David Clark

Hello my name is David. The pro-life seed was planted in me in 2003 when I went to do a television production internship in Washington, DC. The woman who owned the company was a member of Emily’s List. After leaving that internship, I knew something in my heart was telling me that our culture was not right. Not until the 2004 elections did I start to seriously question my faith and the abortion issue. I prayed before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament exposed and asked “What should I do?” I left the chapel and went straight to the nearest Catholic bookstore to get any information on anything related to pro-life. The rest is history.

I entered into the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life (MEV) in August 2007 with an open heart. By far, it has been the best experience of my life. I’ve been in New York now since January 2008. My duties have been to personally assist Fr. Frank Pavone and Janet Morana with various tasks such as media outreach, updating our audio/video database, make various donor calls to our benefactors, and occasionally assisting on travels. Each day is a challenge and a rewarding one. The fact that I sacrifice my desires for the sake of God and his creation is something I can never turn away from. Human lives are at stake and I know being here each day makes a big difference.

My favorite quote that I use is that of Mother Teresa, who is also an inspiration for the MEV's, “I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness”

Hello friends! My name is Joan Pressler. I just started working for Priests For Life in November 2007 as a Receptionist. Prior to working at Priests For Life I was a parochial school teacher for 18 years.

When searching for a new teaching position became extremely difficult, I decided a change of careers was necessary. I only found out about Priests For Life because my fellow Choir member, Linda Mahoney, works here and told me about it. I am so glad she did! As a Receptionist, I am the first line of communication callers reach when they call. I direct their calls to the proper departments and help answer some basic questions they may have.

I really hadn’t thought about the pro-life movement until my husband and I began to try to start a family. When that proved unsuccessful, my views about fighting for unborn children changed. I began to think about why people would want to destroy such a precious gift from God? Working at Priests for Life has allowed me an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the pro-life movement and just how much people can do. I am thankful every day that God showed me this wonderful organization. THANK YOU GOD FOR PRIESTS FOR LIFE!

Joan Pressler
Receptionist

 

I thought I understood what ABORTION is. Now do I know I had been mistaken. I have been a Pro-Life person and have been supportive of a woman’s right to choose. But having worked at Priests For Life about a year, seen graphic images of baby body parts, read and heard stories of Post Abortion Syndrome and its effects on mothers and families, I presently denounce abortion.

I work as a Resource Assistant in the Resources and Orders Department. I work in correlation with Customers in sending them
information materials and resources that assist them in the fight to save children and to end abortion. These various items are a reservoir
of knowledge and tools necessary to compliment customers in the Pro-Life fight.. My satisfaction then comes when a customer calls and tells of how passionately he / she feels about the objective of the mission and his / her desire to keep fighting until there is no more Abortion.
 

Hi my name is Tonia and I recently started working for Priests for Life in May 2007. Prior to Priests for Life I worked for a title company for 3 years which was a completely different environment than that of Priests for Life. At that time I was looking for a change in occupation in which I would find a job with a place that made a difference and where the staff was passionate about what they did. This is exactly what I found when I joined the team at Priests for Life.

This all came possible through one of my former co-workers who happened to mention that there was a position available in the finance department at her current job, Priests for Life. The rest is history and I now work as a finance associate in the finance department. The people at Priests for Life are so kind and dedicated to the cause and I am grateful that I work for the organization. I have learned so much being here and I intend to keep learning and do my best to help the organization in moving forward.
 

Hi, my name is Lisa Amass.  I work for Priests for Life as the Receptionist. My Job is to make sure that all calls are directed to the proper person. I also have many other tasks that I do throughout the day.  I've learned so much working here and have grown in my pro-life conviction. It is such a blessing to be a part of this organization.  What has really made me 100% pro-life are the graphic pictures of abortion.  As Fr. Frank always says, America Will Not Reject Abortion Until America Sees Abortion.

Christa Childs

I remember as a teenager, spouting that ridiculous statement “those old men in Washington have no right to tell women what to do with their bodies.” But that attitude didn’t last long. I started questioning, “If the Catholic Church says abortion is wrong, maybe it is?” And I prayed to God to show me if abortion was wrong - and boy did he show me! The most profound way I came to the truth about abortion was through the scriptures - especially these two passages.

Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Psalm 135:13: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.”

I contemplated these scriptures and God gave me the grace to see the truth. “We have no right to take a life that God has created” were words that raced through my mind. And so began my passion to do something about this horrible sin.

In the years following I participated in various pro-life activities within my parish and community in Maryland where I was born and raised. As the years passed, the assurance grew that pro-life work is a vocation - given to me by God. I came across the Job Opportunity page on the Priests for Life Website, www.priestsforlife.org/jobs/index.htm – a website I had referred to often for information to use in my Parish pro-life work. In 2001, I left home and family to work at headquarters in Staten Island, NY where I remained until 2005 when I moved to the Washington, DC headquarters.

Through my work at Priests for Life I have come to see many aspects of this tragedy – from a theological point of view and from the point of view of the baby and the woman. As a result the desire in me has only increased – not just to limit abortion but to END it.

My work as an Administrative Associate includes, but is not limited to, extensive work on the many websites that we maintain, managing Fr. Pavone’s numerous audio recordings and radio spots, creating brochures, flyers and ads, and assisting with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.

Fr. Pavone has said something to the affect that once you start pro-life work, you can’t go back. I truly understand the meaning of these words.

Susan DeLuca

Hi, my name is Susan DeLuca and I work at Priests For Life as a travel coordinator in the Speaker’s Bureau.  I just celebrated my first anniversary at Priests For Life on April 18, 2007.

I have always been pro-life; however, working at Priests For Life has opened my eyes to the realization of how abortion hurts women.  Even though I am a single woman, my heart goes out to all the babies in this world who were not born and the hurting men and women out there because of the lies they been have told. 

I lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the 1990’s and I moved back to New York in 1998.  A very good friend of mine, who lives in Florida, saw a posting on the Priests For Life website for the ministry needing a travel coordinator.  She e-mailed me the information on the position and told me that I would be perfect for the job.  The rest is history.  I am very happy working here because I finally feel that I am working for an organization where I am trying to make a difference in God’s kingdom.

Marie Elliott

Hi! I’m Mary Jean Hansen (Gift Entry Dept Liaison) and I’ve been working for Priests for Life for over 7 years in the Gift Entry Dept.  My background is totally corporate - advertising – working my way up to Senior Media Planner while achieving an Associate Degree in Marketing from Pace College. After taking 14 years off to raise my children, I decided to look for a meaningful job nearby.  I found a position at Priests for Life as a Gift Entry Associate. Working for Fr Frank in the pro-life movement is quite a challenge, never boring and hopefully I will be around to see a change not only in the law but also with people’s views regarding life. Being at Priests for Life has opened my eyes to the cruelest crime of all time – abortion. 
 

Christine Kessler

Linda Mahoney

Dear Friends,

Hi, my name is Linda Mahoney and I’ve just completed two years working here at Priests for Life. I have always been pro-life but never more so than I am now. I used to say that yes, I am pro-life but I don’t believe that our government should force such a personal belief on a whole nation. I see now how wrong I was. I have learned so much since being with Priests for Life and grown spiritually. I have been blessed and privileged to have met and worked with some wonderful people. I have even made a few close friends along the way.

I work in the Data Management Department here at Priests for Life. I handle address changes, add/remove people from our mailing list, and process information received from the various road trips our Priests and Pastoral team go on. My work can be very tedious at times but never the less, important. Important because without accurate and up to date data, we couldn’t get vitally important and much needed information to people who really need it.

If ever I get to the point of being bored and wanting to give up, I’m inspired by Fr. Frank’s drive, tenacity and passion. I’m truly proud to be part of something special like this organization and be part of a great spiritual family!

Linda Mahoney
Data Management Department, Priests for Life

Patricia Kessler

Hello! My name is Patricia Kessler and I’ve been working at Priests for Life for the 5 years. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Janet since I was three years old, and Fr. Pavone since I was about seven years old. I’ve been pro-life for since I was a child. My first Pro-life event I can remember was when I went to Washington with my family and the Knights of Columbus at the age of 10. It was just a calling for me to work for the pro-life movement. It is something I have always been passionate about.  

