ORLANDO  |  At the fifth annual Mass for Life, Bishop John Noonan’s message about life as gift resounded in an acclaim to share that gift with others.

“We hear a lot about life, about who we are, and we hear that some of us are chosen. But today we celebrate ourselves as gifts,” he said. “No human being is ever chosen by God. Every human being is blessed by God because you are created in the image and likeness of God. Each and every person here today is not a choice, but gift, a gift from God.”

The bishop served as homilist at the Mass held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Jan. 17, 2025. He noted the privilege of being co-creators with God in what he called, “the most sacred act of His love – the creation of a new life made in the image and likeness of God.” Bishop Noonan urged those gathered to value the infinite worth of this gift.

Thanking those present for voting against Amendment 4 in November, a law that would have blurred limits on abortion and removed the rights of parents to be informed of minors intending to terminate a pregnancy, he cited Pope Francis’s latest encyclical Dilexit Nos or He loved us. Bishop Noonan said the pope asked if the world has become heartless and indifferent.

“And we may be able to say yes. You look at the news every night and what’s happening in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and Africa, and in our own streets,” he said, adding what is unseen is “the hatred, the violence against mothers and children. The most innocent suffering – the unborn, not wanted, are being disposed of. Isaiah tells us we must be a light, a light to the world. Pope Francis tell us we need to discover our hearts. We need to discover who we are and what gifts we’ve been given by God, our Creator.”

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, when he spoke during the Angelus in June 2008, Bishop Noonan said, “Every person needs a ‘centre’ for his own life, a source of truth and goodness to draw from in the daily events, in the different situations and in the toil of daily life. Every one of us, when he/she pauses in silence, needs to feel not only his/her own heartbeat, but deeper still, the beating of a trustworthy presence, perceptible with faith’s senses and yet much more real: the presence of Christ, the heart of the world.”

Connecting his message to the Week of Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25) Bishop Noonan shared, “The heart of Jesus is alive in our hearts. Pope Francis reminds us the heart not only leads us to Christ, to the Father, but also sends us forth to our brothers and sisters.”

Called to spread goodness in the world, Bishop Noonan told the congregation, wherever they may be, wherever they may hear His call, the Lord is “sending you forth to carry out the true mission of life.” “Remember that only by starting from the heart will our communities succeed in uniting, reconciling different minds and wills, so that the Spirit can guide us to unity as brothers and sisters in the Lord,” he said.

Listening were students from all five diocesan high schools: Santa Fe in Lakeland, Bishop Moore in Orlando, Father Lopez in Daytona Beach, Trinity Catholic in Ocala, and Melbourne Central Catholic in Melbourne.

Surprised by the congregation assembled, Nick LaTour, a peer ministry senior from Trinity Catholic said, “Today’s Mass helped me realize there is a whole community out here who also believes we should respect life in all different ways and forms. It’s a reminder that it’s a blessing we can all come together in this special moment in our lives.”

As part of peer ministry at Santa Fe High School, 10th grader Ursula Canote said she will take back to her school the message, “That God is always here. And as Pope Francis says, ‘Hope never disappoints.’ So, if you feel that God may not be listening to you, don’t worry because He is always there. He will listen to you. He will answer your questions – maybe not the way you want, but He is always there for you. He loves you and makes your life worthy.”

She wanted to attend Mass at the basilica especially because it is the Jubilee Year of Hope. “It’s a time to repent our sins and come together especially (to recognize) the worth of life,” she said. Her takeaway: “Everybody is worthy of life and love. He wants us to be all together here to love Him, praise Him, and respect everyone — whether you are Catholic or not.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, January 23, 2025