BY SUSAN STEVENOT SULLIVAN

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--In the heart of Georgia, blocks from the state Capitol, amid the bustle of business and summer Olympic construction projects, people streamed quietly into a brick church the morning of Jan. 22.

They came from their daily routines by the hundreds as witnesses to the value of human life. They came jacketed against the brisk breeze, with children bundled in strollers. Some toted sack lunches, others distributed political pamphlets.

They crowded into pews at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, sat on folding chairs and lined the walls to pray for children who were conceived but never given birth.

Anne Zagrodnik, a fifth-grader at St. Mary's On the Hill in Augusta, was among those standing. She and her mother, Barbara, had traveled to a relative's in Lawrenceville over the weekend so they could attend this Mass, something they do every year.

Leona Wall and Sharon Collier found space on the sanctuary steps before Mass began and used the time to recite the rosary. Members of a pro-life group at Corpus Christi Parish in Stone Mountain, they said attending this Mass on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion is an annual event for them and just one of their pro-life activities.

The sun shone brightly through the central stained glass window celebrating the conception of the mother of Jesus as the Mass for the Unborn began.

The Gospel reading, from chapter 25 of Matthew, detailed the separation of people as "sheep from goats" at the Last Judgment based on the solace offered to those who were hungry, thirsty, naked, strangers, imprisoned or ill, for . . . "whatever you did to one of my least brothers you did it for me."

Those present, including more than 25 priests serving the archdiocese, heard the celebrant, Archbishop John F. Donoghue, condemn the "most evil sin of our time, the clinical murder of children."

The archbishop emphasized the reality of good and evil, the eschatological certainty of heaven and hell and the idea that people, by their actions, can put themselves beyond all healing.

"To believe, and to be a good Christian, one must accept the knowledge that evil does exist, that people do get hurt because of it, and that, in some cases, when people surrender completely to evil, they become damaged beyond repair, and beyond the reach of any helping hand we might extend to them."

The reality of suffering is undeniable as well, he said.

". .. . just as we will never understand the cruelty of abortionists and their cohorts, it is equally true that we will never understand why Christ himself suffered."

It is at this lowest point of bewilderment and suffering, he said, that we must allow the spark of the Holy Spirit to fill us with hope and light, though the suffering continues.

"So, my brothers and sisters, if we must suffer, and we see that we must if we are to be true followers of Jesus Christ, then let us suffer for the good. Let us cling to what we know is right, the Gospel of life, when so many around us opt for another way, the way of death -- let us preserve our enthusiasm for the good cause, and act as witnesses of the truth before our society, when so many are willing to stay at home and never brave the public fight for the public's good."

The archbishop spoke of the example of Mary and the trust in God which gives hope in the struggle between light and darkness.

"Our hope today is our trust in God, whose victory will come in the end -- for the end will be as the beginning, and from the book of life will again be read those words heard at the dawn of time:

"'And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed.'"

The offertory gifts were brought up by nine members of the Fuschko family. The offertory collection was designated for pro-life education by the archdiocesan Pro-Life Office, which sponsored the Mass.

The Communion hymn, "Blessed Are They," recalled the beatitudes as those present came forward to receive the Eucharist, many of them carrying babies or holding the hands of young children. Some knelt to receive Communion.

Music for the Mass was provided by organist Alan Brown, trumpeter Greg Holland, cantor/soloist Mary Rogers and soloist Juliet Anderson.

The Mass was interpreted for the hearing impaired by Jane Connelly Goodwin and Lynda Von Kanel.

Once the strains of the closing hymn, "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love," faded, people knelt again to pray or spoke quietly in small groups.

Others went to the church basement for refreshments or to eat sack lunches before walking a few blocks to the state Capitol for the rally scheduled to begin at noon. The basement also held displays from Catholic outreach groups addressing issues from maternity care to post-abortion healing.

As the church emptied, Rosanne Bowen, a parishioner of St. Jude in Sandy Springs who has marched in Georgia or Washington, D.C., every year since the Supreme Court decision, spoke compassionately of women who face a crisis pregnancy.

"I came to pray for the two mothers who gave life to my two adopted children," she said. "My gratitude to them is so great I couldn't not walk."

When a companion expressed anger that community outrage extended to a newborn fatally stabbed on the University of Georgia Athens campus this January, but not to the unborn suffering a similar fate, Mrs. Bowen focused again on the pregnant woman.

