St. Pat's to pilot event
The B.C. Catholic
A pilot event of prayer, song, and candlelight has been planned to honour children who were aborted, and to bring healing to their families.
"The wounds run very far and very deep," said Stephanie Gray, a pro-life activist and member of St. Patrick's Parish in Maple Ridge, who is putting on the event.
She said because of abortion, many families are missing siblings, cousins, and grandchildren, and little is done to help them grieve or cope with the ripple effects. "There are so many walking wounded in our midst."
In her work as a speaker, author, and pro-life voice around the globe, she has met many people who are still struggling decades after an abortion in the family.
"This would help give closure and pay our respects to the children; in a way it's the funeral they never had."
The memorial service will be held at St. Patrick's June 10 at 7:30 p.m. It will include prayer, song, and a testimony from Elizabeth Sutcliffe, who works at Hope for Women pregnancy centre and speaks with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign about the abortion she regrets.
Gray said it's the first time something like this has been held in the area, and she hopes more Christian churches will bring in the initiative.
"Mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and medical professionals in our churches have lost pre-born children to abortion and need forgiveness, healing, and closure," she said.
"Memorials often help with closure at the loss of the born, so why not at the loss of the pre-born?"
More information is available at www.stephaniegray.info/events.