Memorials to the Unborn

Knights of Columbus have erected memorials in many parishes of the Diocese to pay tribute to the millions of children killed by abortion. The idea for these memorials grew from a challenge made by the late Cardinal John O’Connor in his homily at the opening Mass of the 110th annual Supreme Council Meeting held in New York in 1992. He described the Tomb of the Unborn on the campus of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and asked his brother Knights “to continue the Order’s aggressive fight against abortion” by erecting a tomb in each Catholic cemetery in each diocese where the Order is established. This request struck a chord with Knights and the program became a grassroots phenomenon.

Since the program began more than 1,835 monuments have been built throughout the nation.  These monuments, ranging from simple headstones to elaborate memorials, stand as testimony to one simple fact: Human life is a sacred gift from God to be protected and cherished at all stages from conception to natural death. Often these memorials are paid for with council funds raised via fundraisers or cooperation with other culutre of life organizations.

Memorials to the Unborn 
Our Lady of Sorrows - Ladysmith
St. Anthony de Padua - Tony
St. John -Clear Lake
St. Joseph, St. Catherine, St. Francis de Sales (Spooner Cluster)
 
Monuments to the Unborn
St Anthony - Cumberland
Immaculate Conception – Butternut
Holy Assumption - Superior
St. Bridget - River Falls
Most Holy Rosary - Mellen
 
Cemeteries of the Innocents
St. John the Baptist Cemetery - Glenwood City
St. Anne Cemetery - Sanborn
St. Patrick Cemetery - Phillips