Making a point about the sanctity of life, Bishop J. Peter Sartain holds a baby whose mother attended the pro-life Mass concelebrated by Bishop Sartain and Auxiliary Bishop Roger L. Kaffer at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Aurora.

AURORA—The prayers of thousands of pro-life advocates were answered, if only for a few days.

On Sept. 17, U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle told officials from the city of Aurora and Planned Parenthood that he would like to see more information from both sides before making a decision on whether or not a Planned Parenthood clinic will open in Aurora. Officials from the city of Aurora had declined to grant Planned Parenthood a permanent occupancy permit, saying they need time to investigate how the agency obtained construction permits.

Since Aug. 9 people of many faith communities have peacefully and prayerfully held vigils outside the Planned Parenthood building on New York Avenue in Aurora which was scheduled to open Sept. 18. Nearly 500 people gathered Sept. 12 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Aurora in prayer, asking God to keep the facility from opening.

Concelebrating the 7:30 p.m. Mass were Bishop J. Peter Sartain and retired Auxiliary Bishop Roger L. Kaffer, who were assisted by nine priests and three deacons from parishes throughout the Joliet Diocese.

“The Lord Jesus loves all of us,” Bishop Sartain said during the homily. “It was for all of us that he gave his life without exception. As disciples of Christ we care for those whom he gave his life for and that is everyone. God put life into the body and then designed it to live, to survive and to grow and into every human body he put a soul.

“We are here tonight because we are sad at the possibility of an abortion clinic opening up down the street. We have the responsibility to create the culture of life,” the bishop said.

From the time word got out that yet another abortion clinic was scheduled to open within the boundaries of the Diocese of Joliet, Bishop Sartain has asked people to pray—for the pregnant women in need, for the conversion of heart for those who support and work at the abortion facilities and for healing for those who suffer the impact of abortions. In a letter to the people of the diocese, he asked that everything be done in a peaceful manner.

“There is tremendous power in prayer,” said Denise Gallina of Naperville, who attended the Mass. “I feel a deep desire to pray for those who find themselves in need of an abortion. I am praying for hope, peace and love.”

Fran Fortier, director of the diocesan Life Office, said she was very pleased with the turnout at the Mass and at the swell of support from the parishes in the diocese.

“The Catholics for Life committees’ abundance of prayer is staggering,” Fortier said. “People have been at the clinic 24 hours a day since the beginning of August. Prayer has been started by lay people in all the pro-life organizations in many churches who don’t appreciate having Planned Parenthood come in and take over their town. They know the damage the clinic can bring.”

Peter Breen, executive director of Woman’s Choice Services in Lombard and Downers Grove, said it was decided Sept. 11 to have a Mass and word spread quickly—it was only a day later that many of the pews were filled in the Aurora church, which is located near the proposed clinic.

“This Mass was a wonderful opportunity for people of the diocese to get together and pray with their pastor,” Breen said after the Mass. “We had a candlelight vigil (outside the clinic Sept. 7) and 400 people showed. Abortion teaches violence and we teach peace.”

Reed and Kathy Callahan of Batavia have reached out to women in need through Project Gabriel, a crisis pregnancy program that assists mothers who choose life rather than abortion.

Kathy said she and her husband recently began working with Breen and were “assigned” their first pregnant woman six months ago.

“We befriended her and were there to help take her to doctor appointments and, hopefully, shine the light of Christ on her. We came to love her. Her little boy was just born, 8 pounds, 11 ounces,” Kathy said proudly.

Pro-choice supporters claim abortion is about the right to choose, but pro-life supporters said it is about life.

“Jesus Christ told us to protect the most vulnerable and the most vulnerable are the elderly and the unborn,” said Doug Delaney, executive assistant to Bishop Sartain, in a phone interview with the Catholic Explorer following the Mass. “From the moment of conception to natural death all people are equal and our job is to get information out to stop any form of death.

“Our hope is by setting an example we can win the hearts and minds of other people. Our hope is the clinic will never open. Our hope is all the clinics will be closed. But our ultimate goal is certainly to create a culture where abortion is never even considered,” Delaney added.

More than 50 Knights of Columbus from all over the Chicago area participated in the service.

Catherine Berkos from St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Joliet whose husband, Terence, is a state officer for the Knights of Columbus, said, “The Knights of Columbus are pro-life because God made every being, especially the unborn who can’t protect themselves and need help to be protected.”

Larry and Marge Theriault, Right to Life chaircouple for the Illinois State Council, Knights of Columbus, were at the Mass with Larry dressed in his knights’ formal attire.

“This Mass was so important because it keeps refueling us and everyone else to keep the faith and refill our soul,” Marge said. “The power of prayer is very underestimated. If we can get people all over to pray, it can change things.”

The Mass brought Catholics from around the diocese together.

“Gathering for Mass is something only our faith can do,” Delaney said. “The one thing we can always do is pray. It is a sign of who we are.”

During the Mass Bishop Sartain said he hoped God “will teach us to do what we can to create a world where our whole community will always respect life.”