SCRANTON – Just two days after the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., the faithful in the Diocese of Scranton gathered together at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton for the annual ‘Mass for Life’ on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.
The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant and homilist.
“The overturning of Roe has given the Pro-Life cause great hope. It has not, however, ended the work that still needs to be done to create a culture of life in our land. And that, brothers and sisters, is why we pray so intently at this Mass today,” Bishop Bambera said during his homily.
The bishop said we all must work to preserve and protect human life at all stages, from conception to natural death.
“Our greatest efforts in building a culture of life are discovered when we courageously speak the truth, as Jesus has proclaimed it, and when we, in turn, respond to those whose beliefs fall short of treating all lives with dignity and respect with respect, dignity and love,” he added.
Those who attended the Mass were encouraged to bring new packages of diapers and wipes to be donated to local mothers and babies in need.
Because of the generosity of the faithful, more than 2,200 diapers were collected at the Mass. The diapers were all given to the Providence Pregnancy Center in Scranton, Saint Joseph’s Center in Dunmore and Catholic Social Services.
All three organizations say they are always in need of donations. Currently, workers say their biggest needs are newborn diapers and newborn clothing. Donations can be made directly to any one of the three organizations.