Local Catholics join national prayer for the unborn

Intermountain Catholic

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Catholics gathered Jan. 22 at Mount Calvary Cemetery to pray the rosary for an end to abortion. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

SALT LAKE CITY — On Jan. 22 – the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States – Catholics throughout the nation gathered to recite the rosary to pray for an end to abortion. More than 10,000 gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, was the principal celebrant.

In Utah, Catholics led by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, gathered at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery for a bilingual ceremony.

"Welcome, everybody," Bishop Wester said as they gathered. "Thank you for being here. We’re praying for the unborn, for the protection of life."

During the event, the rosary was prayed in English and in Spanish.

"We are also defending not just the babies; we are also praying for the mothers, for the women that are being terribly abused in our society, that they have to bear this terrible cross, that they have to bear with this terrible procedure itself, psychologically, spiritually and physically," said Bishop Wester. "Life is to be respected, and the fact that people can make millions of dollars through abortions is just this whole culture of death."

He was recently in San Francisco, where he participated in a pro-life march that gathered thousands of people. A police officer told Bishop Wester that he enjoyed being with the marchers, adding that he considered it a very peaceful event with the prayers and marchers speaking for the unborn.

"We join our prays with those around the nation who are doing the same for the unborn, for the sanctity of life," Bishop Wester said at the event at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery. "We pray for the mothers, we pray that God will touch the hearts of all those around the country so one day we will have an end to this terrible experience."

Other Utahns observed the National Prayer Vigil for Life by gathering at Saint Mary Catholic Church in West Haven, making a circle around the sanctuary for the rosary. Each person lit a candle after praying their respective bead prayer, using the joyful mysteries.

"Prayer is the foundation in all that we do in defense of human life," reads the pro-life prayer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. "Everyone can find a way to praise and thank God for the gift of life and ask for protection for each sacred human life."

"The gift of life is precious," Bishop Wester said.