Sad Songs: A View from the Front Lines of the Spiritual Battle between the Culture of Death and the Culture of Life–A Sidewalk Counselor’s Journal
By David E. Dowd with a commentary by Ronda Chervin
As a volunteer pro-life sidewalk counselor, the author recorded these reports over six months of praying and counseling outside an abortion clinic. Based on observations, conversations, quotations, and personal reflections, they reveal the fear, hardship, denial, and desperation of the 20–30 women who entered the clinic each day—stories seldom heard in public discussions of abortion.
The surgical and chemical abortion of unborn children remains an ongoing national tragedy. Abortion clinics are the front lines of an unseen spiritual battle, where a small band of volunteers representing the Culture of Life stands against the Culture of Death. These pages bear witness to that daily struggle and invite readers to confront its reality before seeking God’s consolation and hope.
Paperback $14.95 | Audible: $14.99 | Kindle $9.99
TESTIMONIALS
“David E. Dowd’s splendid new book—Sad Songs, A Sidewalk Counselor’s Journal—is a revealing and compelling first hand account of the struggles and challenges of pro-life counselors outside the killing centers, as they try to rescue innocent children from the ‘primordial evil of our time’, legal abortion. David Dowd’s testimony is a reminder of the passage from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Sidewalk counselors understand the spiritual nature of this warfare. They seek not only to save the life of the child, but the soul of the mother. Even the abortionists and their collaborators are not beyond their prayers and ministrations. Reading David Dowd’s book, one apprehends the vital necessity for spiritual preparation and grounding on the part of the sidewalk counselor. Their unique apostolate requires all of the Theological, Cardinal and Capital Virtues and the many Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Ghost. Armed with all of these, and in a state of sanctifying grace, they are ready to do battle against this Luciferian evil. They are the heroes of our time.” – C.J. Doyle, Executive Director, Catholic Action League of Massachusetts
“This book is a great read for those who pray outside of abortion clinics or are considering it. The best parts are the factual descriptions of what actually happens outside a clinic. It introduces all of the characters you are likely to meet: clinic workers and volunteers, other prayer warriors and counselors, and, most importantly, women who are considering abortion. Dowd offers excellent examples of how to engage with these and others in calm, empathetic dialogue.” — Jennifer Hurt, Pro-life Ministry Leader, Philosophy MA Holy Apostles
“Like watching a trainwreck, you won’t be able to tear your eyes away. You won’t be able to unsee the story David Dowd, a sidewalk counselor, has put together for you. Yet, an essential story for everyone on the right side of life, a story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever tried to save an unborn child.” — Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, a Lay Dominican of the Province of St. Albert the Great
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David E. Dowd, a self-described repentant Catholic poet and former insurance underwriter, is a Pro-Life Activist who has been involved in street preaching in Boston. He is the author of Love, Life, Family & the Boston Red Sox: A Book of Poetry and Always a New Beginning!
ABOUT THE COMMENTATOR
Ronda Chervin, PhD, is a professor of philosophy, widow, grandmother, and great grandmother. She has taught at Loyola Marymount University, St. John’s Seminary of Los Angeles, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Our Lady of Corpus Christi, and Holy Apostles Seminary and College. She is the author of numerous books about Catholic living and presents on EWTN and Catholic Radio. Most well-known of her books are The Way of Love, Treasury of Women Saints, Avoiding Bitterness in Suffering: How our Heroes in Faith Found Peace amid Sorrow, Escaping Anxiety on the Road to Spiritual Joy, Talkaholics, and, with David Dowd, Always a New Beginning.
OTHER CATHOLIC MEMOIRS
Little Pilgrim of Hope: A Child’s Joyful Faith in the Midst of Terminal Brain Cancer by Laura Fredrickson
Little Pilgrim of Hope: A Child’s Joyful Faith in the Midst of Terminal Brain Cancer by Laura Fredrickson When seven-year-old Francisco is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, his extraordinary faith transforms unimaginable suffering into a powerful witness of hope....
