Mass offers healing for those affected by breast cancer
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Send to friendLisa Johnston
Maureen Kiely went for regular mammograms.
At her workplace, she and her co-workers chuckled over taking time away from the workday when the mammography van came by to offer screenings.
But it was no longer a laughing matter when Kiely's results came back positive for breast cancer. That was 10 years ago. Because of early detection and treatment, Kiely was able to successfully battle her cancer and has been doing well ever since. She said she's thankful to God for that.
That's why Kiely attended a Mass, organized by the archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate, last weekend at her parish, St. Mary Magdalen in Brentwood, to remember those who have been affected by breast cancer. The American Cancer Society said excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and accounts for nearly one in four cancers diagnosed in U.S. women.
About 50 people attended the 8 a.m. Mass June 11, which coincided with the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in St. Louis. Father Jack Siefert, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, was the main celebrant. The sanctuary was decorated with sprays of pink and red carnations, roses and gerbera daisies.
Respect Life Apostolate director Beth Lauver said the Mass was offered as a positive, prayerful way for Catholics and others to remember those affected by breast cancer.
Some affiliates of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization (not including Missouri) provide grants to Planned Parenthood. The organization also endorses embryonic stem-cell research as a means of seeking treatments cures for breast cancer and dismisses the link between abortion and breast cancer.
'A major shock'
Kiely was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 48. She got regular mammograms, even though breast cancer doesn't run in her family. "It was a major, major shock," she said.
Recently divorced and becoming more involved in caring for her aging parents, Kiely admitted telling the doctor, "I have too many things to take care of. I can't do this."
But she also quickly recognized that she was very fortunate -- the cancer was detected at an early stage, she had health insurance and the support of her family and friends. She later realized how fortunate she was to never had gotten sick, even when she went through surgery to remove the tumor and subsequent chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
She also turned to her faith for help in getting through it.
"I remember the first weekend -- I found out on a Friday afternoon, like at the end of the day," she recalled. "I remember the next day I came over to my Mom and Dad's. I was going to take my Dad to church and I said, 'I just can't go to church tonight.' I was just too distraught."
But over time, Kiely said her faith and the experience left her with a better understanding of "what's important in life. It gave me a lot of strength."
Kiely said the Mass meant so much to her, "because it made me stop and thank God for the successes that He gave me to get through this."
'It affects everybody'
Like many people, Linda Briggs-Harty has seen in her lifetime friends and family affected by cancer. This time, it's her older sister Barbara Morrow, who's battling stage-four breast cancer. She came to the Mass at St. Mary Magdalen to pray for her sister and others.
Her sister has been receiving treatment, including a lumpectomy and other treatments, at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
"I'm praying and hoping that she continues to have very good progress," said Briggs-Harty. "She's relatively young, in the prime of her life. She's a new grandma."
"I am so overjoyed that the archdiocese has taken a really positive approach by offering this Mass," she continued. "It just gives everybody a really wonderful outlet to think about this. It affects everybody in one way or another. If you don't have it in your direct family, you definitely have it in your parish family, your extended family, just in the community at large. It's everywhere."
Hope and healing
In his homily, Father Siefert shared the stories of two women affected by breast cancer -- one who was directly impacted and another who lost her mother at a young age.
In both examples, he said it's understandable to question God's presence during a time of suffering. But if we turn to the Gospel message and the sacraments, we can see that we're not alone, he said.
"Remember, Christ knows suffering as well," said the priest. "We look to the cross and trust in His spirit."
Christ is present in the spouses, the family and friends of those affected by cancer, he added. He is present in the doctors who offer hope and healing through treatments.
"The common element of suffering is that Christ is surrounding us," he said. "When we allow Him in, it provides us with hope and it provides us with healing."
How You Can Help
The archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate recommends the following organizations which support morally licit breast cancer research and prevention. As with all charitable contributions, the apostolate recommends contacting the organization before donating to obtain the most current information:
The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute
30 Rehill Avenue, Suite 3400
Somerville, NJ 08876
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
P.O. Box 957133
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-3051
The archdiocese’s current statement on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, including a list of frequently asked questions, can be found online at stlouisreview.com/1Kf.
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