Published: November 8, 2011
“Over the years you have given much”
“With painstaking regret,” Elizabeth and Ed Pierini have announced they are stepping down from leadership of Helpers of God’s Precious Infants in Sacramento, a pro-life apostolate the couple has led for the past four years.
The couple cited health concerns.
As a consequence, a planned Jan. 14, 2012 Helpers for Life Prayer Vigil at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sacramento to have been led by Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto has been cancelled. It would have been the sixth such prayer vigil planned and organized by the Sacramento Helpers and led by Bishop Soto since 2008. The most recent Vigil for Life was on July 16 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in midtown Sacramento.“While I appreciate your openness to continue if needs be, it is apparent to me that the issues of health must now bring to closure your role in a good work done for the glory of God as well as the welfare of God’s precious infants,” Bishop Soto wrote to the Pierinis in a Nov. 2 letter. “Over the years you have given much to this apostolate. Though your faith is still fervent and your spirits are still strong, it is now time to let go of this good work so that it may continue in the manner that God’s providence will decide.”
“I am very grateful for your heroic, persevering efforts,” Bishop Soto continued. “God is pleased with the good and faithful service you have provided. You have planted many seeds. Others will continue to cultivate the fields as the gospel of life grows in the hearts and minds of those who witnessed the quiet testimony of this apostolate on the streets of Sacramento.”
Elizabeth Pierini first became involved in pro-life activities in Sacramento in the fall of 2007, when she and Wynette Sills served as co-directors of the first 40 Days for Life in Sacramento.
“From that experience, and upon learning of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, my wife believed that the Helpers of God's Precious Infants' spirituality more closely aligned with her belief of what a peaceful and prayerful sidewalk presence should consist of,” Ed Pierini told California Catholic Daily. “So she traveled to Brooklyn, New York, in November 2007 to meet Monsignor Philip J. Reilly, founder of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants. She participated in her first Helpers' Prayer Vigil for Life there.”
“She then wrote a letter to then Bishop William Weigand and Co-Adjutor Bishop Jaime Soto in early 2008 requesting their support of a Helpers of God's Precious Infants' apostolate in the Diocese of Sacramento,” said Mr. Pierini. “While waiting for a response, she began a regular sidewalk counseling presence in front of abortion centers following the Helpers' spirituality, including a 24-hour vigil on Jan. 22, 2008 on the eve of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.”
“Later that year, she finally was granted a meeting with now Bishop Jaime Soto who enthusiastically granted his endorsement of a Sacramento Helpers' presence in the Diocese of Sacramento and agreed to lead periodical Helpers' Prayer Vigils for Life,” Mr. Pierini stated.
“Some of our finest memories the past four years include conducting a two-day Culture of Life Retreat in October 2009 in conjunction with a Helpers' Prayer Vigil for Life at St. Rose Catholic Church in Sacramento,” recalled Mr. Pierini. “Monsignor Philip J. Reilly, founder of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, flew in from New York to lead that retreat and to participate in the Helpers' Prayer Vigil for Life with Bishop Soto.”
The Pierinis also set up a website that included the feature “Blessings from the Sidewalk,” which chronicled their activities on sidewalks outside Sacramento abortion centers. More than 300 testimonies have been posted to “Blessings from the Sidewalk.”
“Another fine memory,” said Mr. Pierini, “was attending the 5th World Prayer Congress for Life in Rome in October 2010 along with over 400 members of the worldwide pro-life community from 45 countries.”
“We will always be Helpers of God's Precious Infants, committed to witnessing our Catholic culture of life in a peaceful and prayerful way, except now our efforts will be individual and private as God allows,” the Pierinis said in a Nov. 2 entry on their website.
I prayed with Msgr. Reilly in front of abortion mills in New York years ago. He is a great pro-life leader and an inspiration to us all! God bless all the Helpers of God's Precious Infants!
