Nun leader-founder of Pro-Life Philippines critically ill

MANILA, Philippines—Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, founder of Pro-Life Philippines, is in critical condition at a Cavite hospital after suffering from a brain aneurysm last Thursday afternoon.

The 67-year-old nun was giving a seminar to medical and nursing students at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in Cavite when she experienced a headache and vomited, according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines news site.

Verzosa was rushed to the university’s medical center where she is reportedly in a coma and breathing with the help of a respirator in the intensive care unit.

“[She] requires the aid of a respirator due to massive bleeding in the brain, thereby considerably affecting the respiratory system,” reported CBCPNews, the official news service of the local Catholic Church hierarchy.

According to Pro-life Philippines executive director Lorna Melegrito, the organization had scheduled a celebration to mark Verzosa’s 68th birthday on Sept. 24.  The birthday blowout-cum-fundraising was to take place on Sept. 29 at a Quezon City restaurant, said Melegrito.

“Whatever God’s plan is for our dear Sister Pilar, we will push through with honoring her life,” said Melegrito. Verzosa belongs to the Religious of the Good Shepherd.

Melegrito asked for prayers for Verzosa, who is known for promoting Filipino family values, counseling women and families in crisis, putting up programs to address Filipino women’s needs, and motivating the faithful across the country to continue to defend life and the family, particularly against the reproductive health bill pending in Congress.