50th Annual Day of Prayer for Life Held Wednesday

(THE VARIOUS OFFICIANTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WEDNESDAY'S PRAYER FOR LIFE CEREMONY)

The 50th annual Day of Prayer for Life was held Wednesday at St. Francis Church, Teutopolis, with more than 300 people in attendance throughout the day.

The opening Mass was celebrated by Father Juan Carlos Ruiz, OFM, followed by continuous prayer and Eucharistic Adoration by area churches and organizations throughout the day. The Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield was the honored celebrant at the closing Mass, with concelebrants Father John Titus, Father Dominic Rankin, Father Joe Carlos, OFM, Father James Flach, Father Dean Probst, Father Peter Harman, Father Michal Rosa, Father Braden Maher, Father Michael Berndt, Father David Beagles, Father Adam Prichard, Father Seth Brown, Father Hyland Smith, Father Troy Niemerg and Father Alex McCullough. Assisting Bishop Paprocki was Deacon Ryan Kehoe. Seminarian Joseph Tuttle was the Mass server, along with John Pruemer, Alex Habing, Chris Habing, Sarah Habing, and Rayanna Mette.

(BISHOP PAPROCKI)

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki addressed those in attendance thanking them for their perseverance over these past 50 years. “This community is to be commended for its dedication to the pro-life movement,” said Paprocki. “Continue to be champions of life as together we pray for an end to abortion.”

The Effingham Area Right to Life organization asked to sincerely thank all the prayer leaders and musicians for their continuous hours of prayer, as well as those who assisted in honoring life at the opening and closing Masses, including Bishop Paprocki, priests, deacon, servers, musicians, sacristans, Fourth Degree KC Honor Guards, lectors, and gift bearers. They also offered special thanks to the St. Francis Council of Catholic Women for hosting a gracious reception after the closing Mass.