9 Days for Life Novena - Day 1
January 18, 2018
Intercession: May a culture of life grow ever stronger in our communities.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: From each tiny child waiting to be born, to people nearing death, all are precious and deserve our care and protection. Women and men suffering after abortion, individuals tempted to end their lives, expectant mothers facing challenging pregnancies, people pushed to the margins of society by a "throwaway culture," and every other person—each "has a place in God's heart from all eternity" ( Amoris laetitia , 168).
As Pope Saint John Paul II reminds us in The Gospel of Life , we are asked not only to love and honor human life, but also "to work with perseverance and courage" to establish "a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love" (no 77).
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
- "Unplug" for some time praying in silence with a short reflection on this year's Respect Life theme, "Be Not Afraid" ( www.usccb.org/be-not-afraid
).
- Use one of our Respect Life social media toolkits ( www.usccb.org/prolifetools
) to build up a culture of life on social media.
- Do you love your cup of tea or coffee? Fast from caffeine today, or try your coffee black.
One Step Further: Watching the news and reading the headlines, we may sometimes feel helpless seeing the heartbreaking lack of respect for human life. How do we respond to Pope Saint John Paul II's invitation when our efforts to make a difference feel small? "How to Build a Culture of Life" ( www.usccb.org/culture-of-life ) briefly explains where to start.
Evangelium vitae ( The Gospel of Life ), no.77 © 1995; Amoris laetitia ( The Joy of Love ), no. 168 © 2016, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
Norma D. (Vosburgh) Lofland, 73, of Springfield, MA passed away peacefully at home on February 15, 2026. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Norma's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Visitation March 8th 3pm-5pm at Beers & Story Funeral Home in Belchertown, Funeral Mass March 9th 11am at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Belchertown. Burial will take place with her parents at Oak Knoll Cemetery in Palmer. For more information please see here.
Ann Elizabeth (Connally) LeBrun, passed away on February 12, 2026, at the age of 63. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Ann's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and again from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Belchertown. A Funeral Mass will take place the following morning at 11:00 AM. Burial will be held at a later date. For more information please see here .
Gilles Andre Gagnon, age 92, died peacefully at home on February 7, 2026, in Belchertown, Massachusetts Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Gilles' soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Calling hours are Saturday, February 21st from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, February 21st 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Belchertown. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gill’s life. Burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be offered to the American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/ . For more information please visit www.beersandstory.com
Douglas J. Rogers, of South Windsor, CT passed away unexpectedly at his home on October 16, 2025. Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Douglas' soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. On January 12, 2026 a memorial Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Belchertown at 11:00 am. Followed by a Celebration of Life at McCarthy's Pub in Belchertown.
It is with deep sadness and great love that we announce the peaceful passing of Mary T (Kusek) Kos on October 9, 2025. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Mary's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Services will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Motyka Funeral Home, 2186 Main St. Three Rivers, MA. There will be a calling hour from 9AM-10AM, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at St Francis of Assisi Parish, 24 Jabish St, Belchertown at 11AM, and Saint Peter and Paul Cemetery, Fuller Rd, Palmer.
Anita C. (Roy) Coulombe, entered eternal rest on Sept. 12, 2025, at the age of 92, at home with her son Roy by her side. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Anita's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. A calling hour will be held on Mon., Sept. 22, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. This will be followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30 AM at St. Francis Church. Burial will be private, at the family's request. For more information see here .
Patricia (Barney) Skaza, passed away on August 31, 2025, at the age of 77 in New Bedford, MA. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Patricia's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. The Funeral Mass in Patricia's honor will take place on Saturday, September 13th, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis Church, with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Chicopee. For more information see Legacy.com
Marilyn R. (Claus) Brunelle, 84, of South Hadley, passed away on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Pioneer Valley Nursing Home in South Hadley. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Marilyn's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Calling Hours for Marilyn will be held on Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 4:00pm – 6:00 pm in Charbonneau Funeral Home, 30 Pleasant Street, Ware, MA 01082. A Funeral Service will be held the following morning, on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 10:00 am in Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, 24 Jabish Street, Belchertown, MA 01007. Entombment will be held at 12:30 pm in St. Michael's Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109, following the church service. An online tribute page is available at www.charbonneaufh.com .
Jean Baptiste Bangoret Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Jean's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. A Memorial Mass will be held in his honor at St. Francis of Assisi, where family and friends will gather to celebrate his life on Saturday, July 5th at 1:00pm.
Elizabeth Smola passed away earlier this year. Eternal rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Elizabeth's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. A Memorial Mass will be held in her honor at St. Francis of Assisi, where family and friends will gather to celebrate her life on June 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.