Life at the Margins: Reflections on a Missionaries of Charity Brother’s Journey with the Poor by Carmel Duca
Life at the Margins: Reflections on a Missionaries of Charity Brother's Journey with the Poor by Carmel Duca Life at the Margins invites readers into the extraordinary, hidden world of the poor as seen through the eyes of Missionaries of Charity Brother Carmel Duca....
St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time – Spiritual Guide for the Catholic Heart by Sister Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM
St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time - Spiritual Guide for the Catholic Heart by Sister Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM Sister Mary Catherine Blanding’s St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time presents a compelling and deeply...
My Story: The Act of Storytelling by Richard J. Bishirjian, Ph.D.
My Story: The Act of Storytelling by Richard J Bishirjian, Ph.D. This book is a deeply personal reflection on faith, history, and intellectual pursuit. Rooted in political philosophy, this memoir weaves together personal experiences, theological insights, and...
The Legacy of Monsignor James Kirwin (1872-1926) by Sr. Madeleine Grace, CVI, Ph.D.
The Legacy of Monsignor James Kirwin (1872-1926) by Sr. Madeleine Grace, CVI, Ph.D. The Legacy of Monsignor James Kirwin (1872-1926) presents a compelling portrait of a priest whose leadership, courage, and pastoral zeal shaped the Church and civic life of early...
Whispering Hope through Hearing Loss by Bernadette Griffith
Activating the Cochlear Implant, 2019Whispering Hope through Hearing Loss by Bernadette Griffith Whispering Hope through Hearing Loss is a tender and courageous memoir of faith, identity, and resilience. Bernadette Griffith traces her journey from childhood tinnitus...
Fisher of Men by Irvin Louis Kloska
Fisher of Men by Irvin Kloska Fisher of Men is a moving Catholic memoir tracing the life of Irvin Louis Kloska, a devoted husband, father, fisherman, and man of deep faith. Through family stories, spiritual awakenings, Marian devotion, Eucharistic love, and accounts...
Finding Flannery: A Travel Memoir Exploring the Mystique of Flannery O’Connor and the Legacy She Has Left Us All, authored by Christina Brajkovich, Karen Anne Mahoney, and Roxane B. Salonen
Finding Flannery: A Travel Memoir Exploring the Mystique of Flannery O’Connor and the Legacy She Has Left Us All authored by Christina Brajkovich, Karen Anne Mahoney, and Roxane B. Salonen Follow the journey… During the fiftieth anniversary year of the death of...
“Go in Peace”: May Our Lives Always Give Glory to God by Dcn. Tony Surozenski
“Go in Peace”: May Our Lives Always Give Glory to God by Dcn. Tony Surozenski In Go in Peace: May Our Lives Always Give Glory to God, retired firefighter, deacon, chaplain, and teacher Tony Surozenski reflects on a lifetime of service shaped by faith, family, and...
The Schoolie: Observations on Life through the Window of a School Bus by Suzanne Cruz
The Schoolie: Observations on Life through the Window of a School Bus by Suzanne Cruz Have you ever loved your family deeply and still wondered how any of you survived each other? The Schoolie is a warm, witty, and deeply reflective coming-of-age memoir told through...
Journey to Forgiveness by Regina Civiletti
Journey to Forgiveness by Regina Civiletti When tragedy struck and Regina Civiletti lost her husband to a drunk driver, her world shattered. Journey to Forgiveness is her raw, heartfelt account of grief, faith, resilience, and the long road toward healing. Through...
Wonder Worker: Saint Philomena. Virgin Martyr. by Cecily Hallack, ed. by Keith Berube
Wonder Worker: Saint Philomena, Virgin Martyr by Cecily Hallack, ed. by Keith Berube Wonder Worker: Saint Philomena, Virgin Martyr by Cecily Hallack—newly edited and introduced by Keith Berube, PhD—revives one of the most captivating accounts of St. Philomena’s...
Princess of the Naseberry Tree by Kelly Mahfood
Princess of the Naseberry Tree by Kelly Mahfood A tender coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in Jamaica. Told through vivid childhood memories, the book explores family, imagination, loss, and healing. With lyrical prose and emotional depth, it invites...
