ATLANTA—With umbrellas and coats in hand, the faithful turned out despite the cold, rainy weather to pray and advocate for the dignity of life Jan. 22 at the Mass for the Unborn and Stand for Life at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Prior to the Mass for the Unborn, Karen Papania, right center, of St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sophia, join the congregation in praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Photo By Michael Alexander

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory welcomed all to the 27th annual Mass, held since 1990 on the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Archbishop Gregory singled out a group of 35 students from Aquinas High School in Augusta who opted to come to Atlanta instead of the March for Life in Washington, D.C., in view of blizzard conditions there.

“We think you made a proper decision,” he told them.

In his homily, Archbishop Gregory said those praying for broad recognition of the dignity of life must be open to realities more profound than legal obstructions or political strategies.

The archbishop said that the authority for the pro-life movement’s work must be ultimately God’s work.

“God’s hand continues to guide the pro-life agenda and his law remains our very foundation—thou shall not kill. Period,” emphasized Archbishop Gregory.

This law applies to babies waiting to be born, the critically ill, the hardened criminal, and for those promoting organizations that destroy life in the womb.

Jane Robbins of St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn, stands with others during the commissioning of respect life leaders at the Jan. 22 Mass for the Unborn. Photo By Michael Alexander

He urged the parish, school groups and families attending to look to the youthful Mary’s proclamation, “The mighty one has done great things for me and holy is his name.”

“Mary at that very moment realized better than all others that God was at work within her, not simply because of the baby that she was carrying, but because of God’s choice and desire to bring all of his creation to a newfound dignity and glory through the child that she was to bear,” said the archbishop.

Every child waiting to be born has the capacity to bring God’s creation to greater perfection.

“No matter what the circumstances of a child’s beginning nor the potential life challenges that await a baby within the womb, each nascent life holds potential value which it never loses or forfeits,” he said.

From the unborn to death row prisoners, God fashions life and forbids us to assault it, as all human life has possibility. Those working to promote life are performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy, said the archbishop.

“For the very root and foundation of the pro-life movement is a simple statement: Thou shall not kill,” he said. “Got it? Do it.”

Aquinas High School sends delegation

Mass attendance was down slightly as many Catholic schools in the archdiocese either cancelled school or dismissed early in anticipation of winter weather.

Although Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School had a shortened day, the school’s campus ministry brought a group of students by bus to the Mass.

“We had to come and support the action,” said sophomore Jaleel Penton. “A baby has life when it’s conceived.”

For individuals on the fence about abortion, Penton said they should consider “all they’ve done in their life and think about how easily it could’ve been wasted.”

Father Neil Herlihy, left, pastor of St. Brigid Church, Johns Creek, and Father Brian Lorei, right, pastor of St. Stephen the Martyr Church, Lilburn, were two of the priests joining Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory around the Cathedral of Christ the King altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the Jan. 22 Mass for the Unborn. Photo By Michael Alexander

Siblings Sarah and Daniel Verlander, students at Holy Spirit Prep School, Atlanta, decided to attend the Mass and Stand for Life silent demonstration along Peachtree Road even though they had early dismissal from school.

“It’s the best place for me to be,” said 17-year-old Sarah.

Michael Lammers, campus ministry coordinator at Aquinas High School, gathered the troops in Kenny Hall of the cathedral before heading outdoors to hold Stand for Life signs.

Lammers showed his students the contents of rosary bags distributed to those who arrived early to pray before Mass. The bags, assembled by members of the cathedral’s Hispanic ministry and other volunteers, each contained rosaries, prayer cards, a Miraculous Medal, and Carmelite scapular.

Lammers said some students have participated in similar events, while others were first-timers. “God is good,” he said about the opportunity to participate.

Aquinas students, decked out in blue and gold scarves, prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy while standing along Peachtree Road.

Cathedral parishioner Audra Pagano was returning to Stand for Life for the second year. Pagano, a Smyrna resident, is a member of the cathedral’s Champions for Life ministry.

She believes the sacrifice of dealing with weather issues simply highlighted the “truth and severity of the issue.”

Pagano noted that those on the other side “use arguments that are personal digs” rather than considering the core of the matter.

“We’re living in a time where there’s quite a bit of disrespect for life,” she said.

Brendan Dudley, director of the archdiocese’s Respect Life Ministry, said this year’s Stand for Life was a “great display of strength and fortitude.”

The public witness event started almost immediately after Mass and some of the groups stayed for an entire hour. Dudley said groups remained closer to the cathedral for more concentrated visibility instead of stretching out across the two miles planned.

“We are looking to continue Stand for Life,” he said of next year’s plans.

Six months into his work with the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Dudley is becoming familiar with the year-round dedication of the various parish Respect Life ministries.

“I’ve come across a good focus and desire,” said Dudley. “It has been a really good thing to see.”

Dudley is available to any parish ministry to brainstorm on ways to incorporate promoting the sanctity of life into faith formation, prayer and worship, and outreach activities.

Washington marchers encounter blizzard

In Washington, D.C., heavy snow and wind affected attendance at March for Life, but not commitment with Atlanta-area school groups and parishes participating.

A group of 20 students and five chaperones from Holy Spirit Prep School found themselves stranded in Washington, D.C., the entire weekend of Jan. 22. Father Juan Hernandez, school chaplain, joined the pilgrimage. The group members attended some of the March for Life events. Father Hernandez and some of the students hiked in the snow to St. Michael the Archangel Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, where the priest concelebrated Mass.

Hosted by the Knights of Columbus initially on the trip, the group secured hotel rooms due to the generosity of others as flights home were cancelled.

Parishioners from St. Michael Church, Gainesville, attend the opening Mass for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 21 in Washington, D.C. Tony Maturo, back row, center, heads the parish Respect Life ministry and led the group. Other parishes joined the Gainesville group and their bus trip home was delayed by snow.

Students also helped motorists stranded on the streets of Washington in the snow.

More than 30 parishioners from St. Michael Church in Gainesville made the trip to Washington by bus.

Tony Maturo, Respect Life chair at St. Michael, organized the pilgrimage and estimates that overall March for Life attendance was down from its usual 500,000 to approximately 100,000. He speculated it was the timing of a blizzard hitting Washington, Virginia, Maryland, and major cities like Philadelphia and New York.

“My thoughts are that many of the day trippers in the Northeast did not attend since they would be driving back home in a snowstorm,” said Maturo.

The Gainesville group, joined by people from several other parishes, arrived in Washington on Jan. 21 before the storm and attended the opening Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Maturo said planned meetings on Jan. 22 with Georgia’s two senators, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, were cancelled, but they did meet with their staff.

“While both of our senators are and vote pro-life, one big take-away was for people to still contact their senator as pro-life issues come up,” said Maturo.

Remaining in contact gives legislators more assurance about how constituents feel, he said.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, public transportation was closed, and they observed blizzard and whiteout conditions.

Sunday departure was delayed by four hours as they waited for road conditions to improve. They arrived home at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Maturo said the group had originally wanted to return to the basilica Sunday for Mass but could not. Instead most walked half a mile across the Key Bridge spanning the Potomac River to attend Mass in Georgetown at St. Ignatius Chapel, the first Catholic church built in Washington, D.C.

It was a celebration of life within the commemoration of a somber anniversary.

“We had a beautiful Mass and on the way home some of the younger people were able to do some sledding down a street that had a big hill,” said Maturo. “The Mass and sledding turned into a special morning for our group. The Holy Spirit was truly at work. I could not have planned it any better.”