GRANITE CITY — Every pew at Holy Family Church was filled as were extra chairs set out to accommodate the overflow of pro-life supporters who came from throughout the diocese to join Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at the Diocesan Respect Life Mass on Oct. 9.

Nine priests were concelebrants and Knights of Columbus from area councils served as honor guards for the bishop. The choir from St. Elizabeth Parish led the singing under the direction of Jim Dedera.

In his homily, Bishop Paprocki talked about defining issues of the times. “He said ‘there is more to (being) pro-life than just abortion,’” Father Jeffry Holtman, Holy Family pastor, said later.

“During the Civil War, when slavery was legal and accepted by many people, the bishop said the defining issue of the times was racism,” Father Holtman said.

“It took the Civil War to turn that around,” said Bishop Paprocki. As recently as the 1960s, “the defining issue was civil rights.

“Abortion is a defining issue of our times,” Bishop Paprocki said in his homily.

He mentioned pending legislation to require high resolution ultrasound to be made available by abortion providers to people seeking their services.

After Mass, over 450 of the pro-life supporters formed a procession behind Bishop Paprocki who led them in praying the rosary as they marched  to a nearby abortion clinic where a brief prayer vigil was held.

Sister Jane Boos, SSND, director of the diocesan Office for Social Concerns, said she was thrilled by the turnout.

“Bishop Paprocki in his homily articulated very clearly our Catholic moral teaching and called all of us to faithfully live out this teaching. The participation of our priests, deacons, sisters, seminarians and young and old alike was a sign of hope,” said Sister Jane.