Priest for Life to come to diocese in June

By Renee Webb, Globe editor
May 22, 2008

A pro-life activist will visit several communities in the Diocese of Sioux City in early June.

Father Peter West, who has ministered with Priests for Life since 1998, will make the trip to Iowa on June 6 thanks to parishioners from Whittemore.

According to Rebecca Montag, a parishioner from Whittemore who is helping to arrange the visit, it was a parishioner, Susanne Reding - with the support of parish priest Father Victor Ramaeker - who originally got the ball rolling to have Priests for Life come to the area. Montag's mother, Theresa, has also helped in the effort.

"We are hopeful that through Father West's talks he will help reiterate the Church's teaching on life issues - abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research - and bring the importance of these issues to the forefront," said Montag.

While Father West will head up to the northeast region of the diocese on June 7, his travel arrangements were such that he would be in Sioux City on June 6.

Sioux City activities

"We are really blessed to have an international speaker come through, so when we had the opportunity like that we wanted to use it," explained Mark Thomason, director of catechesis and evangelization who serves as the diocesan pro-life contact person. "We are reaping the benefits of their (Whittemore parishioners) work."

Following a 5 p.m. interview with KFHC Catholic Radio, he will celebrate Mass at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City on June 6 followed by a talk in the parish hall. The Mass and talk are both open to the public.

Thomason said he wanted to have Mass be a part of this "because it's the source and summit of our faith. Everything we do should focus on the Mass and flow from the Mass. Our learning, our growth, our social justice activities go into the Mass and come out from the Mass."

The full day planned for June 7 will begin with 7:30 a.m. Mass at the chapel at Trinity Heights in Sioux City. At 8:30 a.m., the public is invited to join Father West to pray the rosary in front of Planned Parenthood located on Stone Avenue.

Northeast region of diocese

After prayer in front of the abortion mill, Father West will travel northeast where his first event is slated for 1:30 p.m. in the Algona Public Library, Room D. He will give a talk and there will be time for questions and answers.

That evening, at 8 p.m., Father West will talk to the area Knights of Columbus, Holy Name, Catholic Daughters of America and Rosary Society in St. Michael's Parish Center, Whittemore. The public is invited to attend.

The pro-life advocate will travel to yet another community in the Diocese of Sioux City on June 8 as he will give an opening talk, from 3 to 3:30 p.m., at Songfest in West Bend.

"We hope lots of people will take the opportunity to come listen to Father West and stay to enjoy the day," said Montag.

That evening, he will speak to priests, deacons, religious and school administrators at 7 p.m. in the St. Michael Parish Center at Whittemore.

In addition, Father West will be talking at the Masses celebrated at St. Michael's and St. Joseph's on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

o St. Joseph, Bode - Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. o o St. Michael, Whittemore - Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. o Montag said she was excited to have Father West come to the diocese.

"Our family tries to be as involved as we can in helping promote a culture of life whether it is attending local life chains, County Right to Life gatherings or going to Washington D.C. for the March for Life," she said. "Our holy Catholic Church gives us guidance on all life issues and we as faithful Catholics need to embrace church teaching and bring this to our culture."

The Diocesan Pro-life Commission was recently established in the Diocese of Sioux City and one of its main goals to provide a network so that events such as this one can be promoted.

"If people are doing things out there that are great, they should let us know because we will help raise awareness and get it out to people," said Thomason. "Individual people are doing amazing things and we as a diocesan church can benefit from it."

The diocese, in return, can help promote the activities.