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At left, St. Joseph’s Centre of Hope for Women. St. Joseph’s Centre of Hope for Women is the only pro-life pregnancy centre in Canada located beside an abortion clinic, sharing a wall with Cabbagetown Women's Clinic at right.
Photo courtesy Frank E. D'Angelo
October 21, 2024
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Photo courtesy St. Michael’s Choir School
Like many others making their way through Toronto’s bustling morning rush hour, Frank E. D’Angelo starts his day like he has for years, with a simple cup of coffee. Instead of sipping on it at home, in gridlocked traffic or at his desk, he prefers to enjoy it on the landing steps of his crisis pregnancy centre: St. Joseph's Centre of Hope for Women in downtown Toronto.
“I drink that coffee for an hour before my day starts and as people pass me by I wish them a good morning, which is something you do not hear often downtown,” D'Angelo said. “The truck drivers, the cyclists, the pedestrians all look to me as I raise my cup and say to them ‘Today is a beautiful day.’ ”
If you were to ask D’Angelo, he'd tell you that although a simple gesture, his morning routine sends a clear message about celebrating life, something he has been actively involved in as a member of the pro-life movement for over 40 years.
A little over a year and a half after opening St. Joseph's Centre of Hope for Women, the charity that provides non-judgmental and compassionate care to women facing difficult situations such as unwanted pregnancies is hosting a special fundraising gala dinner. There, staff hope not only to raise funds for the centre’s operations but also messages of hope and faith amid a continuous culture war within the pro-life sphere.
The gala was initially thought up by D’Angelo’s longtime friend, Alex Schadenberg, another leading pro-life figure in Canada as executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition out of London, Ont. Together, the two were able to arrange an evening to raise crucial funds to support expecting mothers in crisis pregnancy Oct. 23 at the Royalton Banquet Hall in Woodbridge, north of Toronto.
Apart from connecting with like-minded supporters of the pro-life movement amidst a night of food and live entertainment, the 150 expected attendees will also hear from guest speaker Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director and founder of the anti-abortion ministry And Then There Were None.
“We (as pro-lifers) need to be the catalysts, we need to speak out and spread the message of love and that is where Abby Johnson comes in. So often, those who are not pro-life are misinformed or uninformed entirely," D'Angelo said. "I have to firmly believe that a vast amount of the people on Earth would be pro-life if they could see or hear what actually happens. To have Abby tell her story and touch hearts and minds will be motivational to us all.”
Johnson will surely bring her unique experience to St. Joseph’s Centre. Previously known as Aid to Women, St. Joseph’s Centre of Hope for Women is still the only pro-life pregnancy centre in Canada located beside an abortion clinic, sharing a wall with Cabbagetown Women's Clinic where surgical abortions up to 24 weeks gestation are carried out daily.
Billed as the “literal last chance” for mothers facing crisis pregnancies, D’Angelo describes how the proximity of the two centres allows St. Joseph’s to operate in a critical yet compassionate manner.
“When a woman walks in, the first thing I tell them is that I am so happy that they are here. I tell them that we are here to help them from before the baby is born until the baby is about two years old, or longer if we need to,” he explained. “We supply diapers, formula, baby clothes, small furniture, strollers and even car seats. We source it out and it is all for free. We can connect them with services like parenting classes too, but the most important thing we offer is love and hope.”
D’Angelo concedes he has been on both ends of the spectrum, facing days where he wipes away tears as women leave to head next door but also experiencing moments of joy when the inverse happens. At the end of the day, he considers his daily experiences to be nothing short of a series of blessings and miracles.
“I think we give the Holy Spirit an opportunity when we pray that it guides people into St. Joe’s. Even during my commute, I ask St. Joseph and Our Lady of Guadalupe to spiritually adopt the St. Joseph Center of Hope for Women,” he said. “Things were falling into place almost too well so one morning I said ‘I'm not going to ask spiritually about this place anymore because I know it is already yours.’ I now thank (the saints) for allowing me to be here and to continue to do this work.”
The upcoming gala is taking place during 40 Days for Life’s Toronto campaign, a pro-life vigil of prayer and unity for the unborn daily since Sept. 25.
While the event is lined up to be both a celebration of the centre's work, the founder is already looking forward.
“My dream is to have Holy Mass Monday to Friday upstairs on the second floor with the long-term goal of turning the heart of the staff next door. They do the abortions on the second floor and we are only divided by a thin wall, but I know there is no prayer more powerful than the Holy Mass,” he said.
“We are going to turn their hearts, we are going to beat them with love.”
Tickets for the fundraiser gala are still available for $150. See https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/c9d2fc42-9c9d-4c92-b14e-a22e5c306c23.
A version of this story appeared in the October 20, 2024, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "St. Joseph's Centre celebrates life".
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