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Press Releases and Other News
Do you know about the Visitation House? It is a house that offers help, a home, meals, health care assistance, and spiritual guidance, to women in crisis pregnancies. It is a Catholic home, staffed by Catholics, funded by Catholics, with a Chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is always present. I'll never forget the story of a baby girl who didn't give up because the people in the house didn't give up, and neither did her mother. It was a miracle of perseverance. There was once a mother who was told that her baby had Down Syndrome. Well over 90% of those babies are aborted in the US today because of early genetic testing. The mother refused to abort her child, and when the father turned her away for that decision, she and her young son sought solace at the Visitation House. During her pregnancy, she had complications and was put on bed rest and care was provided not only for the mother to avoid miscarriage, but also for the little boy. People in the community prayed. The baby girl was born prematurely, weighing only two pounds, and to everyone's surprise, she did not have Down Syndrome. The Visitation House also provides help for the mothers after the baby is born and helps them transition to independent living. They don't just care for those in need, they help them become able to care for themselves in dignity. The little family eventually found a new home and the means to provide for themselves. I don't know about the father, but it is nice to think he was given a second chance at love. Many people need that at times in life. That's as it should be. You see, Visitation House was envisioned out of love, too, by Mrs. Ruth Pakaluk, a mother of seven who died at age 41 after a long battle with breast cancer. Even though she didn't see the house open, her wish did come true. Because of her and the people that made the Visitation House a reality, there is a place for women to go when they want to embrace life in our community. The house has had to establish a waiting list at times, which is sad because pregnancies don't wait. Join me in prayer and assistance for the house that, in the spirit of Elizabeth, who welcomed her cousin the Virgin Mary with awe-filled joy and true hospitality of heart, doesn't give up on life. May 6, 2011
Mr. Pakaluk is now chairman of the philosophy department at Ave Maria University in Florida, where his current wife, Catherine Hardy Pakaluk, also teaches. He returned to Worcester as keynote speaker for the 6th Annual Potluck Benefit Dinner for Visitation House April 28 in St. Paul Cathedral’s cenacle. Visitation House, at 119 Endicott St., is a Catholic, non-profit transitional home for pregnant women in crisis. This year the house’s annual Ruth V. K. Pakaluk Award was given posthumously to James P. Walsh, a local Catholic physician who supported the house until his death last year. His niece Margaret Megron received a clock with a commemorative plaque in his honor. Eve Lindquist, the house’s executive director, said the evening raised $20,000. In her welcome, Raeanna Williams, whose husband, Joseph Williams, is Visitation House board president, recalled how she once told her children she and her husband were expecting another baby, and her 7-year-old exclaimed, “Great! Mama’s so lucky! She gets to go and live at Visitation House.” Her children saw the ministry their parents supported as good enough for their mother, she said. Visitation House has welcomed more than 100 people and saved more than 50 babies, she said, to applause. Mr. Pakaluk said this was his first engagement since the publication of the book, a collection of letters and talks by Ruth Pakaluk with biographical information by him. Bishop Reilly wrote the forward. Mr. Pakaluk summarized parts of the book, including his late wife’s conversion from atheism to Catholicism, her orientation toward heaven after their son died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and after she contracted cancer, and her passion for pro-life truths and for life in general. “Love of heaven made her love this life more,” he said. “I think Ruth’s life is a testament to hope. If your body’s breaking down, your children are growing up and you’re going to leave them behind, you could easily become very despairing.” But his wife displayed “extraordinary cheerfulness,” he said. He said she was taken with the line “the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God,” and noted that things that look grim can have a happy ending. “Then I thought, a strange thing in her life, our son Thomas Matthew died when he was 7 weeks old,” Mr. Pakaluk said. But if he hadn’t died, their daughter Sarah, born less than a year later, would not have been conceived, as his wife did not conceive while breastfeeding, he said. “Thomas Matthew’s death was the price for her life,” he said. A similar thing happened with his wife’s death. “In the final months she matched me up with my current wife,” he said. The children they had together would not exist if his first wife was still alive, he said. His grief and suffering over her death was turned to joy in marrying his second wife. He recalled a story in which one person tells another how God brings good out of bad. The other responds that if the price of good is something horrible, “I say to God, ‘I respectfully return the ticket.’” Mr. Pakaluk said his first wife wanted to be a co-redeemer with Christ. He said he thinks that is somebody who says, “I’ll take the ticket.” January 28, 2011