Sanctity by Michael Bluvas
Sanctity by Michael Bluvas In Sanctity, Michael Bluvas explores the deep unity of Catholic spirituality and suffering. Blending personal testimony with theological insight, Bluvas illustrates how following our Father as He requests leads both the body and soul to...
Eventually, the Pendulum will Swing: A Story of My Franciscan Journey of Life
Eventually, the Pendulum will Swing: A Story of My Franciscan Journey of Life By Bob Sizemore Eventually, the Pendulum Will Swing is Bob Sizemore's deeply personal and faith-filled memoir chronicling his Franciscan journey through life's triumphs, trials, and...
There be Hope: Islands of Hope, My Memoir of Haiti, & The Hopeful Coconut
There be Hope: Islands of Hope, My Memoir of Haiti, & The Hopeful Coconut authored by Kiki Latimer; illustrated by Franceska Schifrin Hope is like the dirt and the stars; it is part of forever. In 2007 the international relief organization Food For The Poor spoke...
When Heart Speaks to Heart: My Ongoing Communion with St. John Henry Cardinal Newman by Deacon Jack Sullivan
When Heart Speaks to Heart: My Ongoing Communion with St. John Henry Cardinal Newman by Deacon Jack Sullivan Through heartfelt anecdotes and theological insight, Deacon Jack Sullivan shares his remarkable spiritual journey, highlighting miraculous healings attributed...
Vietnam: an Elegy of Love & War by James Adrian Erlinger
Vietnam: an Elegy of Love & War by James A. Erlinger Vietnam: an Elegy of Love & War by James Adrian Erlinger, is a deeply personal memoir blending themes of love, war, and self-discovery. It recounts the author's transformative journey from a carefree youth...
Saturdays with Father Schall: An Older Jesuit, A Young Jesuit, On Fatherhood, Intellectual Life, and Friendship by Fr. Stefanus Hendrianto, SJ, PhD
Saturdays with Father Schall: An Older Jesuit, A Young Jesuit, On Fatherhood, Intellectual Life, and Friendship by Fr. Stefanus Hendrianto, SJ, PhD This book, inspired by an essay for Fr. Schall's 90th birthday, reflects on the author's relationship with the older...
Meditations on My Life as a Brooklyn Existentialist, Philosophical Paladin, and Samurai Thomist by Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath
Meditations on My Life as a Brooklyn Existentialist, Philosophical Paladin, and Samurai Thomist by Dr. Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath An autobiography written as a pedagogical aid to help listeners and readers intellectually grasp how Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath...
Gifts of Providence: From Wyoming Pioneers to Vatican Diplomacy
Gifts of Providence: From Wyoming Pioneers to Vatican Diplomacy by John Klink In this intriguing memoir, John Klink recounts the theme of his life as “Gift” — a hallmark of Divine Providence from God whose grace is everlasting. Born on October 8, 1949, on the historic...
Floating to the Shore of Eternity: Last Journals of Ronda Chervin (2022-2024) by Ronda Chervin
Floating to the Shore of Eternity: Last Journals of Ronda Chervin (2022-2024) By Ronda Chervin One of the most wonderful images I thought I received from Jesus in the 8th decade of my life was this: “Stop dog-paddling in the waves of life and let Me float you to the...
Finding Serenity: The Camino’s Distillate by Joseph J. Hurley
Finding Serenity: The Camino Distillate By Joseph J Hurley Joe Hurley walked thirty-three straight days. After crossing the Pyrenees into Spain, he trekked eight hundred more kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. For three days, he hiked alongside his son Mike. Then,...
Rev. Fr. Austin M. Woodbury, SM, PhD, STD and the Aquinas Academy (1945 – 1975) by Donald G. Boland
Rev. Fr. Austin M. Woodbury, SM, PhD, STD and the Aquinas Academy (1945 – 1975) by Dr. Donald G. Boland In this book, Donald G. Boland reflects briefly on the man/priest as he knew him or of him, then goes through each of his major works in philosophy in the order of...
In Whom I Am Well Pleased by Edward T. Byrne
In Whom I Am Well Pleased by Edward T. Byrne Your child’s suicide feels like the biggest parental failure of all. Any parent wants to be prepared for the worst, but no one ever anticipates the horror actually happening until it is too late. In alternating chapters,...
