Catholic Mass Held for Unborn Infants; Representatives from Hsi Lai Temple and BLIA Los Angeles Attend
By Hsin Kung, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA
On January 24, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple was invited to attend the annual memorial Mass for unborn infants held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Venerable Huize of Hsi Lai Temple, BLIA Los Angeles Chapter Elder Advisor Connie Yip, and two BLIA members, a total of four representatives, participated in the ceremony. In addition to those representing Buddhism, more than 50 representatives from Islam, Eastern Orthodoxy, Christianity, and other faith traditions were also invited to attend. The Mass was presided over by Archbishop José H. Gomez of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with more than 3,000 Catholic faithful in attendance.
In his address Archbishop Gomez called upon society to face the dignity and rights of unborn life with deeper empathy and a greater sense of responsibility. He offered prayers especially for the “little lives who never had the opportunity to be born into this world,” expressing the Church’s longstanding concern for issues related to life. The archbishop said that the love these little lives were unable to experience in this world may be fully received and comforted in heaven, embraced by the Heavenly Father who has loved them since the beginning of time. His words were gentle yet resolute, deeply moving those present and creating an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence.
He further emphasized that society should not choose to forget these voiceless yet real lives but instead transform remembrance into the power of action. In the “witness” of these little lives, the Church and its faithful once again pledged to continue striving for the basic rights of unborn children, regarding it as a noble and essential mission.
The organizer, OneLife LA, stated that the event was not only a religious prayer service but also an effort to raise public awareness regarding bioethics and human dignity, promote broader social dialogue, and work together toward building a culture that respects life. OneLife LA collaborates with numerous service organizations throughout Southern California to provide life-centered support, including care for pregnant women, assistance for immigrants and refugees, aid for the homeless, survivors of human trafficking, seniors, people with disabilities, and those nearing the end of life, as well as helping foster children find permanent homes. This commitment to service ensures that participants view the event not merely as a single gathering, but as a call to build and strengthen the community.
The event concluded with a closing ceremony in which 200 candles were lit, followed by one minute of silent remembrance. The candles were then placed in the cathedral’s colonnade windows, where they would remain on display for one week as a tribute to these brief lives. Visible from Interstate 101, the 200 candles would be seen by thousands of travelers each day. It was hoped that through these prayers all who witnessed the flickering candlelight would also illuminate the lamp within their own hearts.
Photo Caption (Photos 01–06 by Jonathan Thang)
