Mother of Divine Grace,
Vessel of the Preborn Jesus,
Please bless all who look upon this image of Our Lord within your womb.
May it inspire us to have a deep appreciation for the gift of every human life, from the moment of conception.
May it lead us to make reparation for the sin of abortion.
May it bring us to a greater understanding that we are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ, and that you are Our Mother.

(Bernadette Conklin)

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