PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Undaunted by high abortion rates in the United States, as well as a new state law that allows assisted suicide, pro-life supporters gathered for the diocese’s annual Pro Vita Mass on April 26 to reaffirm their commitment to preserving life.
Bishop Robert Brennan said the gathering at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph was important because it is centered on prayer. “It’s a moment where we stand for life, celebrate life, and pray for respect for all life,” he told The Tablet.
Bishop Brennan celebrated the Mass, which was sponsored by the Long Island Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, and noted in his homily that because God created human beings in his image, there is no human life that is expendable.”
The Knights are steadfast in their dedication to life, said the Knights’ New York State Deputy Gary Leonardo.
“The Knights are 100% committed to pro-life. We have to make sure we get the message out there,” Leonardo said, adding that the Knights advocate for life in many ways, including raising money to pay for ultrasound machines. He noted that the Knights have provided more than 1,500 ultrasound machines to health care centers in New York.
Father Michael Gelfant, associate chaplain for the New York State Council of the Knights, said the Pro Vita Mass is more “important than ever” to protect the dignity of all life from conception until natural death. “We’ve always focused on the abortion issue,” he said, “but now we have assisted suicide.”
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According to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion organization, there were 1.26 million abortions in the U.S. in 2025, a number that remained relatively unchanged from previous years despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
New York State’s new law permitting assisted suicide for the terminally ill was on the minds of those at the Mass. The statute, called the Medical Aid in Dying Act, was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in February. The law is proof that the pro-life community is fighting on two fronts, Father Gelfant said.
“When you think you’re getting relief on one end, another part of this evilness rears its ugly head,” he added.
Photos: Johnathan Paul Tigsi Lituma and Paula Katinas
However, there is hope that reinforcements are coming to aid the pro-life movement, according to Mass attendees, with many highlighting the increase in the number of people who were fully initiated into the Church this past Easter.
According to an analysis by the creators of the prayer and meditation app, Hallow, the U.S. Church saw a 38% increase in the number of people becoming Catholic in 2026 as compared to 2025. The Diocese of Brooklyn fully initiated 1,288 people — including 683 catechumens and 605 candidates — into the faith, according to figures from the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis.
Nancy Cardinale, an usher at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, said she hopes the influx will lead to more Catholics joining the pro-life cause.
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“There are a lot of young people coming to Mass now,” she said, “and it’s very important that they understand the importance of life.”
Rewards were presented to those who have dedicated themselves to protecting the sanctity of life. Father Patrick Keating was awarded the Father Michael J. McGivney Medal for Life. The Bishop Thomas Daily Pro Vita Award winners were Deacon James J. Giorgio (Kings County) and Boris Musich (Queens County).
The Pro Vita Mass, which has become a tradition within the Church, is often celebrated in January around the time of the National March for Life. The diocese originally scheduled the Mass for Jan. 25 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn, but a snowstorm forced its rescheduling to April. In addition, the venue had to be changed to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights due to the Brooklyn Half-Marathon and the traffic detours the race created.
Despite the scheduling issues, the Knights were determined to move forward with the Mass and promote the pro-life cause, according to Paul Eggert, chairman of the Long Island chapter — “You can’t stop us.”
2026 HONOREES
Father Michael J. McGivney Medal for Life: Father Patrick Keating
Bishop Thomas Vose Daily Pro Vita Award, Brooklyn: Deacon James Giorgio
Bishop Thomas Vose Daily Pro Vita Award, Queens: Sir Knight Boris Musich
The Knights of Columbus also presented Bishop Brennan with a $10,000 check.