PREGNANCY Crisis Inc (PCI), a Brisbane organisation to support mothers experiencing vulnerable pregnancies – itself at risk of closing down due to insufficient funds – has passed its first milestone with a successful fundraising dinner recently held in Brisbane.
PCI president Patti Camp, in announcing the news at the July 10 inaugural dinner at Marymac Centre, Annerley, told the gathering of more than 200 that “tonight, something beautiful is happening for Jesus”.
Funds raised as a result of the dinner mean that the organisation, officially launched by Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane in November last year, will now be able to operate for another year.
Mrs Camp went on in her speech to note that “this quote from Blessed Mother Teresa, whose charism Pregnancy Crisis Incorporated follows, is an appropriate description of what is happening tonight and also what is happening in south-east Queensland”.
“Almost 200 people have come out in the middle of winter to support the poorest of the poor, our unborn brothers and sisters,” she said.
The speech was one of the highlights of a packed program which included as keynote guest speaker the director of Sydney’s Catholic Education Centre Fr John Flader and entertainment from the Warwick Adeney String Quartet, St Paul’s Woodridge Sudanese Choir and Brisbane singer Neil Ballment.
Mrs Camp said the dinner was “an important milestone in the establishment of Pregnancy Crisis Incorporated … which is comprised of a hardworking group of people under the spiritual direction of Fr (Michael) Rego”.
PCI had assisted a number of women with unplanned pregnancies which had already resulted in the birth of several children.
“Our support group stands ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help these women,” Mrs Camp said.
“One of our members was praying outside an abortion clinic and after speaking to a young woman (found that the young woman) decided to continue with her pregnancy and did not go ahead with the abortion.
“She is now the proud mother of a baby boy and we have provided her with a bassinet and baby pack.
“Another child is due this week to a courageous woman who has stood up to the abuse of the unborn child’s father.”
(It was later learnt the child was born on the afternoon of the day of the fundraising dinner.)
“Our plans for the future are that we intend to try to make a real difference in reducing the number of abortions occurring in Queensland and in Australia,” Mrs Camp said.
“It is a tragedy that some 15,000 children are killed by abortion each year in Queensland alone.”
For precise details of the services offered, contact Patti Camp via email at tf-a@bigpond.com
