November 3, 2010

Respect Life Mass prays for protection, dignity of all human life

Mass honors Pro-Vitae, essay winners

By John Gleason

A near capacity crowd filled the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception midday Oct. 30 for the annual Respect Life Mass.

The Mass, which had been moved from the month of January to October, was celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput O.F.M., Cap., and concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley.

Earlier that morning, Bishop Conley had led a recitation of the rosary outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic headquarters in Denver.

“This is the first year the Respect Life Mass has been celebrated in October,” said Mimi Eckstein, director for the Respect Life Office.  “In past years it was held in January to coincide with the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision, which legalized abortion.”

This year, other Respect Life ministries helped plan the event, took part in the celebrations and were recognized during the Mass. Those ministries included Project Rachel, a ministry to post-abortion parents; the Gabriel Project, which aids pregnant women in need; the Little Sisters of the Poor Mullen Home for the Aged; the Bridge Community for the developmentally disabled; the Catholic study group ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) and Hispanic Ministry.

The Mass included presentation of Pro-Vitae (“For Life”) awards to those who have shown tremendous support for pro-life issues, and recognition of seventh- and eighth-grade students who were selected as winners in the annual Respect Life Essay Contest.

The homily was delivered by Bishop Conley.  He began by welcoming all those who not only worked hard at organizing the Mass, but who came together in a call for life.

“Since 1974, the year after the Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision, people have come together to pray for an end to the holocaust of abortion,” he said.  “Originally held in January to coincide with that decision, it has been moved to October, a month dedicated by the Church to all the issues of life.”

Bishop Conley noted that throughout the month, the Denver Catholic Register has run many stories dealing with all aspects of life, from contraception, stem cell research and abortion to end of life issues such as euthanasia and care for the dying.  He also noted how much the annual Respect Life Mass has grown with each passing year.

“We acknowledge the Pro Vitae honorees who bear witness to life in their own communities,” he said, “as well as the students who won the essay contest.  These young people here are the future of the pro-life movement and we’re happy to have them with us today.”

Bishop Conley said that each person carries a unique message of God’s love.

“Today, we see life being attacked from all sides and we know there is a need for us to engage in protecting life,” he said.  “We have our work cut out for us, but we need not despair.  The Blessed Mother is with us.  She is our light and our hope.”

After Mass, the seven recipients of the Pro-Vitae Awards were called forward and acknowledged for their service. Honored clergy were: Msgr. Raymond Jones, vicar general emeritus; Father Christopher Hellstrom, adjunct spiritual director at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and Deacon Tim Killbarger of St. Mary Parish in Littleton.  Members of the laity so honored were Lynn Reid of St. Bernadette Respect Life Committee and Maternity of Mary Home; Susan Kisskalt of Queen of Peace Respect Life Committee and Gabriel Project; Karen Mandolfo of St. Frances Cabrini Parish Respect Life Committee, and Helen Johnson of St. Jude Parish Respect Life Committee and Catholic Daughters of America.

The archbishop also recognized the five student winners of the Respect Life Essay Contest: Pamela Sera, a seventh-grader from Assumption School in Denver; Juliana Trujillo, a seventh-grader from St. Pius X School in Aurora; Alex Crane, a seventh-grader from St. John the Evangelist School in Loveland; Sam Doran, an eighth-grader from St. Catherine of Siena School in Denver and Anne Marie Hensen, a seventh-grader from St. John the Baptist School in Longmont. 

Following the presentation, Hensen read her essay to the congregation about the birth, and passing, of her baby brother, Brett Joseph, five years ago.  While still in the womb, it was discovered that B.J. was very sick and doctors advised that the child should be aborted.  The parents refused, saying that wasn’t an option.

“When B.J. was born he went straight to the intensive care unit. He was hooked up to many machines and there were tubes everywhere,” said Hensen, reading from her essay.  “He lived for nine and a half hours and in that time he touched a lot of lives. (He) showed a lot of medical professionals that abortion is not OK just because something is wrong with a baby.  Brett fulfilled God’s plan here on earth and my parents released him into God’s hands.”