On Jan. 17, Martin Luther Day, a group of 30 employees from World Energy came to Visitation House to lend a helping hand. They did cleaning and organizing at the 32-room home for pregnant women in crisis, much needed work that wouldn’t have gotten done until spring. “We are truly blessed and grateful to them for their excellent work and thoughtfulness,” said Eve Lindquist, Visitation House executive director. World Energy is a Worcester-based energy management services company made up of 62 employees. One of their core values is to “honor their responsibilities” to one another, their company and community and so twice a year they reach out to organizations in need to offer their services and assistance with whatever they may need. Visitation House was referred to them by United Way as a worthy cause. Erin Choquet of World Energy said that she is truly grateful to have found new friends at Visitation House. – Submitted by Eve Lindquist October 7, 2010 On October 3rd, Respect Life Sunday, parishioners from St. Bernadette in Northboro, Sacred Heart in Webster, and St. John in Worcester participated in the MCFL “Walk to Aid Mothers and Children” and raised money for Visitation House in Worcester. This is the third year that Eve Lindquist, Executive Director of Visitation House and a parishioner of St. Bernadette parish, coordinated the trip. Thanks to the generosity of Fr. Stephen Gemme, pastor of St. Bernadette, who donated a bus, the group was able to travel together to and from Boston. Fr. Michael Roy, pastor of Sacred Heart also joined in the walk, which drew a large crowd of families, students, and seminarians to the Boston Common. A highlight of this year’s event was the participation of the Lifeline Club from Burlington High School, the only pro-life group in a public high school in Massachusetts. The Lifeline Club was founded by Kayla Coluci with the help of her cousin Matt Hanafin. Matt really fired up the crowd with his great presentation. And Reverend Basil Yarde provided music and inspiration while participants warmed up before the Walk. Walkers from the three parishes were treated to refreshments at the St. Bernadette parish center upon their return. All enjoyed a great day of Catholic fellowship while standing up for the rights of the innocent unborn. October 5, 2010 Visitation House in Worcester is pleased to announce the hiring of Kim Fitzpatrick as our new House Manager. In this position, Kim will be responsible for all areas of house management including staffing, meal planning, and upkeep of our 32 room facility, as well as coordinating volunteers and providing support to our residents. Kim will report directly to Eve Lindquist, Executive Director.
October 5, 2010
Sherry joined Visitation House on September 2, 2010 and is now responsible for intake and orientation of new residents as well as ongoing guidance and support, including the coordination of various life skills programs. She will report directly to Eve Lindquist, Executive Director. July 18, 2010
On March 8, 2010, he was inducted as an honorary member of the Holy Cross Varsity Hall of Fame. He was a founding member of the Vernon Medical Center at 10 Winthrop St., Worcester, and maintained a private practice there since 1975. Dr. Walsh was a founding member of Opera Worcester. He was its first treasurer and later served several years as president. He also served on the boards of the Salisbury Singers and Music Worcester. Dr. Walsh leaves two sisters, Mary E. Gorman of Waterbury and Anne L. Crimmins of Waterbury, with whom he resided after his retirement. He is also survived by seven nephews and six nieces and several grand nieces and grand nephews, especially Matthew who was the joy of his life. His brothers, William J. and Lt. Col. Thomas S. Walsh, predeceased him. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Visitation House, 119 Endicott St., Worcester 01610 or Problem Pregnancy of Worcester, 495 Pleasant St., Worcester 01609. March 24, 2010 WORCESTER – With the passage of the new health care legislation, Americans need to re-think their commitment to life, and Catholics need to pursue life, Cardinal Justin Rigali, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, told The Catholic Free Press March 23. Cardinal Rigali is former chairman of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Committee on Pro-life Activities and now a member of that committee. He was keynote speaker for the 5th Annual Potluck Benefit Dinner for Visitation House, which provides housing and other services for pregnant women in need.
“Marilyn epitomizes what Ruth Pakaluk stood for,” said the program booklet. “Like Ruth, she has a deep appreciation for life and is living the Gospel and helping to build a culture of life.” Marilyn and her husband, George, have shared their passion for Visitation House with friends, the booklet said. Cardinal Rigali did not talk about health care in his address, but responded briefly to the newspaper’s questions afterwards. “We’re very disappointed that a law of the land was enacted” and provides federal funds for abortion and doesn’t sufficiently provide for freedom of conscience for medical professionals or for people who are called upon to pay for other people’s abortions, he said.
Asked what the bishops are asking of Catholics now, he said Catholics need “to once again commit ourselves to the pursuit of life.” The great scourges of killing of the unborn and homelessness merge when a homeless woman is desperate enough to have an abortion, Cardinal Rigali said in his keynote address. “If Visitation House did not exist, how many more children would have been taken from us?” he asked. And would women living on the streets be pressured to abort their children? “It is so beautiful that your house bears the name of so beautiful a mystery,” he said, after telling the story of the Blessed Mother’s visitation to Elizabeth. He noted how Jesus said whoever receives a child receives him and how he urged, “Let the children come to me.” “I will pray for the success of this good work,” said the cardinal, whose connection with the city is that his father graduated from the College of the Holy Cross 100 years ago.
