In many ways, those of us who work at the HERALD are like a family. We rejoiced when we learned that staff writer Paul Grankauskas was entering the seminary to study for the diocesan priesthood. He later was ordained a diocesan priest by Bishop Paul S. Loverde and now serves as parochial vicar at All Saints Parish in Manassas. We celebrated the marriage of former staffers Clare MacDonnell (editorial assistant) and Brian Lazzuri (sales rep), who later moved to Canada and recently welcomed their first child, Grace.

We miss our friends Peggy Albrecht, Therese Hannan, Carol Tuttle and Elizabeth Troiani who all retired within a few months of each other after giving a combined 100 years of service to the paper.

We understand that every family must face its share of heartache and sadness. Those were two of the emotions we experienced last week upon hearing the news that former staff writer Patricia Spencer Rudy died suddenly at her home in Pennsylvania (see obituary on page two).

Trish was part of our family for more than five years. She made numerous friends in the Catholic community here in Northern Virginia along the way. She was passionate about her work and her faith. We initially felt her loss last summer when she informed us that she was moving to Elliottsburg, Pa., with her husband, Mike. We were hopeful that she would adapt quickly to life away from the hustle of the Washington metro area.

We ask for your prayers now for Trish’s soul and for her family that grieves her loss. Trish was always searching for a simpler life. Our hope now is that she has found it.

Smith, who is chairman of the House’s pro-life caucus, said that women deserve better than abortion. "Loving, nonviolent alternatives to abortion, selflessly offered by Crisis Pregnancy Centers all across America affirm and protect women's lives," he said. "Surely God weeps with unspeakable joy over the kindness you show to women in pain and in crisis."

"It is reason for hope when our political leaders recognize that abortion is a gross violation of the most elemental human right — the right to life," he said.

"Today, while we mourn the more than 43 million unborn babies abused, mutilated and killed by chemical poisons or dismemberment — a staggering loss of life equal to twice the number of people living in Texas, or looked at another way almost three times the number of people living in all of New England — and while we rededicate ourselves to the protection of life, our pro-abortion opponents across town are celebrating Roe v Wade with song and dance. How sad. How pathetically tragic.