Ave Maria University to Host National Mass for Terri’s Day

New Findings on “PVS” Underscores Importance for Terri’s Day Mass

Contact: Margaret Sciarrino, Priests for Life, 718-980-4400 ext. 251; Bobby Schindler, Terri’s Foundation, 727-490-7603

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 /Christian Newswire/ — Terri’s Foundation and Priests for Life are happy to announce that Ave Maria University will once again host “The National Mass for Terri’s Day” at the Ave Maria Oratory at Ave Maria University, located near Naples, Florida.

Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, and Father Thomas Euteneuer, President of Human Life International, will be joined by many other priests and faithful for the Mass at 5 PM on Wednesday, March 31.

Priests for Life and Terri’s Foundation established the “International Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Terri Schindler Schiavo, and All of Our Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters” (“Terri’s Day”) two years ago.

Its purpose is to foster education, prayer, and activism regarding discrimination against the disabled, and advocacy for people in situations similar to what Terri and her family faced so that no one will again suffer as she did. Terri’s Day is recognized each year on March 31st, the date of Terri’s death.

Just last week a new study released in The New England Journal of Medicine found that many persons diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative (PVS) are, in fact, responsive.

“What is worse is that persons with cognitive disabilities thought to be in this ‘PVS’ condition, like Terri, are routinely being denied food and hydration — their most basic rights. These new findings in the NEJM underscores the importance of why this dangerous and often mistaken PVS diagnosis needs to be stopped when being used as a standard to kill our most vulnerable,” noted Terri’s brother Bobby Schindler.

All are invited to attend “The National Mass for Terri’s Day” on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 at 5:00 PM ET. Address: Ave Maria University 5050 Ave Maria Boulevard, Ave Maria, FL 34142-9505

You can visit Terri’s Foundation (www.TerrisFight.org) and Priests for Life (www.priestsforlife.org) to learn more about defending the vulnerable. The website www.TerrisDay.org also provides suggestions for observing Terri’s Day.

Terri’s Foundation is dedicated to promoting the Culture of Life, embracing the true meaning of compassion by opposing the practice of euthanasia. Priests for Life is the largest Catholic organization exclusively dedicated to fighting abortion and euthanasia.