January 22, 2025

Despite frigid conditions, big crowd turns out for Mass and March for Life

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – More than 400 people attended the annual Respect Life Mass celebrated by Bishop William D. Byrne, Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield. Even though some schools had to cancel due to a two-hour delay caused by frigid temperatures, close to 200 students from Catholic schools were in attendance this year, joined by homeschoolers and public school students. The Mass was livestreamed on diospringfield.org.

The local Mass and march commemorates the 52^nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion on demand in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned that decision in June of 2022. The ruling did not ban abortion, but rather gives the power back to the states to set their own abortion laws. Massachusetts has one of the most progressive abortion laws in the country, allowing abortion through the ninth month of pregnancy.

“We’re here because every life is intended by God for a purpose,” said Bishop Byrne in his homily. He told a story about his friend’s mother who had her 11^th baby in her 40’s. The baby named Andy, now an adult, has Down syndrome. Bishop Byrne said Andy’s family realized, “Andy didn’t need them, they needed Andy.” He explained that after Andy’s birth, four of the boys in the family later entered the seminary and were ordained priests. 

“Every human life is intended and that’s what we stand up for. Every Andy in the world, the next thing you know, transforms an entire family. Every human life does that. And that’s what we come to gather to celebrate, that God has a plan. Sometimes, you and I don’t get the plan, but that doesn’t matter. We’re not God. Our job is to live and to trust and celebrate everyone,” the bishop told the congregation.

The local March for Life is organized each year by Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield and Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley.

“We’re just here to show our love for baby boys and baby girls,” said Hannah FinelIi, a senior at Pope Francis Preparatory school and member of the Christian leadership team. Finelli was also part of the music ministry for the Mass.

“I think we need to show (women) that there are many more options. There are so many resources out there. They are not alone and we are here for them,” she said.

Students from Pope Francis led the music ministry. Students from both Pope Francis and St. Mary High School in Westfield were lectors and altar servers for the Mass. St. Mary’s is also sending a group down to Washington, D.C., for the National March for Life on Jan. 24.

“I feel like it’s important to be here because every life is important. Life is not something you are supposed to throw away. It’s something you are supposed to cherish. It’s something special,” said Henry Rutkowski, a sophomore at St. Mary High School.

Following the Mass, about 100 people, led by Pope Francis and St. Mary’s students, marched down to city hall, where Bishop Byrne led them in prayer. Because of the cold, many people, including the younger students, stayed behind in the cathedral and prayed the Rosary.

“Despite the frigid cold and the lack of some of our buses coming from our schools we had a great turn out,” said Father Daniel Pacholec, the director of Pro-Life Activities, and the pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield.

“We want people to know we are upholding the life of the child and moms. And there are things we are doing to support moms who find themselves expecting a child. Many of our pregnancy resource centers offer beautiful services, supplies help to moms to understand that it can work. They think that there’s no hope, there is hope,” said Father Pacholec.

Representatives from pregnancy care centers were also in attendance.

“At Clearway Clinic, we specialize in helping women with unexpected pregnancies,” said Amy Gould, a patient advocate at Clearway Clinic in Springfield. The faith-based non-profit operates a pro-life, state-licensed free medical clinic specializing in pregnancy diagnosis.

“We offer free medical testing, ultrasounds, STD testing and lots of community resources. We are a medical clinic and so our patients can meet with a nurse and ask any questions they want. So my job is to help them really discern how we can support them,” she added.

The pro-life event is ecumenical. Pastor Constant Cooley, of the United Temple Church of God in Christ in Springfield, joins every year for this and other pro-life events.

“It’s great for especially the church to be united in the effort for life because Jesus is life,” said Pastor Cooley. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ If we don’t stand up for them, who’s going to? This March for Life really dedicates itself to the fact that we believe in the sovereignty of life that God has given to us and we need to do all we can to protect it,” he said.

Following the march, the crowd gathered inside the Bishop Marshall Center for lunch paid for by Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley. The group donated leftover pizzas to area shelters.

A video version of this story will be featured on the Jan. 25 edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22NEWS.