News for December 2011

Without our generous donors of time and treasures, we could not do our Lord’s work of protecting the innocent lives that He creates. Thanks to you, we can offer women in crisis pregnancies a free sonogram. Once a mother-to-be sees her baby, 70% chose life!

• 8 Baby Bottle Boomerang fundraisers, to create awareness of pro-life issues, raised over $30,000
• 60 free sonograms to crisis pregnancy patients
• 151 crisis patients seen by Dr. George Delgado, Dr. Karen Saroki, and the medical staff
• Now open on most Saturdays, the day with the highest rate of abortions performed
• Increase in prenatal care services and a collaboration with an obstetrical group to help with deliveries
• High rate of referral to COLFS from sidewalk counselors and other pregnancy resource centers
• Enshrinement of the medical practice to St. Gianna Beretta Molla, with the presence of her daughter Gianna Emanuela
• Bishop Cordileone of Oakland, CA, made a visit to San Diego to give a talk to the pro-life community
• 1st annual Our Lady’s Tea—a great success with a sold-out crowd of over two hundred women
• 2nd Annual Gala with another sold-out venue of 630 attendees
• Redesign of the COLFS website and the launch of the Pregnant and Scared site (www.PregnantAndScared.me)
• New logo and marketing material helps COLFS create a greater presence at events, health fairs, and parishes

Here at COLFS, it is our mission to serve others in need as if they were Jesus. Without the grace of God and you, our supporters, it would be an impossible task. I marvel at the selfless servitude of Dr. George Delgado, Dr. Karen Saroki, the rest of the medical staff, the office staff, Debbie Bradel, and our faithful volunteers. To me, they personify the words of Christ in the gospels.

As I reflect on my first year at COLFS, I thank God for the opportunity that He has given me to meet some of you and to explain our direction and goals. You have responded generously, and I pray that our needs continue to be met throughout the coming year.

As you read on the first page, COLFS has touched many lives this past year. We have been led by the Holy Spirit to fight for what is right and to bring souls to the foot of the Cross, where true peace and happiness can be found.

I pray you all have a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with hope and joy. As you continue to fight for the rights of the unborn in the coming year, may your battle armor be the Word of God, and the Truth your sword.

Scott Maxwell

If you do not see your parish or school listed, please consider a Baby Bottle fundraiser in 2012!

• St. Timothy
• St. Joseph Academy
• St. Columba
• Sacred Heart, Coronado
• St. Jeanne School, Temecula
• St. Anne
• Our Lady of Grace
• Good Shepherd
• St. Didacus
• Our Lady of the Rosary
• Our Lady of Angels
• St. Luke
• St. Jerome
• St. John the Evangelist
• Holy Family
• St. Gregory the Great
• Christ the King
• St. James

A: The zygote is the single cell individual that results from fertilization of the egg by the sperm. He or she becomes the embryo who becomes the fetus, then the baby and adult. So, we have a biological human life continuum.

The human zygote, embryo, and fetus are self-directing, self-programmed, self-affecting, self- actuating beings who require only the proper environment and nutrition to live and develop. This is fundamentally no different from human babies or adults.

Let’s look at these characteristics. They direct their own development; we all know that every single cell has a full component of the DNA that is required to direct all of the development and growth of a human organism. They are self-affecting; all processes or transformations that take place are put into play by the organism him or herself. They are self-actuating; any process is started by the human organism not from some trigger from the outside. At each stage of life, the human person looks and develops just as he or she should.

George Delgado, M.D.

Their baby bottle collections during the month raised over $1,200 and will help us fund free medical care for those women who come to us for crisis pregnancies!

In honor of the feast of the Presentation of Mary in November, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School also generously adopted COLFS as the beneficiary for their Child Mary Celebration. St. Jeanne families blessed COLFS with donations of clothes, gift cards, toys and baby items, such as diapers, shampoos, and wipes. The month culminated in an event where the children performed many beautiful songs, and all items were presented to COLFS Executive Director, Scott Maxwell.