La Douleur de la Grâce : Vivre et Souffrir dans la Dignité
Femmes de Grâce avec Johnette Benkovic (Septembre 11 & 12, 2023) - Quand Dieu nous offre la croix : Les étapes pour extraire le trésor, Partie 1 et Partie 2 (entretien en anglais)La Douleur de la Grâce: Vivre et Souffrir dans la Dignité par Joni J. Seith et...
All is Grace! My Life by Fr. Julius D. Leloczky, O. Cist
All is Grace! My Life by Fr. Julius D. Lelóczky, O.Cist. Son of a baker, Julius Lelóczky was supposed to continue the family business, the French style patisserie. He instead felt he was called to be a monk and priest, during a time when in communist Hungary all...
Pain of Grace: Living and Suffering with Dignity
Women of Grace with Johnette Benkovic (September 11 & 12, 2023) - When God Offers Us the Cross: Steps to Mining the Treasure, Part 1 and Part 2Pain of Grace: Living and Suffering with Dignity by Joni J. Seith Walking her readers through her conversion from a...
An Unlikely Gardener: Prose and Poems
An Unlikely Gardener: Prose and Poems by Francis Etheredge This book began as a failed article about gardening; however, having written one, several more followed and so it became a short book, wonderfully enriched by the criticisms of my eldest daughter and a...
Non Nobis Domine: No para Nosotros, Señor
Non Nobis Domine: No Para Nosotros, Señor by Marge Giangiulio Un relato honesto y convincente de la vida de Marge Giangiulio y de las personas afectadas por una efusión de la bondad y la misericordia de Dios. En rústica: $14.95 | Audible: $14.99 | Kindle: $9.99...
God’s Memoir by Kristina Olsen
God's Memoir by Kristina Olsen, OCDS, PhD God's Memoir invites you into the mind of God in an imaginative exploration of how God might think about Bible events and our lives today. We consider Creation, the birth of Jesus and the role of the family, as well as art,...
How is God Involved in Evolution?
How is God Involved in Evolution? by Joe P. Provenzano, Ron D. Morgan, and Dan R. Provenzano We have been searching for a satisfying answer to this question nearly all of our adult lives, and both Joe and Ron are almost 80. This journey of 50 years led us on an...
My Catholic Conversion by Kristina R. Olsen
My Catholic Conversion Kristina R. Olsen This is the conversion story of a Carmelite tertiary. Through a series of spiritual adventures and with the help of supportive friends, professors and spiritual guides, she learned about God's will for her to enter the Catholic...
The Daughter of the King by Dorothy Cusick
The Daughter of the King by Dorothy Cusick Counseled by a priest to put her children in an orphanage after being evicted from her home, Dorothy Cusick's mother, Mary, was in danger of falling into despair. Poetically written, Dorothy's story of how her mother faced...
Non Nobis Domine: Not Unto Us, O Lord
Non Nobis Domine: Not Unto Us, O Lord by Marge Giangiulio An honest and compelling account of the life of Marge Giangiulio and those touched by an outpouring of God’s goodness and mercy. Paperback: $14.95 | Kindle: $9.99 TESTIMONIALS "In today’s noisy, busy world, we...
Will the Real Church Please Stand!
Will the Real Church Please Stand! A Conversion Journey from Fundamental Baptist to Roman Catholic By Anne Stokes Born into a devoutly Fundamentalist Baptist home, and baptized at the age of six, I was raised to believe that Baptists practiced the truest form of New...
Redeemed by Beauty: The Life of Brother Andrew by Carmel Duca
Redeemed by Beauty: The Life of Brother Andrew by Carmel Duca Redeemed by Beauty is, in Brother Andrew's own words, the story of "an unfaithful man used by God." It is the biography of Ian Travers-Ball who felt called to share his life with the poor. After joining the...
Seeing God’s Face: A Catholic American Woman in India
Seeing God's Face: A Catholic American Woman in India by Kiki Latimer My mother taught me at a young age the old adage that: life isn't fair. But we were living, growing up, in a country, the United States of America, that was founded on the idea of justice for all,...