Working here has given me the opportunity to grow spiritually as well as mentally. I am currently working in the Gift Entry Department. I love getting a chance to talk to our donors. You are wonderful people who give us the opportunity to continue doing the wonderful things we have been able to accomplish! I am extremely blessed to be able to know I am doing God’s will of saving lives. To know that I have helped someone decide to save a child is so rewarding.

Ray Mooney

Dear friends of Life,

My name is Ray Mooney; I joined Priests for Life during the summer of 2006 as an intern working in the Speakers Bureau. I now work for the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life Lay Association with Jim Pinto.

I started as an intern at the age of 63 because of a journey that began in April of 2004 when I was able to have Father Pavone visit our parish in Allentown, PA. I was the Pro-life coordinator for a number of years and the bus captain on several Marches for Life, but I felt that I should be doing more. One month after that inspiring meeting with Father Pavone, I took the third of my five pilgrimages to Medjugorje with the prayer to Jesus and Mary, "How do you want me to spend the rest of my life working full-time for you?" While there, I was granted two very powerful messages that pointed me towards expanding my Pro-life work. The passion created in me by those experiences in Medjugorje attached itself to Father Pavone's work partly because of the timing of his visit and I became increasingly drawn to Priests for Life.

In the early spring of 2005 Paul Schenck, one of our pastoral associates, told me about the formation of Father Pavone's new society of apostolic life called Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. When I read Father's words on the Priests for Life website about how God had called forth the creation of the Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits as a response to the evils of those earlier ages, I realized God was calling for a new society to be created expressly to combat the evils of abortion, euthanasia, destructive embryonic stem cell research and artificial contraception that have brought a Culture of Death to our world. I knew as I read Father Pavone's words and those of John Paul II whom he quoted regarding a return to a Culture of Life, that I must join these missionaries and do my part to help Father in his efforts to change the world.

I encourage you to read about how men and women who are doing Pro-life work in their communities can become part-time members as Lay Associates and derive the benefits of being connected to the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. You can learn more by clicking here and may God bless you for your Pro-life work.

Ray Mooney, M.E.V.
Missionaries of the Gospel of Life Lay Association

Michael Nucciarone

Dear Friends of Life,

My name is Michael Nucciarone. I am the Volunteer Coordinator at Priests for Life. I began my volunteer service with Priests for Life in October of 2000. Each time that I would come to volunteer I would hear of the wonderful work that Priests for Life was doing. I prayed to God and asked him to lead me to full time work in the Pro-Life movement. God answered my prayer and on May 14, 2001 I began work as a full time employee of Priests for Life.  

As the Volunteer Coordinator I coordinate the activities of thirty five volunteers who generously give their free time to assist with the many tasks and projects that Priests for Life undertakes in our effort to end Abortion on demand. Their spirit of giving themselves freely to the cause for life is kindled by the knowledge that each brochure, or booklet that they mail out has the ability to convert hearts, and save lives.  

I have had the privilege for the past six years to watch Priests for Life grow, and touch so many hearts. Recently Fr. Frank started a new Apostolic Society called the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. It is for members of the Clergy and Laity who want to dedicate themselves full time to the cause for life. In December of 2006, I made my first promises as a Lay Missionary of the Gospel of Life.  

Mother Theresa once said that we must make our society something beautiful for God. Working full time in the Pro-Life movement gives me an opportunity to put Mother Theresa’s words into practice every day. God has been very good to me and has given me many blessings in my lifetime. It is a wonderful feeling at the end of a long day to know that the hours were spent serving God by speaking up for the most defenseless members of our society—our unborn brothers and sisters.  

In Christ, 

Michael Nucciarone MEV
Volunteer Coordinator

Liz Sblendido

My name is Liz Sblendido I’m a single parent and have been working here at Priests for Life for the past 8 years as of July of this year.

I’m in charge of the Resource Dept here at Priests for Life. I am the manager of the resource dept and send Fathers materials out as a result of his speaking engagements or TV or radio shows.

I love working at Priests for Life because first of all, you will never find this type of work ANYWHERE else. I feel for myself that this work is very satisfying because at the end of the day when I rest my head on my pillow, I can truly say that I have helped someone. What ever it might be a piece of literature or a phone call that you might get from a girl who has had an abortion and needs healing or just someone to point them in the right direction or even just to LISTEN.

