Remsen St. Mary's respects all life

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 28, 2004

REMSEN - Respect Life Month was celebrated by St. Mary High School and St. Catherine-St. Mary Grade School of Remsen with a Respect Life Mass Oct. 21.

"We have a passion for right to life here at St. Mary's," said Mary Arens, theology teacher and spiritual life director at St. Mary's. "We love to bring everyone together to pray and show how proud we are to be pro-life."

Before Mass began, four students processed down the middle aisle with banners of different colors. The banners represented the seasons. A student read a description of each season relating to the seasons of life from birth to becoming unique to maturity and wisdom to eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Along with the welcome to the congregation, special guests were announced including two expectant mothers and two mothers with newborns as well as Leroy and Ruth Bunkers.

"I believe there is a spirit present whenever there is a prayer offered for the dignity of each human being from conception until natural death, which we are gathered for here today," said Father Tim Johnson, pastor at St. Mary's. "Within the warmth and care of our God, we pause and ask for his compassion and love."

A couple of hymns that were sung at the Mass include "Like a Child Rests," "Isaiah 49" and "Blest be the Lord."

In his homily, Father Johnson talked about Jesus crying in the Gospel story about the death of Lazarus. He asked the students why they thought Jesus was crying. The students were given the opportunity to respond to the question by going up to the microphone in the front of the church. Father Johnson also told a story about a man with cancer that didn't have many people around to comfort him.

During the prayers of the faithful, people of all ages and walks of life including unborn children were prayed for going along with the main topic of the Mass, respect life from conception until natural death.

At the end of the Mass, students handed out window clings with the saying, "I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2 on them. They were given as a reminder to those who see it of the sanctity of all life.

The Christian Leadership Team (CLT) at St. Mary's planned the Mass. They all worked together to make it a Mass that represented Respect Life Month from the readings to the hymns to the banners to the window clings.

"We want them to take what they got from the liturgy and what we taught them and share it with others and leave a lasting impression so they don't forget that life is important," said Rachel Loutsch, a member of CLT.

During October, Respect Life Month, students in the high school and grade school were given Precious Feet pins, the International Pro-Life Symbol, to wear. The pins are the exact size and shape of an unborn baby's feet at 10 weeks after conception.

The high school students held a Right to Life prayer service on Oct. 20. For the prayer service, a cross and baby casket were set up to represent the realness of the death of a child. Also in the background there was a baby lamp on a table to represent what could have been. During the prayer service, a list of "what ifs" were read such as what if that person was to be the next Mother Teresa or the man to find peace in the world.

"I think the Mass and prayer service about the right to life is important because it makes them more aware of it," said Alyssa Langel, another CLT member. "The students need to be informed of what is going on in our nation and how they can make a difference. If they don't know anything about it, how can they defend it."

The high school students were given Respect Life Month T-shirts at the prayer service.

"Usually when we learn about pro-life, we do it within the classrooms and this is a way for the entire school to come together and discuss it as one," said Laura Bohnenkamp, the designer of the T-shirts.

St. Mary's also puts an emphasis on the pro-life issue in the classroom. The students are informed through films, distributed pamphlets and leaflets, political views pertaining to the presidential candidates, up to date media coverage and newspaper articles and daily scriptures, prayers and reflections from those who chose to honor life.

"My goal at Remsen St. Mary's is to instill into our students a lifelong passion to defend those who cannot defend themselves," said Arens.

Bulletin boards are displayed throughout the school during the month and changed periodically. One of the bulletin boards that is displayed in the school states in Latin by Thomas Aquinas: "Lex Mala Lex Nulla - An evil law is no law."