Archbishop-emeritus Vigneron joins pro-life leaders in praying rosary, giving God thanks during Respect Life Month Mass on Oct. 19
DETROIT — Hundreds of Catholics gathered Oct. 19 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit to observe Respect Life Month, praying for perseverance in the effort to preserve and protect life in all its forms.
Before Mass, a smaller contingent gathered in the cathedral's side chapel to pray a rosary for life — the initial plan was to gather outdoors at the cathedral grotto, but weather conditions precluded that — reciting each decade of the glorious mysteries linked to a pro-life cause.
Detroit Archbishop-emeritus Allen H. Vigneron joined the faithful in the rosary before celebrating Mass and delivering the homily.
“We have earnestly prayed for so very long for the legal vindication of the right to life from conception until natural death, and we have made some progress,” Archbishop Vigneron said in his homily. “We have seen some very visible answering to that prayer, but yet there is so much to be done and so many threats to life. So we are renewed in our prayer for God to vindicate this right which He has given, and we pray with perseverance and confidence that, in God’s time, He will hear this prayer.”
Archbishop Vigneron reflect on the Gospel reading from St. Luke, in which Jesus tells the parable of the woman appealing to the unscrupulous judge. Like the widow in the parable, the faithful must pray without ceasing for an end to assaults against life, Archbishop Vigneron said.
“We should take the Gospel teaching literally and implement it in our lives,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Today is a day of thanksgiving, a day to give God thanks for the ways He has answered our prayers for the vindication of life — a day to give God thanks for the persevering witness of prayer of so many of you who stand as agents of the Gospel of life in season and out of season.”
Following Mass, various pro-life ministries across the Archdiocese of Detroit gathered to share the work they are doing in service of the Gospel of Life.
Birth Choice brought its ICU Mobile Ultrasound Vehicle to the cathedral grounds, through which it offers counseling and free ultrasounds to pregnant women who are considering an abortion, as well as a wraparound ministry providing resources and information.
Emmanuel Lughermo, who drives the ICU Ultrasound Vehicle, told Detroit Catholic the ministry is about establishing trust and providing whatever is needed to help women carry their pregnancy to term.
“We are there for whatever she needs,” Lughermo said. “She opens up to us, and we find out why she’s thinking about getting an abortion and the issues she has that prevents her from having the baby that she wants.”
Birth Choice began its ministry in 2010, operating out of an office building in Clarkston. A decade ago, the group transitioned to a mobile ultrasound unit, often parking near abortion clinics, and more recently, operating out of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan’s Center for the Works of Mercy across from the cathedral.
Over the past 10 years, the ministry's efforts have led to 1,069 women choosing to keep their babies, said Ken Gabriel, board president and treasurer of Birth Choice.
“The main thing women find out is we’re there because of Jesus; that’s why we’re there,” Gabriel said. “They have the ultrasound, and they realize an abortion doesn’t solve their problem; it makes it worse, because they see it’s a human life. We then tackle their real problems — having a place to live, having income, the person counseling them to get an abortion — our team then steps in and helps with those issues.”
After the free ultrasound, women are given supplies and a one-on-one counseling session to help organize her life for her and her baby.
“We do a follow up to make sure that woman has everything she needs to be a mom,” Gabriel said. “Oftentimes, when a woman chooses abortion, she does so because she feels she has no other options. We are there to show she has options.”
Kathleen Wilson, coordinator of the Respect Life/Gospel of Life Office in the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, said the Respect Life Month Mass is rooted in the Gospel proclamation that all life created by God is sacred.
“We are deeply grateful to all who gathered in prayer and thanksgiving for the gift of human life, renewing our commitment to a consistent life ethic,” Wilson said. “Among those present were adoptive parents, caregivers of disabled children, mental health advocates, pregnancy resource centers and housing leaders, as well as brand-new and longtime prayer warriors, each a living witness to the Gospel of life.”
Archbishop Vigneron commended those gathered for their ministry and persistence, telling them God hears their prayers.
“God knows what we really need,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “He will answer us with what is for our blessing when it is for our blessing. So we preserve in prayer, because that’s how we grow in our love for our Father as His sons and daughters.”
