With a joyful “Praise be to God!,” Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, cut the pink ribbon that was stretched across the doors to the Women’s Care Center in Peoria Aug 8, marking its official opening.

During his visit he also blessed the facility and the staff, and prayed for the success of their work. Tours and a reception, with refreshments provided by the Kress family of Brimfield, followed.

“He had lovely words of encouragement, extreme support and care and compassion for those we serve, encouragement and support for those in and around the mission, the staff, the friends, the volunteers,” said Christine Dennis, president of the Women’s Care Center board.

“It was special because of his great love for his people, his great love for the unborn, and his big heart for all who are served in this diocese,” she added.

Women’s Care Center, which opened quietly on May 16, offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. Located at 7319 N. University, it sits next door to National Health Care Inc., where abortions are performed.
Dennis said 103 women were served in the center’s first 90 days, while the abortion clinic was open only two Saturdays in July and August.

“That’s highly unusual,” she told The Catholic Post. “In this past week of Aug. 19 they were closed both procedure days, Wednesday and Saturday, so no abortion occurred. For the first time on record it was an abortion-free week in Peoria.”

While the staff of the pro-life outreach doesn’t know what’s going on, Dennis attributes what’s happening to the power of prayer.

“I believe wholeheartedly, beyond all reasoning, this has nothing to do with staff or economics. This is absolutely the will of God,” she said. “When Jesus is allowed to work through his people in a way that lifts and builds up and loves a community, the darkness goes away. We can’t take any credit.”

Women’s Care Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday; and from 7 to 11 a.m. every other Saturday. For more information, call (309) 689-0200.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Zimmerman)