Sarah Sporski and her husband Daren from Our Lady of Hope, Buffalo, receive the Rite of the Blessing of a Child in the Womb from Bishop Richard J. Malone during a special Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. The Mass was sponsored by Office of Pro-Life Activities and the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center. (WNYC File)

Bishop Richard J. Malone will celebrate a special Mothers' Day Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.  The Mass will include the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.

Parishioners will not only recognize and pray for mothers, fathers, families, and for children in the womb, but also for couples who are hoping for the gift of a child and for those who have suffered the loss of a child.

Approved by the Vatican in 2012, this rite is included in the Book of Blessings published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  The blessing originated when then-Bishop Joseph Kurtz of Knoxville, Tenn. (now archbishop of Louisville, Ky.), asked the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities to see if a blessing existed for a child in the womb. When none was found, the committee prepared a text and submitted it to the USCCB's Divine Worship committee in March of 2008. It was approved by the full body of bishops in November 2008, and then sent to Rome for editing and final approval.

The blessing was prepared to support parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for and recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society. It can be offered within the context of Mass as well as outside of Mass.

The diocesan celebration of this rite, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities, is scheduled between the feast day of St. Gianna Molla (April 28), patron saint of mothers, physicians and preborn children, and Mothers' Day (May 10).

For more information, contact the Office of Pro-Life Activities at 847-2205.