‘Faith must be lived out,’ said Father Hennigen at Diocesan Pro-life Mass

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

On October 12, the Diocese of Covington commemorated Respect Life Month with its annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass. The Mass brought together laity, clergy and women religious from across the diocese under the roof of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, to pray for the upholding of the dignity of human life — from natural conception to natural death.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Iffert and concelebrated by his brother priests including homilist Father Michael Hennigen, the Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish and St. Ann Mission, Covington, and chaplain of Covington Catholic High School, Park Hills.

Beginning his homily by quoting the 1998 rock song “Closing Time” by Semisonic, where the lyrics “take me home” are sung, Father Hennigen said, “all of us want to be taken home by someone who loves them — what child doesn’t want to be born?”

“Faith must be lived out,” he said, explaining that living out our faith in the midst of today’s world means “standing for life, from conception to natural death.”

“The respect for every person,” said Father Hennigen, “even how we treat each other, is pro-life.”

Not judging once another, he explained, is part of this pro-life attitude. “We make objective judgements all of the time: what is right and what is wrong … but subjectively, we cannot judge someone. We do not know what is in the heart of others, only the lord knows,” said Father Hennigen. “Pope Francis told us that to help keep us from subjectively judging others is to get to know the heart of others, their story — this encounter, to walk with them, to pray for them and with them. This helps bring about conversion. This brings people to Jesus.”

By letting people know the love, mercy and forgiveness of God, “where sin is, grace abounds all the more,” Father Hennigen said. “And, as people of faith, our faith is to affect everything we do and who we are.”