Adventures with the Holy Spirit: A Journey with RUACH
Whoever can make a recording of this hymn, please do so, and we'll share it with the world!Adventures with the Holy Spirit: A Journey with RUACH by Deacon Charles Louis Durban This book is dedicated to and is about the merciful and at times semi-miraculous...
The LIFE Runners of Central Asia: The Genesis of a Pro-Life Movement in Pakistan and Afghanistan
The LIFE Runners of Central Asia: The Genesis of a Pro-Life Movement in Pakistan and Afghanistan by Aqif Shahzad TBA Paperback: TBA | Kindle $5.99TESTIMONIALS "Aqif Shahzad's LIFE Runner about his pro-life work in Pakistan is an incredible witness to the great...
What God Had Emptied: How I Found Hope in my Children’s Diagnoses by Kathryn Casey
What God Had Emptied: How I Found Hope in my Children's Diagnoses by Kathryn Anne Casey A memoir of the two years during which Kathryn Anne Casey became a mother to a medically-complex son, faced another unexpected pregnancy with a fatal prenatal diagnosis and...
The Visitor: A Near-Death Covid Experience Taught One Man Faith, Prayer, Love, and Charity are God’s Remedies to Survive and Thrive
The Visitor: A Near-death Covid Experience Taught One Man Faith, Prayer, Love, and Charity are God's Remedies to Survive and Thrive by Sean Kelley Sean Kelley, a healthy father, husband, and business owner, contracted COVID. Like so many, Sean assumed a week off work...
The Call to Prayer: Intimate Moments with God
For more on Medjugorje, check out these other En Route books! Penny Abbruzzese's Medjugorje: My Lifelong Journey with Our Lady, Queen of Peace. Peter Breen's Prodigal Pilgrim. Barbara Lorenzo’s Miracle Mission at Medjugorje. The Call to Prayer: Intimate Moments with...
A Gospel Path to Racial Healing
A Gospel Path to Racial Healing by Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes and Deacon Larry Oney Racial eruptions continue to highlight our need for deeper racial healing. This book begins with two contrasting stories of a black deacon and a white bishop. They...
A Widow’s Spiritual Journey: Prayers, Reflections, and Meditations for the Everyday Catholic
A Widow's Spiritual Journey: Prayers, Reflections, and Meditations for the Everyday Catholic by Dianne Coyle A Widow's Spiritual Journey is a tour of the reflections written in the years preceding and following Dianne Coyle's husband's death. From the pain and...
Memoir of Grace (Children of the Cross) by Aqif Shahzad
Memoir of Grace (Children of the Cross) by Aqif Shahzad Memoir of Grace (Children of the Cross) helps us to see the wonders and miracles that God has provided through the works of Mary Kloska, a woman from the first world who has touched the hearts of those in the...
Eugenio Zolli: Prophet for a New World
"The life of Eugenio Zolli, chief rabbi of Rome during the Second World War, is in itself a prophesy for a new world. After years of research that led to the publication of the French edition, I am happy to present this book to an American public. From his studies in...
Chosen One
Portion of the proceeds will support the Corpus Christi Hope House. Chosen One: From Homeless Infant to Priest at Home in My Heavenly Father's Heart by Fr. Bob Shaldone, SOLT This is a story of the life of Fr. Bob Shaldone, SOLT, whose earthly mother gave him up for...
Stepping Up!
Stepping Up!: How Christ Turned My Pain & Suffering into Hope & Joy by Caitie Crowley WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING? Caitie Crowley was in a traumatic car accident on her way home from work and almost lost her life. She couldn't walk for 10 months....
Ennobling Encounters
Congratulations to Dick Bishirjian for being a finalist in the American Best Book Awards (2022)!Ennobling Encounters by Dr. Richard Bishirjian In this memoir, Dick Bishirjian tells of how his life has been enriched by the many noble persons he has met over the course...

















































