It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. That being so, the visualization of right-to-life issues also speaks a thousand words.
Because October is Respect Life Month, Church of St. Thérèse, Chesapeake, erected 3,000 wooden crosses on the front lawn Oct. 5 – by some estimates, that is the approximate number of deaths due to abortion every day in the country. Additional crosses were planted to remember those who died of gun-related deaths and drug overdose. The display remained until Oct. 26 at which time there was a reflection.
Jimmy Culpepper, a member of the parish’s justice and peace committee, said the project is a “visible, hopefully jarring display” that makes people think and engage in respectful dialogue.
The parish’s pastor, Father Rolo Castillo, said the display can help one get a better understanding about what the Church teaches in regard to the value and dignity of life.
The display is a “beautiful representation of the lives we choose to lose on a routine basis,” said parishioner Zack Kerscher. “It’s quite sad that we as a society think it’s okay to abort lives.”
Although the display is the first of its kind in the parish, several individuals had encouraged its implementation for some time as it is a way to visibly bring the issues to life, said George Decker, who, with Paul Garrity, is the brainchild behind the project.
Decker described the project as “an overarching approach” that inspires people to engage in dialogue, not just listen to the sound bites rattled off in political campaigns and debates.
Culpepper maintained that Catholics are called to take a public stance on right-to-life issues.
“Some people say we don’t need to mix politics and religion, but the pope and Catholic social teaching say that being a responsible citizen is part of our duty as Catholics,” Culpepper said.
Deacon Bubba Allen said that seeing so many crosses is “a somber reminder of human life that is just brushed aside” and hopefully brings awareness to the many lives that are lost daily to which “we kind of turn the other cheek.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2021, there were 49,000 gun-related deaths in the country, and in 2023, there were an estimated 107,000 drug overdose deaths.
“It’s more than just a number. Each of these is a person. Each one of these is a child of God. Each of these is connected to a family, and each of these are connected to community,” Father Castillo said.
“We must realize the damage we are doing to our community. We must face the damage we are doing to our relationship with the author of all life. We must not look away from the redemption that Jesus offers us in our lives. We must look at the true power of the Holy Spirit,” Garrity said.
Father Castillo said, “We can’t undo what is done, but we can certainly learn from it, inform others around us and can offer reconciliation when things are bad.”
The plot where the crosses are planted is about 165 feet by 75 feet and is visible from Portsmouth Boulevard, a well-traveled thoroughfare in front of the church. Volunteers made the crosses using paint sticks and planted them in rows. Donations covered the project which cost nearly $1,200.
Father Castillo and project organizers encouraged parishioners to walk through the display. Garrity suggested visitors start at the corner of any row and begin a prayer walk. In 15 minutes, the visitor will have walked past more than 3,000 crosses.
Father Castillo suggested that when someone walks through the display, they imagine each cross has a name on it.
Culpepper pointed out that “everybody is our brother or sister created in the image of God.”
“We are called to love our neighbor as yourself,” Culpepper said. “Love is an action word. What are you going to do?”