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Special to the Herald |
MANASSAS, Virginia — Hundreds of Catholics turned out last Saturday as Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde continued the practice that he began on Holy Saturday by praying the rosary with parish groups near an abortion facility in Manassas. Simultaneous to this event, large crowds were reported at rosary services at other abortion facilities throughout the diocese.
Bishop Loverde celebrated the 8 a.m. parish Mass at All Saints Church in Manassas before proceeding to the nearby abortion facility. Concelebrating the Mass were Father James Verrecchia, pastor of All Saints, and the priests assigned to that parish as well as Father Jerome Fasano, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Centreville, and the priests assigned to that parish. Greeting the bishop was Father Verrecchia, who welcomed him on his first visit to the largest parish, in the diocese, noting that he is "leading us as shepherd following the gospel of life."
Wearing red vestments in honor of St. Boniface, bishop and martyr, Bishop Loverde showed how that holy martyr was a "great witness for who we are and what we do." We are "witnesses to the Gospel of Life and are called to defend and protect all life," said the bishop. Since "we are disciples of Jesus and witnesses to the Gospel of Life," each Catholic is required to "preach it, celebrate it, and serve it through many programs and projects that support human life," continued the bishop. Reminding the congregation of the story of the widow's mite in the gospel, he said, "Even if we have so little to give, we must give what we can. The Lord takes our little and transforms it into greatness."
Bishop Loverde reminded the congregation that "we are a Church at prayer and it is prayer that transforms hearts." This was the theme of the rosary vigil along Sudley Road and behind the abortion facility on Forestwood Lane as two large congregations participated in the rosary.
Bishop Loverde prayed several decades of the rosary with each of the groups before departing. Colleen Rooney, a parishioner at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge said, "It was so inspiring and uplifting to have our bishop with us and leading us." Many young families were present at both the Mass and at the abortion facility. Young Scott Jemielity, 9-year-old grandson of Ann Jemielity, an employee of the Diocesan Accounting Office noted, "It was neat that the bishop gave the homily." George Gibson, the pro-life coordinator at All Saints parish, spent many hours preparing for the day. He hopes to have equally large crowds at the facility each Saturday praying the rosary.
Bishop Loverde began the day by paying a visit to AAA Women for Choice Crisis Pregnancy Center. He received a tour of the facility and met with the Center volunteers. Pat Lohman, the director of AAA said, "Bishop Loverde's presence gives us the courage we need to keep fighting."
The monthly Mass and visits to the local abortion facilities by Bishop Loverde will continue on August 12, Sept. 11, Oct. 2, Nov. 27, and Dec. 11. A large event is being planned for the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on Jan. 22, 2000. Details of the location of the Masses and sites for the rosary services are being coordinated by the Office for Family Life and will be announced soon.
Laird is assistant director of the Office for Family Life.
Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 23,
dated June 10, 1999, on page 3.
.
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A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that ordinary everyday run of the mill abortion is also murder. We must understand that aborting the life of a baby is murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not make the other methods less so. We should be horrified and sickened by any abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly:
"Thou shalt not kill."
A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.
Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any abortion occurs. Please
contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,
to let them know how horrified you are that abortions are legal and to
stop, once and for all, Partial-Birth abortions and all other abortions
as soon as possible.
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