by Fredi D’Alessio
April 9, 2009

When, in 1998, my dear friend Nora Dougherty who had been engaged in sidewalk counseling and also counseling at a crisis pregnancy center in Nevada, moved to San Francisco, she wasted no time in establishing a sidewalk counseling ministry in this city.

She continues to faithfully persevere in that ministry to this day.

In Jan of 2002 she initiated an annual “Lights for Life” prayer vigil outside the very same child-killing center at which she reaches out to mothers and fathers, who are contemplating or planning abortion, to offer them information that they have a need and right to know.

In 1999, my dear sister and confidant, returned home to our Lord. I can recall revealing to her in one of our precious conversations, that I believed the most important thing I could do with my life would be to be actively engaged in the pro-life movement.

I didn’t have a clue at that time as to how or where that seed might be sowed. Then, in October of 2002, at the San Francisco Archdiocese’s annual Respect Life conference, I heard Nora speak about her sidewalk counseling ministry. At that time, I had been praying with a group outside a child-killing center in the city, but I was ignorant of sidewalk counseling.

Upon hearing Nora’s talk, I couldn’t allow myself to leave the conference hall without having introduced myself to her, finding out where she was conducting her ministry, and if I could support her in prayer at that location.

I didn’t waste any time in doing so. I immediately joined her and I watched and prayed at one of our many modern day calvaries.

I learned a great deal from Nora about the abortion industry. She was always giving me something more to read. I received a very unpleasant, but necessary education.

Perhaps our awesome God had given me another “sister” to help me sow the seed I had spoken of to my dear sister some years earlier.

If I hadn’t met Nora, I don’t know when, if ever, I would have become engaged in sidewalk counseling ministry. Thanks be to God and his servant, Nora, today I find myself in my seventh consecutive year.

It is Nora’s example along with my constant prayers that has enabled me to persevere in this necessary ministry.

If one were to focus on the challenges of sidewalk counseling, one might perceive Nora to be a heroine. As accurate as that might be, to me she is more truly an angel.

On behalf of all born, not yet born, and never-born children, I express sincere gratitude for her love, compassion, and fortitude in her endeavors to be an instrument of Christ’s love mercy and peace.

On April 4, 2009 Nora Dougherty was awarded the 2009 Human Life Award by United for Life, San Francisco, CA