Catholic Transcript Online

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell greets the Dietz family, who belong to St. Mary Parish in Baltic, on Jan. 15 following the Pro-Life Mass at St. Mary Church in New Haven that is sponsored annually by the Connecticut Council of the Knights of Columbus.

Daughter Felicitas stands next to Archbishop Mansell, who celebrated the Mass. Dad Bryce holds baby Joachim. Looking on are mom Dinah and children Zelie and Augustine in front and Tzietel and Xavier in back.

In the homily, in which the archbishop referred to the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in January, Archbishop Mansell thanked those gathered for their work on behalf of life and urged the faithful to continue their call to "change hearts."

A reception and collection of baby items, to be distributed to area pregancy care centers, followed in the parish hall.

The Pro-Life Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford arranged for buses to and from today's March for Life in Washington, D.C., which Archbishop Mansell is attending.