Knights of Columbus members (standing, l-r) Frank Lipinski, Matthew Fedirko, Fr. Jerome Ogunleye, Tom Kapiniak, Mitchell Staszczak, and (seated at front) Paul Kralka at the dedication. (Submitted photo)

Submitted by the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association

On a warm and balmy Sunday afternoon in July, the members of the Rose Valley/Kelvington Fr. Kunka Council #6594 of the Knights of Columbus gathered to dedicate and bless a memorial monument and wrought iron signs dedicated to honoring the Life of the Unborn.

Inscribed with “In Loving Memory of all the Unborn Babies” the monument is permanently located at St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery in Rose Valley, while the signs were destined for other area cemeteries.

Fr. Jerome Ogunleye, Pastor of Christ the King Parish at Rose Valley and of several other parishes in the Wadena deanery, presided over the dedication and blessing.

Mitchell Staszczak, Grand Knight, indicated this was the culmination of a two-year long project undertaken by the council. It had been initiated with the sponsorship of the memorial monument by Knights of Columbus member Paul Kralka, and his wife Mary Anne.

Representing the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association, Virginia Battiste, Parkland Right to Life, brought greetings and congratulations from the SPLA. She commended those assembled for standing for life, reminding them, that “though the location might seem remote and unseen by many, the angels and saints were looking down upon them and applauding.”

The monument and signs are a concrete reminder to those who see them of the many lives of the unborn lost to abortion, she said.

Fr. Jerome Ogunleye blesses the monument and signs. (Submitted photo)

The memorial wrought-iron signs were distributed to several neighbouring cemeteries including Archerwill Village Cemetery; Christ the King Roman Catholic Cemetery at Rose Valley; Our Lady Queen of Poland Roman Catholic Cemetery at Fosston; St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery at Kelvington; St. Theresa Roman Catholic Cemetery at Lintlaw; St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Cemetery at Perigord; and Wadena Town Cemetery, Wadena.

At the dedication the pro-life monument and signs in July were (l-r) Virginia Battiste of the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association; Fr. Jerome Ogunleye, pastor of parishes at Rose Valley, Kelvington, Fosston, Lintlaw, Archerwill, Nobleville, Perigord and Wadena; and Grand Knight Mitchell Staszcak. (Submitted photo)

(Submitted photo)

(Submitted photo)

-30-