Memorial to the Unborn

Nestled in a quiet corner of the church courtyard along Peach Street stands the Memorial to the Unborn, a gentle sanctuary of remembrance and prayer. The luminous glass sculpture, crafted in 1998 by parishioner Angelita Salcedo, was made possible through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. It honors the holy innocents—the unborn children whose lives were lost through abortion.

The inspiration for such memorials arose from a heartfelt challenge issued by the late Cardinal John O’Connor during his homily at the Opening Mass of the 110th Supreme Council Meeting of the Knights of Columbus in New York, 1992. Reflecting on the Tomb of the Unborn at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, the Cardinal urged his brother Knights to continue their steadfast defense of life by establishing memorials in every diocese of the world. From that call of conscience, monuments of compassion and remembrance began to rise in parishes across the globe.

Here in our parish, this memorial stands as a testimony to the sacredness of every human life—a divine gift to be cherished, protected, and nurtured from conception to natural death.

May those who pass this way pause to reflect on the mystery and dignity of life.
May any heart burdened by the thought of abortion be moved to choose life.
And may those who grieve the loss of a child—whether in the womb, in birth, or in childhood—find here a quiet place of healing.

May the Blessed Mother, who kept loving vigil over her Son from cradle to cross and from tomb to glory, comfort every sorrowing mother and bring peace to every wounded heart.

This monument is erected to the memory of those innocents
who have died unjustly, whose lives were taken from them
while they grew silently in their mother’s wombs.

May this monument be a memorial to their memory,
a reminder of our own sinfulness,
and a call to do penance for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
May we trust in God’s mercy,
encourage and strengthen all who have sinned
and seek justice in a world too often filled with sin and selfishness and hate.
Amen.