Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. –Socrates
It was not the family vacation I’d planned. As we packed our suitcases the night before our international flight, my then 7-year-old son developed a fever. After a frantic visit to the pediatrician, we awaited lab results. The doctor hadn’t been too concerned, though he was stumped as to the cause of the mystery ailment and couldn’t predict subsequent symptoms. And so, to travel or not to travel was one of those “it’s all on us” parenting decisions. The verdict? We’d go. The next morning, my son, feeling OK, was the first one into the van. We drove to the airport, Tylenol at the ready.
“The blood work indicates he’s got some kind of virus,” the doctor told me over the phone, as we boarded the plane. “He needs to be seen again as soon as you get to your destination.” Given that we were heading to an island off the coast of Honduras, I winced at the thought, adorning myself with an imaginary “Mother of the year,” ribbon.
As I suspected, “island time” also applied to the lone medical clinic, its tiny waiting room sweltering and packed when my son and I finally arrived. The only thing I could understand when I spoke with a Spanish-speaking nurse was that we had a lengthy wait ahead of us. On a whim, I’d grabbed Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone off the bookshelf as we left our rental. Together, my son and I found a shady spot on the playground outside the clinic and sat side-by-side. “He’s likely to be bored in a minute,” I thought, as I cracked open the book.
A half-hour later, he looked over at me when I stopped reading. “Keep going!” He urged, his blue eyes lit as though by a spark. I kept reading then and each day for the rest of our trip. It was not the vacation I’d intended. It was better. In the months and years that followed, my son kindled the flame, devouring books like a linebacker eating crackers.
When was the last time you lived within that fascination-inspiration blend? Our "flammable" moments occur less frequently as we age, as if the 30+ population is unworthy, disinterested. Sure, the rare photos of a baby panda or images of William Shatner experiencing zero gravity might attract our attention. But really. Can you recall the last time something set your soul on fire? Me neither. Enter stage right: the MCFL Convention, coming up on Saturday, March 19, designed to set your heart ablaze.
Read about our outstanding speaker lineup below then register today, since we are unable to accept walk-ins at this event. MCFL members attend free of charge.
I hope to see you there for what is certain to be a day of inspired, life-saving learning. It’s critical, really, since you and I know what we are called to do: share our knowledge and kindle within others the fiery will to act in self-giving love. Our time is now.
Thank you for being a part of our soul-sustaining movement here in Massachusetts. We are grateful for you!
For life,
Myrna
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Join us at Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s Annual Pro-Life Convention on Saturday, March 19th at Boston College’s Chestnut Hill Campus in Fulton Hall, Room 511. Register for the event here: www.masscitizensforlife.org/2022_convention
We are excited to have Peter J. Kreeft, Ph.D., author, and professor of philosophy at Boston College and King’s College, as our keynote speaker.
Speakers (from left to right): Peter J. Kreeft, Ph.D., The Honorable Colleen M. Garry, Dr. George Delgado, Mariah McCarron, Dr. Mark Rollo, Marianne Luthin, and Thomas M. Harvey, Esq.
Here is our fantastic line-up of pro-life speakers and their topics:
- Myrna Maloney Flynn, MCFL President & CEO - Welcome Message.
- Peter J. Kreeft, Ph.D., Author, Professor of Philosophy at Boston College & King’s College - “Why We Work. What keeps pro-lifers going?” - An exploration of our motives.
- Honorable Colleen M. Garry, State Representative, 36th Middlesex District - “Pro-Life Advocacy at the State House” - What it’s like to be a pro-life Democrat on Beacon Hill.
- George Delgado, MD, F.A.A.F.P., President, Steno Institute: Life-Affirming Research, Escondido, CA - “A Second Chance at Choice: Abortion pill reversal” - How the medical abortion process is carried out, its risks, the risks of mail-order and telemedicine abortions, and the future directions of abortion pill reversal.
- Mariah McCarron, New England Regional Coordinator, Students for Life of America - “Ushering in a Post-Roe America: How Students are Building a Culture of Life.”
- Mark Rollo, MD, MCFL Director & retired family physician - “Physician-Assisted Suicide: Abandonment of Hippocratic Medicine.”
- Marianne Luthin, Director, Pro-Life Office, Boston - “Offering Hope in the Midst of Uncertainty: What won’t change after Dobbs” - Regardless of the outcome of Dobbs, women with unplanned pregnancies and suffering post-abortion pain will continue to need the compassionate and effective support of Pregnancy Help and Project Rachel ministries of the Pro-Life Office of the Archdiocese of Boston.
- Thomas M. Harvey, Esq., Chairman, MA Alliance to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Abortions - “Post Dobbs, The Future of Abortion in Massachusetts” - A review of possible SCOTUS outcomes in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health and how each may affect the future of abortion in the Commonwealth.
Please note, you MUST register in advance to attend the Convention. No one will be admitted, who has not pre-registered. A photo ID is also required before entering the Convention room.
A light lunch will be provided to those who register by March 15th. You can register here: www.masscitizensforlife.org/2022_convention
Admission is free to members who have renewed their membership within the past 12 months. If you are not a current member, or you have not renewed your 2022 membership, use the following link to join or renew your membership before registering: www.masscitizensforlife.org/renew. If you are part of a group, each person in the group must register individually. For non-members, the registration fee is $15.