Pro-Life Mass returns to the Cathedral to kick off Respect Life month celebrations throughout the Diocese

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

As the air turns crisp and fall rolls in, the turning of the calendar from September to October signifies the beginning of Respect Life month, an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to unite the people of the United States in prayer for life. The Diocese of Covington’s Pro-Life Office promotes Respect Life month annually, beginning with the Pro-Life Mass, celebrated this year on Oct. 12, 7 p.m., at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

Bishop John Iffert will be the celebrant and Father Michael Hennigen, pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Covington, will be the homilist. Faye Roch, director of the Pro-Life Office said the Mass is, “a time when the entire Diocese of Covington community comes together. We always hope there is a great turnout because we are bringing people together to pray for the sanctity of life and to celebrate our great gift of life.”

“You come and you witness the greater community, and you realize that you are not in this fight alone,” she said. “It’s about people recognizing the dignity of life from conception to natural death.”

The theme for this year’s Respect Life month is “Mary, Mother of Life, Pray for Us,” honoring Mary as the mother of Jesus. “What a gift she is to our Catholic faith,” said Mrs. Roch. “We couldn’t think of a more beautiful theme to have for Respect Life because she is our vision in the culture of life.”

Mrs. Roch invites the people of the Diocese of Covington to visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and participate in the celebration of Mass for the intention of the plight of the unborn and the dignity of human life.

“In the Diocese of Covington, if you can bring a few people from every parish together, it’s such a great witness to our community, that they have others who are walking the same way and supporting each other in promoting the sanctity and dignity of life,” she said.