Churches hold day of prayer on 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade
FAIRCHANCE – The Rev. David Nazimek called Wednesday “a special day of prayer’ as Ss. Cyril and Methodius Roman Catholic Church began a 12-hour pro-life prayer vigil on the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. “This is a special day of prayer to atone for the sins against God and against our fellow brothers and sisters,’ said Rev. Nazimek, pastor, in a sermon he gave at the 7:30 a.m. Mass.
While hundreds of district residents from Fayette and Greene counties traveled to Washington, D.C., Wednesday to join the national March for Life, many local churches opened their doors for prayer.
Several churches held worship services before buses of protesters left, while Ss. Cyril and Methodius offered an all-day vigil that ran from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for people unable to attend the March for Life.
The Fairchance church’s vigil began and ended with Mass. The day included exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and praying of the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. In addition, there was time for private meditation. Rev. Nazimek noted in advance that people of all faiths were welcomed.
Darryl Smith of Fairchance, who attended the Mass with his wife, Linda, said, “All churches should be doing this and Father should be commended for doing this. The most important thing people can do is to come here and pray.’
About two dozen people braved the below-freezing temperatures to be at the early Mass and Rev. Nazimek expected people to be at the church all day. Since Wednesday was a work and school day, he anticipated most people would be present for the evening Mass.
But Rev. Nazimek included plenty of pro-life messages in the morning Mass and noted of the future, “Now there is some hope.’
He referred to a pro-life President Bush and a Republican-led Congress, which many local pro-life members believe offer an opportunity for change.
In his sermon, Rev. Nazimek also spoke about watching a television interview featuring a pro-choice woman who expressed apprehension at this same political atmosphere.
“She was fearful that everything they’ve worked for the last 30 years would be lost and women won’t have a choice on how they live their lives. I couldn’t help thinking how pro-choice and pro-abortion people distort everything,’ Rev. Nazimek said. “…They see their own selfish needs at this point.’
But Rev. Nazimek also offered prayers of forgiveness in the Mass as well as prayers for spiritual leaders, for civic leaders to work on legislation that brings about peace and justice, and for the safety of those traveling to Washington to the March for Life.
After the Mass, Mrs. Smith, who comes to Mass daily with her husband, commented, “I think this is a special time to pray for the babies who have been aborted and for the mothers who have to live with this.’
Patty Maloney of Smithfield said, “I come by every morning but this is an especially prayerful day. We all need to pray for life – the sanctity of life.’