(Please send us pictures of your fundraisers for COLFS to include in future newsletters. Email comments and pictures to Scott Maxwell at newsletter@colfs.org.)

Miss S found her way to COLFS through another pregnancy help center and God, of course. After her ultrasound and an exam with Dr. Saroki, Miss S said, “This is the nicest doctor’s office I have ever been to.” It had been a long time since she smiled, and she was nervous because she felt a little crampy, so she wasn’t sure if she was miscarrying.

It was at her second visit, that Dr. Saroki asked me to spend a little time with Miss S and see how COLFS could help support her during this stressful time. True to COLFS mission, we were able to assist Miss S with transportation costs to the home of her older cousin in Georgia, who has two available bedrooms and the stable support that Miss S needs to finish her education and earn a living. Defying the odds that a young black single woman faces when she finds herself expecting a baby, Miss S is happy that she is still pregnant. The smile has returned to her face as she prepares to start a new life with family who cares and is able to help her.

R

What could have been a tragedy turned out to be an opportunity of neighborly love. R was pushing her baby in his stroller when a car hit them just as she reached the sidewalk. The force of contact knocked R over and the “little man” fell out. Neither one was injured, thank God, but the stroller was bent beyond repair. Unfortunately, this is an essential item for a single mom with no car. How else can a mom and son look for a job, attend school, and shop for groceries?

About two hours after R called to tell me what happened and ask if we had a stroller to donate, a friend of Dr. Saroki’s called saying he was just discharged from the Marines and wanted to know if there was anything he could offer in the way of time and/or talent. I couldn’t believe the perfect timing, but wanted to be respectful of his offer and not ask for too much. So I said, “Sir, it is very kind of you to offer to help us! We can use anything from a box of diapers to a stroller.” I proceeded to explain the story of R and how desperate she was to have a stroller. He went to Toys R Us that day and put a stroller on layaway so he could pay for it when his final paycheck came in. The next day he came in with a box of diapers and helped me put labels on baby bottles. Talk about generous! When the stroller was paid off, I accompanied our volunteer to R’s house, and she was filled with gratitude. Not only did she receive a brand new stroller but a car seat, as well, so she can ride with others.

This is truly a story of love of neighbor. Not only had our COLFS volunteer performed his duty to serve America in the Marines, but he came home and served a single mom who could have been housebound without wheels. This is the priceless support we give to moms who can easily be persuaded to abort when they have so many situational obstacles.

Although the gala gathering was a lively event, you could hear a pin drop when Dr. Levatino described performing a second-trimester abortion. He had many in tears as he detailed how babies in utero are ripped apart limb by limb by limb to end their lives. As hard as it was to hear, it made me more resolved than ever to help women in crisis pregnancy choose life over barbaric death for their own flesh and blood.

I want to thank all of you, and I hope to do so personally, for your generous support of COLFS and for your resolve to win the battle against the abortion agenda. Your enthusiasm and encouragement mean much to the Board of Directors, Drs. Delgado and Saroki, the COLFS staff, and me. You are clearly dedicated to our mission, and you see the value of donating your hard-earned money to help others in need.

If you were unable to attend the gala, or we were sold out before you had an opportunity to register, you will have another chance next year. Until then, please consider a gift to COLFS, which is as simple as logging onto our website, www.colfs.org. While there, take a look at our crisis pregnancy outreach site, www.PregnantAndScared.me.

If you are unable to give at this time, let your medical insurance company support COLFS for you. Our very skilled and loving family physicians are able to offer top-notch health care for your entire family. Selecting our office as your primary care physician helps support the COLFS mission.

May God bless you all abundantly as we head into our Advent season in preparation to celebrate the greatest birth in history. Please keep COLFS and the women to whom we minister in your prayers.

"It was a pleasure to attend the COLFS gala. My husband and I had a wonderful time. Kudos to all the people who worked hard to make the event possible.

Debbie (Bradel, Crisis Pregnancy Counselor) is such a sweet person, and I appreciate all that she’s done for us. She is amazing, and God placed her where she is to bring people closer to heaven. Thank you for inviting me to be acknowledged—it was really nice. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any help to anyone in the same situation that we had.”

