MORRISTOWN Bishop Serratelli celebrated the annual Diocesan Respect Life Mass on Nov. 19 at St. Margaret of Scotland Church here, where he encouraged Catholics to follow the example of Mother Teresa, who exercised “unflinching courage” in defending the dignity of all human life, even in the face of strong political opposition.
Local clergy, religious and laity from around the Diocese filled St. Margaret’s for the 10 a.m. annual Respect Life Mass — formally known as the Mass for the Unborn — to gather together in prayer and mutual support for protecting all human life, born and unborn.
Bishop Serratelli, who served as main celebrant and homilist, started the liturgy by proclaiming, “We gather together to thank God for the gift of life.” Many priests of the Church of Paterson concelebrated the Mass, which was sponsored by the Paterson Federation of the Knights of Columbus.
“As faithful Catholics, we must be unmistakably clear and courageous — as Mother Teresa was — even in the face of those, who disagree that abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide are always wrong — to those who turn from the truth,” Bishop Serratelll told the congregants in his homily.
Mother Teresa showed that fearlessness for Respect Life, during her entire ministry as a religious sister, and received widespread attention for her very direct speech at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 3, 1994 in Washington D.C. where she received an honor for her work. There, she called abortion “the greatest destroyer of love and peace” and declared, “Jesus said, ‘If you receive a little child, you receive me.’ Every abortion is the neglect of receiving Jesus.” Mother Teresa also stated, “If we accept a mother killing her own child, how can we tell people not to kill one another? Any nation that accepts abortion is teaching its people to use violence to get what they want.”
The audience — filled with 3,000 Washington elites, including members of Congress and U.S. Supreme Court justices — seemed uncomfortable with her message at first, but eventually stood and applauded for six minutes. Yet, two other audience members, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton, sat motionless during Mother Teresa’s speech. She approached the First Lady after the speech to express her opposition to abortion further, showing “unflinching courage,” said Bishop Serratelli in his homily.
“From the moment of our conception, the living God is calling us to enter into a relationship with him — a relationship that lasts beyond this world. The present question is how are we to live out our relationship with the God of life?” said Bishop Serratelli, adding that we do so by caring for the elderly, terminally ill, marginalized, sick, suffering and children waiting to be born. “We clearly and courageously show that God is the God of Life.”
During the Respect Life Mass, chaired by Deacon Anthony Fierro of St. Bonaventure Parish, Paterson, those in attendance prayed intentions for all human beings — born and unborn. The liturgy represented the commitment of the Knights, the largest Catholic fraternal service organization, to pro-life issues. The faithful also included many deacons, religious sisters and laity, including families with children.
Toward the end of the liturgy, Joseph Miller, chairman of the Diocesan Federation of the Knights of Columbus, addressed the congregation, saying, “I thank everyone for coming out to the Mass. The Knights believe deeply in Respect for Life.” He thanked Bishop Serratelli; Father Kevin Corcoran, the Bishop’s priest-secretary; Father Hernan Arias, St. Margaret’s pastor; Father Jody Baran of the Byzantine Rite, who serves as the federations’ chaplain; other supportive clergy and religious; and his brother Knights, including the Fourth-Degree Color Corps that participated in the Mass and St. Margaret’s Knights, who organized a reception in the parish hall after the Mass.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Serratelli thanked the Knights and participating priests and deacons. Then, he walked down for the altar and into the main aisle, expressing to the congregation his dismay that many Catholics “do not let their faith dictate their political choices.”
“Let your faith influence your life, including political issues. We can influence politicians on issues such as Respect for Life and immigration,” said Bishop Serratelli, who told the churchgoers that he looks forward to the next Respect Life Mass to be held in the St. John’s Cathedral, Paterson, which has been undergoing extensive renovations and is scheduled to reopen in June.
After the Mass, Marta Neri of St. Vincent De Paul Parish, Stirling, was gathering up her rather spirited children, Anastasia, 3, and Luke, 1-1/2. She belongs to the Morris County parish’s Respect Life Ministry.
“This [Mass] was a celebration of life, including the unborn,” said Neri, who expressed optimism about the outcome of the U.S. presidential election [with a president-elect, who promises to nominate pro-life judges to the U.S. Supreme Court]. “But there is still so much to be done. I came to the Mass to pray for life and to thank God for my kids — that they are happy, healthy and love the Lord,” she said.
Then, the faithful walked downstairs to St. Margaret’s parish hall for refreshments. There, Dr. Mary Mazzarella, Diocesan Respect Life director, who called the Mass “beautiful” and “well attended,” said “Bishop Serratelli’s remarks were on point. We, as Catholics, have to be pro-life people. That’s where it all begins.”