PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island State Council of the Knights of Columbus has donated a new ultrasound machine to Rhode Island Right to Life to assist the organization in its mission to protect life.
It is the second such machine purchased by the Knights for RIRTL since 2017.
Barth E. Bracy, executive director of RIRTL, said he was grateful to the Knights State and Supreme Councils for their commitment to life.
Rhode Island State Deputy Joseph Carrignan said that the local Knights mobilized quickly, raising one-half of the $32,500 cost of the new ultrasound machine in less than two months. The Knights Supreme Council matched that, making the purchase possible.
“The Supreme Council Knights of Columbus has an ultrasound initiative where they are seeking to give away one million ultrasound machines,” Carrignan said.
This the third machine the Knights have sponsored in the state.
They donated one to the Mother of Life Center six years ago.
“This is absolutely amazing,” he said of the work being done by RIRTL in protecting life through the use of the ultrasound machines.
RIRTL Director of Services Lydia Bartlett said that since last May, there have been more than 90 “saves” attributed to the use of the ultrasound equipment, either on the mobile van, or at RIRTL headquarters on Smith Street.
“Having an ultrasound machine available to show pregnant mothers an image of the baby in their womb is very important,” Bartlett said.
“About 30 of those saves came directly from the sidewalk over the past year,” she said of the pregnant, abortion-minded mothers who avail themselves of the free ultrasounds offered by RIRTL from its Ancora van parked outside Planned Parenthood a few mornings each week.
“It’s inspiring to see them change their minds,” deciding to keep their baby.
She said that when someone comes on the van for an ultrasound, they always try to make a follow-up appointment with them to see how their pregnancy is progressing.
“The most exciting place to be, where the drama happens, is when we’re in front of Planned Parenthood on Tuesday and Friday and some Saturday and Monday mornings now,” Bracy said.
“That’s where the moms are actually going in for a scheduled abortion. These are the miracles that happen. When we first started in 2017, if there was a mom every three months that came on the van for an ultrasound, that was great. Now, every day when we’re down there someone is coming onboard.”
Father Mark G. Gadoury, the Knights state chaplain, and pastor, St. Joseph Parish in Woonsocket, as well as chaplain to St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, blessed the new machine, asking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn.
“We pray for those who serve in this place, and that their words and actions may always reflect your mercy and compassion. Strengthen them in their mission to defend life and bless all those who support their work with prayer and time and resources,” he prayed.
Father Gadoury asked for the Lord’s abundant blessings upon the new machine and that through the images it provides the truth of life within the womb may be made visible.
“May every heartbeat be seen, every tiny hand and foot revealed be a sign of the sacredness of life created in your image and likeness,” he prayed.
“May the mothers who come here find the grace to embrace the precious gift you have entrusted to them, the courage to choose life and the support they need to welcome their children with love.”