"The travesty is how alone the woman felt who did that," she said gently. "Why are there people that alone, that unloved, that desperate? We have a lot of work to do."

Peggy Sinanian, director of the archdiocesan Pro-Life Office and coordinator of the liturgy, said she was pleased with attendance at the Mass, estimated at 1,200.

"Everything went beautifully," she said. "I think this Mass is a high point for many people. It gives people an opportunity to make a public witness which highlights the issue."

Mrs. Sinanian said she was especially grateful to the parishioners and staff of the Shrine for hosting such a large event. The focus of the annual Mass, she said, is "begging forgiveness, asking God for the courage to continue our opposition (to abortion) and to ask our Lord to give us strength to continue."

Blocks away, on the steps of the state Capitol and adjacent street, the crowd swelled for the noon rally sponsored by the Georgia Right To Life Committee. Pink information packets, balloons, prayer cards and campaign literature circulated among the estimated 5,000 people who attended the multi-denominational gathering.

Members of the Tara Council No. 6352 Knights of Columbus held high their pro-life banner. Georgia Knight of the Year Jim Sieben and fellow member Mike Brasser kept the yards of fabric tight in the brisk breeze.

Verbal encouragement for their effort was provided by John Devlin, a Knight who is president of the Mother and Unborn Baby Care center in Hapeville. Devlin said he is hoping for more southside parish bookings for his "cemetery of the innocents" display of crosses marking the carnage of abortion.

"I know Ed Burek, who takes care of a 'cemetery' for the northern parishes is hoping for more interest also," Devlin said.

As for his work in the bright January sun, Devlin was quick to explain.

"It's very important to show our strength," he said, "to boost the morale of everyone who works in the pro-life movement. Showing up at these things is part of the pro-life ministry."

Another aspect, he said, is fund-raising. The Tara Council K of C is holding an all-male beauty contest March 23 to raise funds for the Hapeville pregnancy center.

The Tara Council Knights were just a few of the members of St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro attending the rally. In addition to numerous parishioners and staff members, all three of the Franciscan priests assigned to the parish were present.

Father John Koziol, OFM Conv., Father Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., and Father Russell Governale, OFM Conv., came to support their parishioners as well as the pro-life movement.

"We believe in what's happening here," said Father Hartmayer. "We believe in the opportunity for people who strongly support the gospel of life to come together to send a message to our government. We come together to pray for the unborn and for all those who have been victims of abortion."

"I'm also here to thank God for my two nieces and nephew, adopted by my sister," Father Hartmayer said, "who were given a chance to live by their birth parents."

Father Koziol, who celebrated his 39th birthday the day of the Mass and rally, said the friars have been encouraging their parishioners to get involved in supporting life, including attending the day's events.

"So we felt the need and desire to be here with them," he said.

Before the opening prayer participants were advised by loudspeaker that counselors would be available after the speakers' remarks to help men or women who have been injured by abortion.

In the opening prayer, those attending were admonished that abortion is not a racial or economic issue, but God's issue. Prayers were offered for legislators, judges, lawyers, for pro-life opponents, for the unborn, for mothers and family members seeking peace and forgiveness because of abortion, for the speakers and for the ultimate success of the pro-life movement.

Among those listening were more than 20 students from St. Pius X High School. Accompanied by campus minister Dennis Ruggiero and chaplain Father John Hopkins, LC, the students had first attended a pro-life Mass for the student body on campus that morning.

"We are called to be here," Ruggiero said. "This is part of the Gospel message. It's important for the kids to be here every year, for them to be aware of the reality of what happened 23 years ago."

Many of the students from St. Pius who attended the rally are members of the school's pro-life group, "Innkeepers."

Junior Nick Russo, an Innkeepers member, said he felt strongly about taking a pro-life stand.

"This is part of my faith," he said. "I believe in pro-life."

"I feel it's my duty to be here, to show respect for the unborn," said Pius junior Becki Bible. "I just hope one day abortion will be illegal."

"I think if you can do what it takes to have a baby, then you should take the responsibility of having the baby and giving it up for adoption," said Pius junior Stephanie Boland.

"I think once their children reach a certain age parents should discuss with them the consequences of things people do," she added. "My mom did. We discussed the consequences."

Among other Catholic groups displaying posters or banners at the rally were Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Pinecrest Academy, Marist School and St. Jude School, the Church of St. Ann, Marietta, St. Andrew Parish, Roswell, and St. Pius X Parish, Conyers.