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RESPECT LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I JANUARY 8, 2014 Upcoming events to honor millions lost in 41 years of legal abortion the facility and pray for children who lost their lives at that location. Attendees are asked to bring flowers. BY JULIE FILBY On Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the United States. Since that ruling 41 years ago, it is estimated 56.9 million babies have died nationwide through abortion. To commemorate the anniversary, several events are planned in Denver to pray for an end to abortion. Mass of Remembrance At 12:10 p.m., Jan. 18, all are invited to the annual Mass of Remembrance to be celebrated by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at 1530 Logan St. in Denver. March for Life Denver Colorado Right To Life has organized the second annual March for Life Denver beginning at 1 p.m., Jan. 18, at the Colorado State Capitol in downtown Denver. The solemn rally will begin on the west side of the Capitol building and feature pro-life speakers. For more information, visit www.coloradorighttolife. org, call 303-753-9394 or email office@ColoradoRTL.org. Pro-Life Boot Camp Lynn Grandon, program director of Respect Life Resources of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, will conduct the third annual Pro-Life Boot Camp for eighth- through 12th-graders 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at St. Thomas More Church at 8035 S. Quebec St. in Centennial. The boot camp will empower youth with "sound reasoning to impact future generations," according to Grandon, who will educate attendees on the medical and Catholic perspectives on conception and abortion. The boot camp will include lessons on embryology, as illustrated with soft fetal models and 3-D ultrasound imaging. Attendees are invited to stay for the parish's Life PHOTO BY JAMES BACA/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Teen Mass at 5:30 p.m. To sign A FAMILY prays during the Denver Archdiocese's 2010 Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral up, call St. Thomas More's youth Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. This year's Mass for Remembrance is set for 12:10 p.m. office at 303-220-3388. Jan. 18 at the Cathedral Basilica. For questions about these 41-Year Remembrance Event of the Rocky Mountains. The headed to the national March for events, contact Respect Life ReArchbishop Aquila will preside gathering, titled 41-Year Remem- Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 22. sources at 303-742-0828 or visit The Lighthouse event will www.ccdenver.org/RespectLife. at a 3 p.m. Jan. 18 memorial for brance: Honoring Denver's Children Lost to Abortion, will begin conclude with a procession to aborted children at Lighthouse Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. Women's Center, 3894 Olive St. in with song and prayer, followed Planned Parenthood. There, Denver, a block from the head- by words from the archbishop, participants will place flowers filby@archden.org; www.twitter. quarters of Planned Parenthood who will then bless area pilgrims along the fence that surrounds com/DCRegisterJulie 'Gimme Shelter' depicts heroic choice of teen mother Movie aims to start grassroots movement, gets cardinal's praise VANESSA Hudgens plays pregnant teenager Agnes "Apple" Bailey whose fight for the life of her unborn child is depicted in "Gimme Shelter," opening in theaters Jan. 24. BY NISSA LAPOINT The inspiration behind the soon-to-be-released "Gimme Shelter" movie visited Denver last month to introduce the true story of one homeless teenager's fight for her unborn child's life. Kathy DiFiore, the Catholic founder of Several Sources Shelter for pregnant teens in New Jersey, attended a screening Dec. 8 at the Landmark Theatre in Greenwood Village to discuss the real life events behind the pro-life film. "I hope you enjoy the film," DiFiore told the screening audience. "It's about my lifelong work and work with mothers and their babies." The film opens across the country Jan. 24. Based on true events, "Gimme Shelter" depicts the heroic story of Agnes "Apple" Bailey, played by actress Vanessa Hudgens, and her path to motherhood as a pregnant, homeless teenager. The story begins with Apple's flight from her abusive, drug-addicted mother, played PHOTO COURTESY ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS by Rosario Dawson, and search for her Wall Street father, played by Brendan Fraser. Her father gives her a place to stay but once it's discovered she's pregnant, Apple is taken to an abortion clinic. Apple decides to flee after looking at a sonogram of her baby girl. Film director Ronald Krauss, who also attended the Centennial screening, takes viewers through a gripping account of the desperation and isolation facing many young women lacking support for their decision to choose life. "There's a lot of 'Apples' out there—tragic Apples that need help," DiFiore said after the film. "I'll get another call tonight and there'll be another Apple. We need to put so much love into them and (then) you can see the transition." The film shows Apple's struggle for survival by dumpster diving, sleeping in parked cars and escaping threats from the streets, which ends in a car wreck. In the depths of despair, Apple meets a compassionate priest in a hospital who opens said in a statement. "Out of rejection shines the courageous beauty of a mother's love, and out of tragedy, shines hope." The approximately 75,000 pregnant teenagers in the United States are in desperate need for a loving environment in a shelter or home for unwed mothers, DiFiore said. She told viewers that the film is an effort to start a grassroots movement to aid pregnant teenagers. The movie was partially filmed in DiFiore's maternity home for unwed mothers, where many of the moms make an appearance. Actresses also worked with the homeless mothers to depict their personal stories in the film, she said. DiFiore's work since 1981 to help pregnant teenagers has been lauded, especially by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who worked with her to change shelter laws in New Jersey that threatened to close the maternity home. Another film screening was held Jan. 7 at the AMC Highlands Ranch 24. The film is rated PG-13 for mature subjects involving abuse, violence and language. Visit www.screenit catholic.com for details. her life to God and leads her to a maternity home for unwed mothers. With renewed confidence, Apple fights all odds and starts a new life for her and her baby. Vatican official Bishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, endorsed the film and its pro-life message. "'Apple' fights against all odds and finds hope in the kindness of some key people … and the deep love of God for every sinNissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; gle man, woman and child from nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. the moment of conception," he twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa