By Jessica Easthope
It’s an outpouring of love for life. Two-hundred red roses displayed in front of the altar at Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows, Queens is how parishioners are showing they stand with the unborn.
“We couldn’t let this anniversary pass by without doing something so our way of doing this is through prayer, fasting and alms giving,” said pastor, Father Sean Suckiel.
For the first time Holy Family couldn’t send its usual group down to Washington D.C. to March for Life, so instead parishioners are re-marking the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade with a day of fasting and prayer for the protection of the unborn. They raised money, each rose – a donation to pro-life organization Bridge to Life.
“Regardless of what’s going on politically, for us it’s about the women and about the babies and providing as much support to them as we can,” said Stephanie Cipolla, a board member of Bridge to Life and parishioner at Holy Family.
Cipolla says a recent New York Times investigation is on the organization’s radar. The investigation shows some pre-natal screenings that could lead women toward abortion are wrong 85 percent of the time.
“We want to make sure they’re never considering abortion because they think it’s their only choice,” she said.
Though medicine and politics may be at the core of the cause – in recent years the pro-life movement has been reinvigorated, seeing a surge of young people taking a stance. St. John’s University employees Stacey Varghese and Sylvia Jagota came to Mass Friday to pray for their colleague who’s expecting her baby any day now.
“I think it’s really important in this day and age to honor life and the sanctity of life, and to continue to do our best to protect that,” said Sylvia.
“The latest motivation of the pro-life cause is really seeing the young people enthusiastic about life, their enjoyment and I think that brings hope to everyone,” Father Suckiel said.
Through its first Rose for Life campaign, Holy Family will be donating more than $1,000 to Bridge to Life.
If you or someone you know needs help from Bridge to Life, call 718-463-1810. To make a donation visit thebridgetolife.org.