A monument in memory of lost, pre-born children was blessed on Rosary Sunday, May 28th, 2023, at the Marylake Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in King City, Ontario.

The monument, donated through the efforts of the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Grace Council 6519 (Aurora, Ontario), is meant to remember all children whose lives have ended due to abortion or miscarriage. This is a pastoral pro-life activity; It provides an appropriate place for all to grieve the loss of precious life and the mercy of God.

The blessing took place after the celebration of the Mass of Pentecost at 11 am at the Shrine, It was followed by a procession of the faithful on the 1.5-kilometer Rosary Path.

The Prior of the Augustinian Monastery of Marylake, Father Joel Okojie, OSA, blessed the monument, in the presence of parishioners, Bros John Lyn, Grand Knight, Jay Evelyn, Warden and Charbel El-Chaar, Pro-Life Chairman, represented Aurora’s Knights of Columbus, and Bro. David Fisher, Ontario State Membership Director.

The genesis of this monument started in 2020 when Aurora Council 6519, Knights of Columbus started this project. After more than two years, the monument finally arrived and was installed immediately south of the Shrine. It is at the edge of a grove of trees and shrubs, not far from the starting point of the Rosary Path.

It was most appropriate that the monument was blessed on the Feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Knights of Columbus work to help women who have lost a child to abortion and to miscarriage to grieve their loss.