Margaret Sciarrino

Hi, my name is Margaret.  I am a new addition to the Speakers Bureau at Priests for Life, and hope to be part of this awesome team forever.  I feel truly blessed to be able to assist people like Fr. Pavone and Janet Morana, who are committed with their whole lives to ending abortion and stopping this culture of death.

I have read that Mother Teresa said that in the act of abortion there are 2 deaths – death of a baby and the soul of the mother.  I have always known in my heart that abortion was wrong.  I also know that some women commit this horrific act out of complete desperation, feeling like they have no where to turn, with the abortionists only too happy to “help” them.  Helping in my little way to bring the pro-life movement and all its aspects through our speakers to the public, I hope that one day abortion will be restored to its illegal status and end;  the truth about what those poor babies go through is exposed;  the truth about the contempt and suffering that takes place in the mother afterwards is revealed, the senseless loss of a precious life to our society is realized; and most of all the act so opposite of love and against God, the author of life and love is stopped forever.  Until then, I pray that  God Bless all of us with perseverance and courage in helping to stop the killing, to create programs to support the mothers so they can see hope and that life is worth living for both them and their babies, and  make the “right” choice. 

In my own family we have been faced with teenage pregnancy, and I have seen what love and support and the right choice can do. I’ll admit it sometimes wasn’t easy: lots of tears, fears, and trials, but most of all accomplishment, triumphs, victory, and love.  But isn’t that what life is really all about for everyone?  My granddaughter Megan has turned out to be the wind beneath my wings!

Dan Matejek

Dan has left full-time work at Priests for Life to pursue a teaching degree.

My name is Dan Matejek and I work as an Administrative Associate for Fr. Pavone and Janet Morana.    In this capacity I assist Father with our media outreach, especially our television programs like Defending Life on EWTN and Gospel of Life on the Sky Angel satellite network.  I also help Father set up interviews for Catholic radio programs on Relevant Radio and Ave Maria Radio.   

It’s truly an honor to assist in this life-saving work.  I’m daily inspired by a quote from pro-life writer Frederica Mathewes-Green, who wrote, “No one wants an abortion as she wants an ice-cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal, caught in a trap, wants to gnaw off its own leg." No woman should feel that violence is the only available solution to an unexpected pregnancy.  As a Church and a people, we can do much better for women than abortion.

Chris Morales

Chris has since moved on to other work on the West Coast and remains in contact with Priests for Life.

Dear Friends,

I was asked to relate some of my experiences I have had as the Associate Director of the Speakers Bureau at Priests for Life. I do so happily and I can tell you that it is a good and very rewarding work.

It is wonderful to see the movement of the Holy Spirit and the unfolding of Our Lord’s will in the world to bring mercy to His people. The work of the Church is a work of mercy and Priests for Life continues that work by bringing God’s mercy into the lives of many people. I feel blessed to have scheduled a great number of trips that our priests and pastoral associates have taken.

From the viewpoint of the Speakers Bureau at Priests for Life I have become acquainted with the Church in the United States and other parts of the world and it has been especially edifying. From this viewpoint one can see the advancement of the Culture of Life and where the challenges in the future lay. There are many different categories of people in the Church I have worked with who have facilitated Priests for Life trips such as Diocesan Respect Life coordinators, chancellors, vicar generals, deanery representatives, representatives from ecclesial communities, and representatives from Catholic apostolates to name a few.

Also I have personally worked with pastors and parishioners to organize events that our priests and pastoral associates have conducted in communities and parishes. A brief listing of activities I have helped organize are preaching at masses, clergy and seminarian seminars, prayer vigil at abortion mills, life chains, Face the Truth tours, banquets for right to life groups, visits to encourage pro-life groups, voter registration drives, visits to the offices of legislators, parish based pro-life talks, post-abortion retreats for healing, and interviews on TV, radio, and newspaper.

It is encouraging to hear the grateful words that our trip contacts have expressed after having hosted one of our speakers and knowing that Priests for Life has strengthened the pro-life movement in their community. They are thankful for having heard the truth spoken in unambiguous terms regarding the Church’s teaching about life and what they can do to end the tragedy of abortion and euthanasia. Lastly, it is gratifying to hear that people are converted and that hearts are turned to God.

In Christ Our Life,

Chris Morales
Associate Director, Speakers Bureau