Cathedral nearly filled for pro-life awards

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – Feeling closer to the pope, and hearing the bishop, were among students’ reactions to Monday’s Mass for Life at St. Paul Cathedral.

Groups from Catholic schools around the diocese attend this annual Mass that occurs on or near the feast of the Annunciation, at which Bishop McManus presents awards to local people active in pro-life work.

This year the cathedral was nearly filled, and there were more than a dozen clergy.

Receiving the Mother Teresa Pro-Life Award were Catherine North-Erickson of St. Francis of Assisi in Fitchburg and Deacon David F. Vaillancourt, who serves at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Milford. Tommy Lamar, a Worcester Polytechnic Institute senior, received the Ruth V.K. Pakaluk Pro-life Youth Award. Father Miguel A. Pagan, pastor of St. Denis Parish in Douglas, received the Gospel of Life Award.

Father Thiago Ibiapina, associate pastor of Annunciation Parish in Gardner and chaplain of Holy Family Academy there, said he thinks it means a lot to students to see their priests around the altar with the bishop; it’s almost like having their school there in the front of the cathedral. The young people don’t get to see the bishop often, Father Ibiapina said; one student told him he felt closer to the pope by being with Bishop McManus.

“It was a beautiful Mass,” said Laura Ibrahim, an eighth-grader at St. Joseph Elementary School in Webster. “The lady who was singing [cantor Christine Petkus, a teacher at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury] was amazing. The bishop’s homily was wonderful.” She noted in particular how Bishop McManus presented the Blessed Mother as a role model.

Rosemary Basha, a seventh-grader at St. Joseph’s Elementary, jumped in with things that struck her from the homily: life as God’s greatest gift and the most important conversation being that between the Archangel Gabriel and Mary, when he announced that she was to be Jesus’ mother.

“I thought it was nice to see other schools (at the Mass) as well,” Rosemary added.

Bishop McManus began his enthusiastic homily, down among filled pews, by saying he was delighted that Catholic school students were there.

He talked about the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, usually celebrated March 25, but transferred to after Holy Week this year.

After Jesus, the most important person was Mary, who was probably a teenager when Gabriel appeared to her, the bishop said.

“Put that in your brain,” he urged listeners. “An angelic visitor coming into your home!” Mary, out of all women, had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, a privilege he said Jewish girls prayed for.

“No sin held her back,” the bishop said, noting that Mary was full of grace. She responded, “May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). At that moment, the Holy Spirit rushed upon her and Jesus was conceived in her womb, Bishop McManus said, adding, “That’s absolutely mind-boggling!”

He noted that at this Mass respect for life is celebrated. Human beings are created in God’s image and likeness, redeemed by Christ and have received the gift of life with a dignity no one can take away, he said.

“No supreme court, no president … has the right to take that dignity from us,” he asserted.

Bishop McManus said Pope Francis says we live in a throw-away culture. The bishop mentioned especially vulnerable groups – the unborn, elderly people in nursing homes, people in prison and the homeless.

The bishop spoke of committing oneself to promoting human life, and, at the end of Mass, presented the awards.

Mrs. North-Erickson established a Respect Life Ministry at her parish and brought together people from neighboring parishes for a diocesan-sponsored training, among other pro-life efforts. Thanks to her leadership, the group organized fundraisers for pregnancy help services, coordinated a pro-life table at the St. Francis Festival and shared respect life resources with parishioners.

Deacon Vaillancourt has gone on the March for Life bus trip annually for more than 15 years, and served as “bus captain.” He has been a prayerful presence at 40 Days for Life prayer vigils and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, assisting in providing ultrasound machines to pregnancy help centers. As a permanent deacon he gives witness to life through preaching, teaching and bringing the homebound Communion, among other service.

Mr. Lamar served as WPI’s Students for Life chapter president and planned the group’s March for Life trip. Among other activities, he has invited guest speakers to campus, and organized pro-life tables at school events, fundraisers for pregnancy help centers and prayer outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility.

Father Pagan has fostered a culture of life, and respect for human dignity, through his preaching, teaching, prayer, devotional efforts, and ministry to the sick and dying, among other outreach. During his childhood in Puerto Rico respect for human life was central, as a young man he was influenced by Pope John Paul II’s efforts to build a culture of life and as a seminarian he saw the imperative to defend life at the March for Life.