Debbie Bradel and Cris

Philip Rivers presents his autographed memorabilia auction item

Honorary Chairpersons Terry and Barbara Caster

View more 2011 Gala pics in the COLFS photo gallery.

Dr. George Delgado, medical director at COLFS, proclaimed the event as “educational, motivating and inspiring” for the pro-life community.

With former professional baseball player Terrence Kennedy as master of ceremonies for the evening, speakers for the aptly themed “Pro-Life is Good” gala included California state senator Joel Anderson and Dr. Anthony Levatino, OB/GYN and former abortionist.

Dr. Levatino spoke about performing 1,200 abortions in his career, with a specialty in second-trimester abortions. The tragic death of his young daughter placed him on a long journey of conversion to pro-life speaker. He emphasized that the majority of abortion-intent mothers who see their babies on an ultrasound screen opt not to abort, with an even higher percentage of fathers choosing life after viewing a sonogram.

In addition to a call for donations of $100 to pay for an ultrasound for a crisis pregnancy patient, the special appeal for the evening was to fund an obstetrician for the COLFS medical group and to raise enough money to open the practice on Saturdays, which is the most popular day of the week for ending babies’ lives.

As the live auction gripped the attention of the enthusiastic crowd, friendly bidding wars took place for items such as a beautiful handmade chest and dinner with Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and his wife, Tiffany. Mr. Rivers personally appeared to support his dinner auction item—of which two were sold for $17,000 each—and his autographed memorabilia.

Elaborating about his involvement with the event, Philip Rivers explains, “It was great to be a part of the COLFS Gala. The passion for life and preserving it from conception to natural death was vibrant and evident from all who attended. COLFS is a great organization.”

Other popular auction items were dinner for up to 10 guests with Bishop Salvatore Cordileone and a children’s baseball clinic with five-time major league all-star Mike Sweeney.

In addition, individual pledges as high as $50,000 proved that San Diego pro-life supporters of the COLFS ministry are willing to sacrifice to prevent the loss of innocent lives.

The evening ended with the presentation of the Sue Lopez Memorial Pro-Life Person of the Year award. Honorary Chairpersons Terrence “Terry” and Barbara Caster, owners of A-1 Storage, were proud to name Deacon Ken and Marie Finn as the recipients of the award. In addition to co-founding COLFS and providing spiritual counseling, they work tirelessly promoting the truths of the faith and pro-life to the greater San Diego community and beyond.

Terry Caster echoed the sentiment of many who attended, “Barbara and I are honored to be a part of the COLFS 2011 Gala and Auction. We are pleased to be in support of this outstanding organization and will continue to share about COLFS with our friends and pray for its growth and positive impact for life.”

COLFS will continue to update its supporters and area Catholics about upcoming events throughout the year. Executive Director Scott Maxwell emphasizes, “We are so blessed to have the support of many in San Diego and to have pro-life family practice doctors who hold true to the belief that life starts at conception and does not end until natural death!”

We have placed our plaque in the Escondido office where another giant in the pro- life movement, the late Dr. Arthur Stehly, gave us part of his building to have NFP classes many years ago when we began our holistic outreach through the pro-life arm of St. Dismas Guild.

We follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE, for he came to set us free. Our life has been blessed through the love we have received from Dr. George Delgado and Liz; Dr. Karen Saroki; Dr. Nick Jauregui and Marya; the late Dr. Arthur Stehly and his beautiful wife Georgianne, who is still bringing life to those around her; and all the staff, board members, and others who stand for life.

The success of COLFS has come about through the intercession of Our Lady of Good Remedy, to whom we pray nightly for her intercession. We ask you to unite with us in praying for the conversion of Dr. George Kung, the local abortionist in North County. God wishes none to perish, but all to be brought to life. If you put Christ first in your life, as the Spiritual arm of COLFS has done, the money will follow, and that is what has happened.

Thank you again for the honor of receiving this award.
Your brother and sister in Christ,
Deacon Ken & Marie