On Saturday, December 13, members of the St. Thomas More Collegiate Reverence for Life team attended and served at the annual Mass for Life held at Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver.
The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Richard Smith. Students assisted as greeters and support for the service and reception.
Following the Mass, students were invited to attend a reception. During this gathering, Isabella Comuzzi (Grade 11) was selected to share a student reflection on Reverence for all Life.
Isabella Comuzzi’s Reverence For Life Speech
Last year, I had the opportunity to help plan and organize a Reverence for Life Expo that brought together hundreds of attendees. It was an incredible experience. People were able to ask honest questions, listen to powerful keynote speakers, and actually learn what the pro-life movement is about beyond the stereotypes. What stood out to me the most was how respectful and open the conversations were. It showed me that when people are informed, they are more willing to listen and to understand.
Being pro-life is often portrayed as controversial. It’s criticized by mainstream media, misunderstood by the public, and definitely not considered “cool.” It doesn’t help you fit in, gain popularity, or avoid judgment. In fact, it often does the opposite…So why do I still believe in it?
Because reverence for life isn’t about politics or popularity. It’s about recognizing the value and dignity of every human life. Reverence for life is reverence for all life. It is the personal action of living out God’s unconditional love and plan for every person He forms. No matter a person’s age, race, gender, strengths, weaknesses, financial security, health, or any other circumstance, every life holds meaning. It is the most inclusive, the most loving idea, and in a world that so often succumbs to hate, it is necessary to grow in this understanding of love.
Pro-life is choosing love. It is choosing to love the unborn child from the moment of conception to their natural death and beyond. It is choosing to love and support mothers — single mothers, mothers discerning abortion, and mothers who have gone through with abortion — treating them with compassion, mercy, and understanding. It is choosing to love the people whose quality of life has been hindered, who could be struggling with substance abuse, homelessness, mental health issues, and more. It is choosing to love someone so much that you refuse to let them believe their life is no longer worth living, even when society tells them otherwise through programs like Medical Assistance in Dying. It is following in Jesus’ footsteps, recognizing that He knows each of us by name and has placed within us an inherent dignity, especially in those who are vulnerable, marginalized, or facing challenges, reminding them that they are never alone and always worthy of love.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta is famously quoted:
“Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.”
As youth, we are the generation shaping the future. If we don’t stand up for life, for basic human dignity, and for love, who will? Reverence for life calls us to courage over comfort, compassion over indifference, and love even when it is difficult. It challenges us to speak for the voiceless, stand with the vulnerable, and fight for hope in a world that so often chooses despair.
And that is why it matters—not just to me, but to all of us. Because every life, every heartbeat, every person, is worth standing up for.
We are proud of our students for their leadership, service, and commitment to upholding the dignity of life in our community. This team is currently helping to organize a student Expo for Life that will take place on Friday March 6th at St Nicholas Parish in Langley. More details coming soon.
