Pilgrims Begin Journey With Diocesan Mass For Life
Hundreds of pilgrims from across the Diocese of Evansville filled Christ the King Parish’s St. Ferdinand Church in Ferdinand on Jan. 17 for the Diocese of Evansville’s Mass for Life, which served as their sendoff for the 2018 Pilgrimage for Life to Washington, D.C. The Message will provide complete coverage of their trip to the 2018 March for Life in the Feb. 2 issue.
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel and priests of the diocese concelebrated the Mass for our pilgrims, and Bishop Siegel spoke to them about the dignity of every human life. “Is there any wonder we see so much violence … so much rancor … around us today?” he asked. “St. John Paul II talked about the culture of death; life is valuable only if it is useful, functional, convenient, profitable … or if it is my life.
“We ask ourselves, ‘How can we make a difference?’ We know that all things are possible with God,” he said. He emphasized the need for everyone to reaffirm a commitment to all life, and to focus on cultivating a culture of life in our homes.
“Making this pilgrimage to the March for Life is an example of public things we can do,” Bishop Siegel added. “We also can assist at shelters and volunteer with organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Society. There also are less-public steps we can take, like helping to keep the shelves full at our local food pantries and visiting the sick. We can all do something.”
After Mass, the pilgrims left Ferdinand for the overnight bus trip to Washington, D.C., and the March for Life. Bishop Siegel joined them in Washington for the march.
Nine priests of the Diocese of Evansville concelebrated the Mass for Life with Bishop Siegel, including Father Ray Brenner, Father Jack Durchholz (Pastor of Christ the King Parish), Father Jason Gries, Father Jim Koressel, Father Simon Natha, Father Jerry Pratt, Father Eugene Schmitt, Father Tim Tenbarge and Father Ambrose Wanyonyi. Deacons James King, Joe Siewers and Jim Woebkenberg assisted.
Immediately following Mass, the parish’s Respect Life Committee hosted a brief local pilgrimage, the Stations of Life, which focused on the dignity of every life as understood in the seven principles of Catholic social teaching.
