September 18, 2019

Southwick parish participates in National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

This memorial for the unborn is located at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Southwick. (Catholic Communications file photo)

SOUTHWICK – Parishioners gathered for a special 11 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Southwick, Saturday, Sept. 14 to honor the lives of unborn babies lost to abortion.

Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley sponsored the local prayer vigil and Mass. It coincided with the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children, co-sponsored by Priests for Life, Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, and the Pro-Life Action League.

“The day of remembrance was very nice with a Mass followed by rosary in front of the monument that we have for the unborn,” said Father Matthew Guidi, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish.

“I spoke on how appropriate it was for this Mass to fall on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, since many people who defend life have had to undergo various trials and tribulations defending the unborn. It was well received,” he said.

The National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children was first held in September of 2013, marking the solemn 25^th anniversary of the burial of some 1,500 aborted children in Milwaukee, Wis. Prayer services are now held nationwide in an effort to “humanize” aborted children, according to national organizers.

“It is important because we’re saving lives,” said Carol Garrant, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lake. “Our Lady of Guadalupe is the symbol of right to life. She was pregnant in the apparition. So I think Our Lady is calling us to stop this,” she said.

Andrea Brunault-McGuinness, a mother of three and attorney, brought her teenage daughter. Brunault-McGuinness is active in Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley, which is directed by her father, Harold Brunault.

“It’s important that we remember the victims of abortion. Do I believe they’re in heaven? Yes. Do I believe they’re interceding for us to end abortion? Yes. But I also believe that we should remember them. Someone has to mourn them on earth,” she said.

As the group gathered after the Mass to pray the rosary, Brunault-McGuinness said it started to rain.

“It is fitting that heaven would be crying down on this moment,” she added.

Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley is organizing several other events in the month of October, which is Respect Life Month. A pro-life art exhibit will be featured at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield from Oct. 1-15. The annual Life Chain also will be held in October in Longmeadow.