 |
|
|
Fr. Frank Pavone
with the newest Inquirers. From left to
right: David Mullen, Fr. Frank and David Begany |
|
|
Priests for Life Holds Groundbreaking.
Fr. Pavone becomes first Moderator General in Mass
celebrated
by Cardinal Martino
 |
From
Left to Right: Fr. Frank Pavone, MEV,
Cardinal Martino, Bishop John Yanta and
Archbishop José Gomez break ground |
On August 24, 2006, Priests for Life held a groundbreaking
ceremony in Amarillo, Texas, for its new headquarters and the
central community house of the new Society, the Missionaries
of the Gospel of Life.
 |
Cardinal Renato
Martino, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical
Council for
Justice and Peace |
Cardinal Renato Martino, the President of the Vatican’s
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace presided over the
ceremonies, which started with a mass in which Fr. Frank Pavone
officially become the first member of the Missionaries of the
Gospel of Life.
Click here for more photos of the groundbreaking Mass.
 |
| Fr. Frank Pavone, MEV professes his
permanent promises. |
Fr. Pavone professed his permanent promises in the presence
of Bishop John Yanta, Bishop of Amarillo, and thereby was
incardinated into the Society and installed as its
first
Moderator General.
 |
|
Fr.
Frank Pavone presents the emblem to Daniel Cochran and
Patrick O'Donnell. |
His first act as Moderator General was to present to the
first two seminarians of the Society the emblem of the
Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. Patrick O’Donnell and Daniel
Cochran completed their Year of Inquiry and began the Year of
Aspirancy, reporting on August 25 to Holy Apostles Seminary in
Cromwell, Connecticut.
Click here for photos from the Seminarian Life Link
conference that took place in Amarillo the week before the
groundbreaking.
 |
Kevin Burke, Dr. Paul Schenck,
Joy Pinto,
James Pinto, Jr. (the national Coordinator of the Lay
Associates program), and Janet Morana |
Fr. Pavone then received the promises of the first group of
Lay Associates, consisting of: From left to right below: Kevin
Burke, Dr. Paul Schenck, Joy Pinto, James Pinto, Jr. (the
national Coordinator of the Lay Associates program), and Janet
Morana.
Fr. Pavone also introduced the four men who were just accepted for
their Year of Inquiry: Heriberto Reyes, David Mullen, James
Snow, and David Begany. Concelebrating the Mass with Cardinal Martino and Bishop Yanta
were Most Rev. José Gomez, Archbishop of San Antonio; Most Rev.
Charles Grahmann, Bishop of Dallas; Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop
of Fort Worth; Most Rev. Michael Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop of San
Angelo; Most Rev. Placido Rodriguez, CMF, Bishop of Lubbock;
Most Rev. Renee Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi; Most
Rev. George Fitzsimons, Bishop Emeritus of Salina, KS; and
numerous priests, including the full-time and part-time members
of the pastoral team of Priests for Life.
Click here to read Cardinal Martino's homily at the
groundbreaking Mass.
Following Mass, the groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site
of the new facilities. Each of the Priest-Associates of Priests
for Life read a prayer asking for God’s favor upon a particular
aspect of the ministry of Priests for Life and the Missionaries
of the Gospel of Life. Cardinal Martino said a prayer of
blessing over the land itself.
Click here for more photos of the groundbreaking
ceremony.
Click here to read Cardinal Martino's remarks at the
groundbreaking ceremony.
In addition to remarks by Cardinal Martino, Bishop Yanta, and
Fr. Frank Pavone, several special guests gave words of greeting
at the groundbreaking ceremonies. These included Dr. Alveda
King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a member of the
Priests for Life pastoral team; Norma McCorvey, the former “Jane
Roe” of Roe vs. Wade, whom Fr. Pavone received into the Catholic
Church in 1998; Bob and Mary Schindler, the parents of Terri
Schiavo, along with her brother Bobby; and Mary O’Connor Ward,
the sister of Cardinal John O’Connor, who ordained Fr. Pavone
and gave him permission in 1993 to lead Priests for Life.
Cardinal O’Connor and Fr. Pavone discussed the idea of a
community of priests dedicated to pro-life ministry back in
1993, and the Cardinal encouraged Fr. Pavone to explore the
possibility. Fr. Pavone received various letters of congratulations from
civic and religious leaders, some of which were read at the
ceremony. Among those who wrote were President George W. Bush,
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) (PDF format),
Dr. James Dobson (PDF
format),
Sandra Cano (the “Mary Doe” of Doe vs. Bolton, the
companion case to Roe vs. Wade),
Fr. Paul Marx, OSB, and
Deacon
Keith Fournier (Director of Deacons in the Service of Life, a
national ministry of the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life).
 |
| Mary O'Connor Ward, sister
of the late John Cardinal O'Connor, joined us at the
groundbreaking. |
Mary O'Connor Ward, sister of the late John Cardinal O'Connor,
joined us at the groundbreaking. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Cardinal, with all the
bishops and Fr. Pavone, took shovels in their hands and broke
the ground to the cheers of all who were present.
“The mission of Priests for Life bears new fruit today,” Fr.
Pavone explained. “Abortion is the paramount moral tragedy of
our day. The Church acknowledges that in her teaching. She is
also called to acknowledge that by the allocation of personnel
and institutions focused exclusively on defending the right to
life of the unborn. Our ministry, and our new community, is an
example of that commitment.” “This is an historic day,” Bishop Yanta commented, “and only God
knows how significant it will prove to be for the pro-life
movement in this country and around the world. Our diocese is
proud to partner with Priests for Life in this work of the Holy
Spirit.” Fr. Pavone added, “We invite those who feel the call to devote
their lives entirely to the protection of the unborn to come to
us. Working in union with the entire pro-life movement, we will
never turn back, and we will overcome.” Cardinal Martino commented that this “community
founded for the purpose of working to protect human life may
seem like a sign of contradiction—but it may just be what the
world of today needs! The call to protect life is not only a
foundation of our faith as Catholics, but it is the very basis
of our recognition of human rights and the right to life.” On the morning of the groundbreaking, Fr. Pavone also convened a
unique strategy meeting of priests from various organizations
who work full-time on the pro-life cause. The next day, held a
strategic meeting of pro-life leaders to discuss future
initiatives of the movement. Cardinal Martino was present for
both meetings.
Click here for more photos of the gatherings at our
guests at the groundbreaking
|
|
