The rosary, interfaith pro-life prayer service two prayer opportunities at Trinity Heights

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Oct. 25, 2007

Trinity Heights in Sioux City hosts many prayer services and gatherings throughout the year but nothing is offered more regularly than the rosary.

The rosary is recited at 4 p.m. every day, 365 days a year, in the chapel in the St. Joseph Center on the Trinity Heights campus. Deacon Bill Berger along with others that attend take turns leading the rosary. There are usually eight to 10 people who attend daily.

According to Beanie Cooper, executive director of Trinity Heights, daily rosary on the site of Trinity Heights began even before the land was purchased.

"Starting in about 1985, Father (Harold) Cooper and my mother, who was his housekeeper, Lucille Wells and three or four other people would come up here every day at 4 o'clock and say the rosary. That is what started it," said Cooper. "They were praying that we could get this land and that they could get the statue of Mary. It is really a tribute to the power of the rosary."

He thinks it is important to continue the tradition because the founders of Trinity Heights believed in Mary and in the "strength of what Mary can do for you. The best thing with Mary is the rosary."

"It is a tradition here," said Father LeRoy Seuntjens, spiritual director at Trinity Heights. "It seems that we almost have proof of the power of the rosary. It is something that Mary has promoted at Lourdes, Fatima and other places. Our Holy Fathers without end have encouraged the rosary. God bless the people who are faithful in having it here every day at 4 o'clock, 365 days a year."

The priest tries to come Monday through Friday, but is not usually able to attend on weekends.

Mary Margaret Sudbeck, who lives at Trinity Heights with her husband, tries to attend the rosary every day.

"You meditate on the life of Jesus from conception till death," she said. "The more you pray the rosary, the easier it is. You understand more. I think there is a lot of peace in saying the rosary."

Betty Ramm, a parishioner at St. Michael in Sioux City, attends the rosary at Trinity Heights as often as she can, usually Monday through Friday and sometimes on Sunday.

"I believe in the rosary. I come here every day to pray for my family to keep them healthy and happy," she said. "It makes me feel good to come. Coming up here is a time for me to relax and pray. I think you are praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the mother of God."

Another form of prayer held at Trinity Heights is the Pro-life "22nd of the Month" Interfaith Prayer service held once a month. Attendees gather for prayer in The Circle of Life Memorial to the Unborn or in the Marian Center.

It was decided to have the prayer service on the 22nd of each month because Jan. 22, 1973 was the day that abortion was legalized.

"I believed that there was never enough emphasizing it in our churches. I never thought I heard it often enough that protecting human life comes first," said Marge Stanek, a member of the board at Trinity Heights. "It is the most paramount issue of all issues. We cannot discuss any other issue unless we protect human life first. To keep the momentum going, I thought it was important that we have 22nd of the month pro-life prayers that would be specifically for that purpose."

The "22nd of the Month" has been going on for 13 years now. Stanek helped develop the Circle of Life Memorial to the Unborn, with the help of Queen of Peace, Siouxland Right to Life and the Knights of Columbus.

"A lot of people worked together to make it happen. Because of the Circle of Life being there, we know of two babies being saved," she said. "The mother came up here to pray. That was a wonderful thing. You never know how many others have been saved."

Stanek said there are plans to add to the Circle of Life Memorial in the future.

Different groups lead the service each month. On Oct. 22, the pro-life group from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City led the prayer service and the rosary.

"We have had hundreds of different groups at different times," said Stanek. "We have had many tearful, emotional testimonies and prayer services."

She added that spontaneous prayer for defending life is encouraged and welcome. During the petition portion of the evening, people are able to add their own personal intentions or intentions for the unborn.

"It is important to get the perspective of other people who have reflected on the terrible crime that Roe vs. Wade brought about in our nation," said Larry Walsh, a member of the spiritual committee at Trinity Heights. "Every day 3,500 babies are dying and so many of us do nothing about it. It is important to at least pray if we are not going to be active politically or in our presence at Planned Parenthood. These are God's creations that are being destroyed."

He added that through the prayer service they want to get people of many faiths and perspectives together to pray for an end to abortion.

During the Oct. 22 gathering, Walsh announced that the November prayer service would be held on Nov. 21. He made other announcements about upcoming prayer opportunities.