Walking for Life and Celebrating the Gift of Mothers

Walking for Life, Witnessing to the Dignity of Every Person

Last Friday, I celebrated Mass as part of our third annual Fall River Diocesan Walk for Life. I was pleased with the number of participants, including students from two of our high schools, Bishop Stang and Pope John Paul II. It was organized by our Secretariat for the New Evangelization and took place at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. While I was only able to join them for the Mass because of other commitments, the Walk was one part of a program that also included adoration, the praying of the Rosary for Life, and a guest speaker. You can read more about it in this week’s Anchor e-newsletter.

The Church’s commitment to the protection and defense of human life flows from her teaching that all human life is made in the image of God and is therefore sacred. As believers, then, when we look at ourselves, when we look at each other, we must see the image of God imprinted within us, within all of us, in our beings, in our souls. Yes, this is a gift and a privilege to see God in others; but it’s also a big responsibility. It demands that we respect every person we meet along the way.
In my homily at the Mass, I spoke of the need for consistency in our defense of human life. Pope Leo XIV underscored this in a video message shared at a recent conference at DePaul University, saying that each human life, from the moment of conception to natural death, is sacred and needs to be protected. The Right to life is foundational to all other human rights.

We must be consistent in applying this across the spectrum of human life. We start with the unborn but cannot stop there. We cannot defend some life or aspects of it, and not others. We must go forward embracing a consistent defense of life as we approach any brother or sister, no matter the behavior of that person, no matter what happens to that person.

I encouraged those at the Walk of Life -and indeed all our faithful people – to continue to work and pray for the protection of life, and to witness by their words and deeds the beauty, dignity, and value of every life in all stages. Imagine a world if everyone respected all life. What a profound impact it would have!

A Prayer for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, a time to give thanks for the gift of mothers. During this month of May, we also honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose love reflects the beauty of motherhood.

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of mothers, for their unconditional love and compassionate care. Bless those who are mothers, those expecting new life, and those mothers who are no longer with us.

Surround them all with your peace and love. Amen.

Help Make a Difference Through the Catholic Appeal

As we reflect on the call to “let it begin with me,” I invite you to take part in the Catholic Appeal, which brings Christ’s love to life through ministries serving those most in need across our Diocese. Every gift, no matter the size, helps make that peace real in our communities. Please consider donating today and be part of this shared mission.

Sincerely,

+Bishop da Cunha