SAN ANGELO — “I believe that the Dobbs decision was an answer to prayer,” Bishop Michael J. Sis said during his homily July 17 at the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo. The Mass was the third diocesan Mass of Thanksgiving for the decision in the Supreme Court case of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health, which overturned the ruling of Roe vs. Wade and ended nearly half a century of federal protection for abortion around the country. Previous Masses of Thanksgiving were held on July 9 at St. Stephen Church in Midland and July 11 at Holy Family Church in Abilene.
“It is only fitting that it was announced on the Catholic feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Bishop Sis continued, adding that the date the court’s decision was made public, June 24, is also the traditional date for the Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist, himself a “great witness to the reality of life in the womb” at the Visitation.
The events described in two of the readings of the Mass — detailing Abraham and Sara’s reception of guests in Genesis and the Gospel passage describing Christ’s visit to Martha and Mary — shared the theme of hospitality, Bishop Sis said, noting that “a big part of the virtue of hospitality is the attitude of receptivity — being open to receiving another person into your life and welcoming them.”
“In this new phase of our national history after Roe vs. Wade, I pray for a change of hearts, so that more people will be receptive and welcoming to the precious gift of a little baby,” he said.
“And remember,” Bishop Sis continued, “our job is not over. We still have our work cut out for us as pro-life Christians.” Looking forward, he said, “we must work even harder to build a culture of life by lovingly supporting mothers and fathers in welcoming and caring for God’s gift of life. … I invite you to become more intentionally aware of the needs of pregnant mothers and fathers of the unborn in our own parishes and communities by listening to them, seeking understanding, and helping them in concrete ways.”
The hospitality and support of life continued at the conclusion of Mass. As with the previous two Masses of Thanksgiving, a reception after Mass allowed people to meet local pro-life ministry leaders and representatives of organizations working every day to help women and families.
Stephanie Socha, the diocesan pro-life ministry coordinator for the San Angelo area, was among those eager to continue the work. Socha was displaying models of unborn babies in various stages of development, handing out lapel pins showing the size and scale of the tiny toes and feet of a baby at 10 weeks’ development in the womb, and proudly displaying the photos of in-utero children from the April 30, 1965, issue of Life magazine, all to highlight the humanity of the unborn.
Socha sees in the Supreme Court’s decision both a chance for gratitude and an opportunity to continue growing a culture of life. “We need to continue to give thanks,” Socha said, “and concentrate on more seriously helping anyone — woman or man — who is involved in a crisis pregnancy” as well as young families with new children. One of the goals, she said, is “offering help so these young women won’t go to a state where they can have an abortion.” The Dobbs decision did not outlaw abortion at the federal level, rather returning the decision to each state independently. In some states, Texas included, laws were already in place to outlaw the practice of abortion once the federal protection ended.
Another of the local organizations sharing information at the reception was the Pregnancy Help Center of the Concho Valley. Kay Mills of the Pregnancy Help Center summed up the mission of the organization thus: “We are here to speak for the baby.” Speaking for the baby starts with pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to confirm a positive test. These services are free, as are all the Pregnancy Help Center’s offerings. The services also include parenting classes, offered both in the morning and evening to fit busy schedules. A mother, as well as her husband or partner, can earn points by attendance, which can then be traded for items every growing family needs — a variety of things ranging from laundry detergent to car seats.
Father Tom Barley, who, along with Father Lorenzo Hatch, concelebrated the Mass on July 17, has seen firsthand the outpouring of support for life in our local community. Father Barley has helped organize a prayer rally at the Tom Green County Courthouse for the last several years on Jan. 21, the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and recognizes that the landscape has changed. Musing on whether the Jan. 21 prayer rally should continue, he suggested continuing to pray on that date for the states where abortion is still widely available, while also praying for mothers on June 24, the date of the Dobbs decision.
Father Barley credits the active pro-life community in the Diocese of San Angelo to the many women leaders who have spearheaded the prayer rallies and other events, and knows they are eager to lead the way in meeting the needs of babies, mothers, and families. The ministries, organizations, and supporters who gathered for the Mass of Thanksgiving and reception agree: now that the Supreme Court has paved the way for Texas and other states to restrict abortion access, the services of those aiding crisis pregnancies and young families in need will only be more in demand.
Helping equip pregnant women and new parents to meet the needs of their growing families can seem a daunting task. But so, too, did the end of the 49-year era of Roe vs. Wade. Even the most difficult tasks are possible, Father Barley knows. “You think you can’t do anything,” he said. “And that’s not true. When God wants you to do something, he gives you the Holy Spirit.”