By Dolores Madlener
SPECIAL WRITER

	Julie McCreevy, director of Helpers of God’s Precious Infants in Chicago.

Julie McCreevy says she comes from a “typical Irish Catholic family with nine kids.” If her family is typical, she is not.

Headed on the fast track in upper-middle management, supervising over 100 employees in a high-pressure sales organization, McCreevy’s ambitious beginning suddenly ground to a halt. Her company had a national merger and positions changed; so did McCreevy’s career path.

“I was looking for a new direction in my life and Joe and Anne Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League (PLAL) were looking into the possibility of starting something new in Chicago. They invited me to spend a weekend visiting Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, founder and executive director of Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.”

The international ministry that began in Brooklyn, N.Y., is committed to maintaining a loving and prayerful presence outside abortion mills.

She said, “We spent six hours with Bishop Thomas Daily, Msgr. Reilly and the Helpers, under a hot Brooklyn sun, at a prayer vigil in front of a large abortion clinic.”

It was grace under fire for the trio. They saw 35 women decide not to abort their babies and Helpers soon became a phenomenon in Chicago as well.

In the past three years McCreevy has become the Helpers’ local director.

As a teenager in the 1970s in Mount Prospect and Park Ridge, McCreevy says her mom was involved in pro-life work. She accompanied her mother, “a woman of great faith, humor and light” to abortion clinics for protests.

When she lost her mom, a sister and brother all within three years, “It makes an impact on your life.” she says. “It brings you to the cross. It’s life-changing.”

McCreevy credits her corporate experience working with a number of people and meeting demands and quotas, to being able to transition into her present work. “It was a natural stepping stone from one pressure situation to another. It wasn’t difficult for me,” she says lightly.

The role of a Helper isn’t for society’s wimps or bigots. This ministry takes spiritual fortitude.

In her dual role as a sidewalk counselor, McCreevy says, “I lay aside all prejudice and thoughts of judgment, just like a lamb. We let Him work through us. We strive to be channels of mercy.” She claims people sense her compassion. “Evangelization is the key word of the Holy Father and the best place to evangelize is in front of an abortion clinic!”

Individuals and participants from charismatic prayer groups, Hispanic or Anglo, take up their vigil regularly outside five neighborhood abortion mills on Saturday mornings. One of the targeted sites is the Albany Medical/Surgical Center on North Elston Avenue.

“These Helpers in prayer are so generous,” she says, “In snow or 95 degrees, they stand at this modern-day Calvary where the innocents are going to die.”

She sees the abortion cycle as “A disintegration of the deepest part of a person. Fifty percent are having a repeat abortion and most are Christians.” One or two counselors approach those on the way in to the clinic and meet them on their way out.

The Helpers also witness “miracles” at times when a mom or both parents choose life because of the power of prayer.

Just the sight of a large banner with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe amid the group of Helpers saved one baby. And a nurse from another clinic came to a prayer vigil to say she had quit her job due to their loving attitude and commitment.

Helpers come in all sizes and ages, from couples with lots of kids, 20- and 30-year-olds to the elderly. Those who cannot participate are considered “spiritual supporters” and have special prayers they recite in their homes.

Cardinal George, as well as bishops Conway, Goedert and Manz have all celebrated liturgies for Helpers, marched and prayed with them at clinics.

Two hundred stalwart Helpers in the Chicago Archdiocese took part in a 40-day fast at the start of the Jubilee Year. Some gave up meat or sweets or TV, some did bread and water fasting and all promised a daily holy hour. How many legions does the church have? The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants could be one of them.

With a belief that abortion can only be overcome through spiritual means, McCreevy declares, “It’s simple. We’re dealing against powers and principalities.”



To learn more about participating in the work of the Helpers, or to obtain a video by Msgr. Reilly, call (773) 777-5303.