CBJ editor note: At Catholic Business Journal we are committed to showcasing Catholic business men and women who vibrantly live their Catholic faith in business, at work, in their family and in their daily lives. We are so proud to have long featured the articles and thoughts of Catholic businessman extraordinaire, Tim Von Dohlen, who writes for us from Austin, Texas. Today, what he, his wife Pat, and a small group of dedicated business leaders, doctors and staff in Austin, Texas, have accomplished with their pro-life center is truly remarkable, as you can see below. It started small, and yet well-organized. No one took their eyes off the prize of saving as many babies as possible from the agonizing death of abortion.
In a nutshell, let me ask you: How many pro-life centers of any kind actually thrive, grow, expand and eventually become so successful at saving babies and helping parents in trouble that their success demands super-expansion, a new building and facility?!! This is the kind of result achieved with consistent, business-savvy , faith-infused leadership and never-ending prayer.
And this is what is happening in Austin Texas, thanks to Tim and Pat Von Dohlen, and their team… and we encourage you to be part of it if you can.
Read on… -ed.
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As we approach Thanksgiving, it is a wonderful time to “SHARE the VISION” for the future of the St. John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic in Austin, Texas. I have woven together remarks by my wife, Pat, and myself, co-founders of the St. John Paul II Life Center, culled from our presentation at the October 24, 2021, “Life Is Beautiful Gala” in Austin, Texas.
“All human life, from the moment of conception, is sacred because human life is created in the image and likeness of God. Nothing surpasses the greatness or dignity of a human person.” – St. John Paul II
Helping the Mother and Baby After the Baby is Born!
Tim: When my wife, Pat, was studying the Catholic faith, she asked me, “I know the Church doesn’t want fearful young women to have abortions, but what’s being done to help the woman have the baby and to support them after the child is born?” With that question, the seed was planted and a unique business model was created. A compassionate pregnancy help center combined with onsite, real women’s health care – the St. John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic—were formed to save babies’ lives, to help women during pregnancy and also to help women after a child’s birth.
Pat: We are amazed at God’s great blessings! We are both humbled and grateful for the lives saved and the hearts transformed thanks to the dedication of our Board, staff and so many valued friends and supporters.
Can you believe the children of our first JPII clients are entering fifth grade this year? We can only imagine the great works God will accomplish in their hands! Together we have helped save over 1,400 babies and families.
Tim: As we look to the future, our mission “Inform Minds, Transform Hearts and Save Lives” leads us to even more ambitious goals! Tonight, we share our exiting vision and plans for the future!
Under the guidance of our outstanding Board and our talented employees, we will be rolling out enhanced programs that expand our reach, teach the value and dignity of every human life and work towards inspiring a generation for life.
Like A Seed Takes Time to Root and Bear Fruit
Pat: When God keeps tugging at your heart … it is like a seed; it needs time to take root and bear fruit. It is like the conception and birth of a baby. First the openness to God’s plan, then the pregnancy, then the development in the mother’s womb and finally the delivery.
And what do parents do during this time? They prepare! They get ready for the challenges and responsibilities of parenthood. They work together. If it is one thing parenthood teaches us, it is that we are not in charge… we have to be patient, do our best and pray! What is the old saying? “Do your best and let God do the rest!”
We at the JPII Life Center have a Calling
Tim: Like preparing for a new baby, our efforts at the JPII Life Center have always been dependent on preparation and prayer. Now, after more than a decade, we believe God is asking and calling us to do more. To save more lives; To help more families; To educate more young people; to provide alternatives for young physicians who know that abortion is NOT healthcare. We are being asked to GROW.
God is tugging at our hearts, and we must respond!
At this very unusual time in which we live, who will stand up for the most innocent and vulnerable? Teach the Truth! That is what we believe, we must teach the Truth. And that is what we will teach, “the Truth.”
As St. John Paul II said: “Life is entrusted to man as a treasure which must not be squandered, as a talent that must be used well.”
We must respond to the call – we cannot sit quietly by.
Indeed, we have an exciting vision and plan!
Seeking a New Home
We have outgrown our current rental space. We need a new home and have been presented with a rare opportunity to purchase property near Ascension Seton Main Hospital where our Vitae physicians are on staff. Imagine!
Our own building!
More women are seeking our help. We never want to turn away a woman because we do not have space. We need a place where every abortion vulnerable woman receives essential and immediate care.
Pat – We are so excited about what this new building will mean. We desperately need more space to meet the growing needs of women seeking our help. Just this year we are caring for almost twice as many pregnant women.
We need more client advocacy rooms, rooms for added physicians, an additional ultrasound exam room, a classroom for expanded educational programs, rooms for additional medical services, a production room for marketing expansion and community outreach and more.
I hope you hear and feel God tugging at your heart right now!
The difference this space can make and the lives it will help save are priceless.
Tim: We cannot do this without your help. As the great communicator Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “Whenever man attempts to do what he knows to be the Master’s Will, a power will be given him equal to the duty.”
With your assistance and support, the Life and Family Center will be built! Come along with us as we make this vision a reality: The St. John Paul II Life and Family Center!
Our Plans Require a Multi-Million Dollar Capital Campaign
To do what we are describing to acquire the land, construct the buildingand expand our programs requires a multimillion-dollar Capital Campaign to be raised over three years.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
So, expect that we will be asking to receive, seeking to find, knocking and praying that your door will be opened to help us help babies and their mothers and families.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A ROBUST TAX DEDUCTION THAT ENDS IN 2021: Full Tax Deduction in 2021 of Charitable Gifts
2021 is a special year allowing full deduction of charitable gifts. This is a special provision and will not be available in 2022. This tax deduction will be gone in future years. Consider giving to save babies lives and mothers’ health.
Hopefully you see our vision and want to become part of the plan. Together, let’s save more babies lives so they can see the beauty of life!
Remember, “the future starts today, not tomorrow!” as St. John Paul II said.
God has truly blessed us and the Center. We have so much to be thankful for!
God bless you, Thank you for your prayers and any help you feel called to give, including your prayers!
Happy Thanksgiving!
RELATED RESOURCES:
- LINK: Help save more babies – Help build the new JPII Life Center
- Help may also be sent by mail to Tim Von Dohlen — any checks made out to “JPII Life Center” — c/o JPII Life Center, 1600 W. 38th Street, Suite 110, Austin, TX, 78731 (Please include a note that you read his article in the Catholic Business Journal)
- Contact Tim Von Dohlen: Send email to: Tim@tvdg.com
View Articles If you’ve met Tim, you know that his life was shaped by good values that were imparted to him by his parents and he... MORE »
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