Newspaper Writing Sample--1,700 Gather Together for 2016 Mass For Life

1,700 Gather Together for 2016 Mass For Life

While thousands gathered in Washington D.C. on Friday, Jan. 22 for the March For Life, Archdiocese of Seattle came together to host the annual Mass For Life at the Marcus Pavilion on Saint Martin’s University campus earlier in the week. The Mass, held on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 9 a.m., was attended by approximately 1700 people, according to Andrew Casad, Director of the Office for Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Seattle. Such a large-scale event requires planning and cooperation among many different groups of people.

“With the help of St. Michael, Olympia and Sacred Heart, Lacey Parishes we are able to get all the sacred furnishings, liturgical banners, etc. in order to make the pavilion conducive to worship,” stated Casad about converting the basketball arena into a place of worship. “We worked with the music teacher from Pope John Paul II High School for the music this year and were blessed to have his choir as well as music directors from several area parishes.”

St. Martin’s Campus Ministry and the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women provided ushers for the service, and the Knights of Columbus directed parking and provided an honor guard for the processions. Members of the 4US organization, a pro-life volunteer organization in Lakewood Wash., presented the gifts during mass. Perhaps most telling of the range of those participating in the Mass For Life were the 33 priests and 12 deacons in attendance, all from different parishes in the archdiocese.

Of the 1700 people in attendance, many traveled a substantial distance to attend. Constance Uribe, Saint Martin’s Senior and president of Saints For Life, said that before coming to Saint Martin’s for school she traveled to the Mass For Life from Cle Elum, Wash. She has also attended the event all four years of her time at Saint Martin’s.

“In my time here at Saint Martin’s I have helped the Department of Campus Ministry in recruiting and coordinating the student volunteers for four of the Masses for Life,” remarked Uribe on her involvement in the event. “The Mass For Life is a time for me to offer up my prayers specifically for the unborn, but also for all of those whose dignity of life are in danger,” Uribe stated when asked what the event meant to her. For Archbishop Peter Sartain, Uribe and Casad, the Mass For Life is not only a time to pray for the end to abortion, but to celebrate life in general.

In his homily, the Archbishop urged those in attendance to, "Let us be people of life, which means, let us be people of joy."

“The Mass for Life honors parents and is an opportunity for us to strengthen with prayer those who have accepted the gift of life and pray in penance that our nation will put in place laws that protect the human dignity of every person,” commented Casad.

“The Mass for Life brings me joy as many of those in attendance are young families.  Kids are the greatest!” Uribe stated. “I believe that the pro-life movement in general brings people joy because they know that they are praying and rallying for those precious, unborn children who have no voices.”

Indeed, the annual Mass For Life brings larger amounts of people together each year to coordinate the event and to celebrate the joy of life and give a voice to those who have none.