He praised the love the young residents have for their children, which leads them to humbly turn to strangers for help. The staff show Christ’s love in action, he said, and praised the administrative work of executive director Eve Lindquist and the modeling of motherly love by house manager Susan Arraje. He expressed gratitude, especially to priest supporters in this Year for Priests. He told listeners Visitation House survives with no government money, “just your love and your support.” The evening included a free-will donation, raffle and silent auction. April 1, 2009 Her husband, Earl C. Taylor, died in 1991. She is survived by her sister, Maureen Boyle and her husband Daniel J. of Auburn; her two brothers: Francis O'Leary of Ft. St. Lucie, FL and Leonard E. O'Leary, of Mashpee. She also leaves a niece, Meagan O'Leary of Boston, and nephews: Michael Boyle and Kevin Boyle, both of Grafton, Brian Boyle of Ashburn, VA and Timothy Boyle of Margate, FL, Patrick O'Leary of Shrewsbury, Timothy O'Leary of West Boylston, and James O'Leary of Verona, NJ, and Michael O'Leary of Walpole, and Kevin O'Leary of Methuen. She was born in Worcester, was the daughter of the late Francis J. and Margaret M. (Leonard) O'Leary, and was educated in Worcester schools, later graduating from South High school and Worcester State College. She was a school teacher in the Auburn school system for many years. Patricia was a long time member of St. Peter's Church in Worcester; she was active in many of its groups and was involved in several diocesan affairs, including the food pantry and the Right for Life, Problem Pregnancy and the Visitation House. She is a member of the Worcester County Retired Teachers Association, and a past president of the Providence Guild. In lieu of flowers, make donations to The Visitation House, 119 Endicott St., Worcester, MA 01610 or to Problem Pregnancy of Worcester, 495 Pleasant St, Worcester, MA 01609, the Providence Guild, 228 Lincoln St, Worcester, MA 01605. For Patricia's guestbook and online memorialvisit: www.brittonfuneralhomes.com February 2, 2009 Sunday, January 25, 2009, Massachusetts Citizens for Life had their 36th Annual Assembly for Lifeat The Great Hall of Historic Faneuil Hall. The event’s keynote speaker was WBZ radio host Dan Reawho spoke on “Politics of Abortion”. There were many dignitaries at the event, including Most Rev. Robert Francis Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. The main theme of the assembly was on the recent march in Washington, which took place on January 22, 2009 and pro-life issues on FOCA andstem cell research.
February 7, 2008
May 29, 2007 - Published at www.massnonprofit.org Visitation House, a Worcester nonprofit which provides material, emotional, and spiritual assistance to women with crisis pregnancies, has announced the appointment of Eve Lindquist as executive director. Lindquist, who, has 30 years of experience in the hotel and travel industry, will manage the house and budget in addition to actively participate in all aspects of fundraising. Her background has included various positions within that field from food service, catering, to sales, public relations and marketing. Most recently she owned and operated Boston & New England Reservation Service, discount hotel reservation service for twelve years. Prior to that, she served as executive vice president and Director of Marketing for thirteen years with Saunders Hotel Group. Visitation House, Inc. has been in full operation since May 2005 and, to date, has welcomed its 20th guest. By providing housing and basic needs at no cost, the organization seeks to address the needs of pregnant women who want to choose life but feel that they have no real means or resources to do so.
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September 25, 2011
WORCESTER – Their mother’s death brought new life to their grieving father, who, with his second wife, gave life to more children. Michael Pakaluk shared these experiences from his life as he talked about the just-released book he edited, “The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God: The Story of Ruth Pakaluk: Convert, Mother, Pro-Life Activist.” Ruth Van Kooy Pakaluk, his first wife, a former director of pro-life activities for the Worcester Diocese, died from breast cancer in 1998. 
At the dinner Tuesday which filled the cenacle of St. Paul Cathedral, Bishop McManus offered grace and a closing prayer. Bishop Reilly and Joseph C. Williams, president of Visitation House’s board, gave the Ruth Pakaluk Award to Marilyn A. Sullivan, who has supported Visitation House since it opened in 2005.
The claim is that President Barack Obama’s executive order limits these negative effects, but the bishops wanted conscience protection and no funding of abortion to be part of the law, he said. He said a presidential order is less than a law and can be set aside. “Our original objection to the law stands,” he said.” It’s a moment when we as Americans have to re-think our commitment to life. Do we believe in the right to life ... ?”
Mr. Williams said the night’s theme was “Jesus’ love for us.” At the end of life, individuals will be judged on love, he said. He mentioned wars, health care debates and growing deficits, and said lack of hope kills love. Visitation House is a source of hope, he said. 
