Prayer and reflection at the Pro-Life Millennium Cross

By Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News

Bishop Emeritus John Pazak, CSsR, challenged everyone who attended the 21st Annual Pilgrimage at the Pro-Life Millennium Cross Sept. 17 to continue speaking about protecting the sanctity of life — from conception to natural death.

Pazak is the retired bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God of Phoenix but has also served in Saskatoon, including at the parish of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church from 1990 to 1996.

Bishop Emeritus John Pazak, CSsR, spoke at the Sept. 17 event. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

In his address at the Millennium Cross pilgrimage, Pazak said that we face a life decision every day, especially on how we will show ourselves to be pro-life when abortion is considered a fundamental human right and medically-assisted death is becoming routine.

“We all know what they call this at the other side of the fence; it is pro-choice. ‘I can do what I want’ and other different phrases. But we know that is not the way, and we must look at God’s law,” said Pazak, who retired in 2021.

“We must continue to speak about life. That is what God is asking every one of us. We must remember that God’s unconditional love and life are important gifts. We must continue to pray to stop abortion and assisted death.”

(Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

He asked everyone present to do their share to stand up to protect the sanctity of life like our Lord Jesus Christ has shown us, and to continue to speak against anti-life practices, He ended his remarks with the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

“The reason why we hate abortion is because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. He made us male and female; we can read that from the Bible’s first book. Our society will mess us up with different so-called options,” added Pazak.

Close to 200 pilgrims gathered around the 100-foot cross and prayed the Living Rosary, where the Sorrowful Mysteries were recited. Those who participated recited the Our Father and Hail Mary prayers in their native tongue: English, Ukrainian, Syriac, Spanish, Latin and in the Filipino dialects of Visaya, Tagalog and Chavacano.

The Pro-Life Millennium Cross Pilgrimage site serves as a memorial where people can come each year and pray for unborn children who have died, including victims of abortion.