St. Anthony Church

Trudy Higgins, a parishioner here at St. Anthony Church, is 1 of 4 people receiving the St. Gianna Beretta Molla Award on November 9th at the Annual Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass!

What is the St. Gianna Beretta Molla Award?

The award is presented to people who demonstrate a strong commitment to the protection of all human life. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian Roman Catholic pediatrician who was married and raising three children when she became seriously ill during her fourth pregnancy. A uterine tumor threatened both her life and that of her developing baby. She refused to have an abortion even though it meant that she might not live. She passed away six days after giving birth to a baby girl. She gave her life so that her child would live. She was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1994 and canonized in 2004. St. Gianna Beretta Molla is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children, and her feast day is celebrated on April 28. 

Why is Trudy deserving of this award? 

Having spent 36 years serving the needs of individuals and families experiencing severe mental illness, addiction, homelessness, and domestic violence, Trudy retired in February 2018 to pursue her passion for fostering a culture of life.  She initiated a Pro-Life Ministry at St. Anthony Church of Prospect in 2018, whose members attend the annual Prayer Vigils during the 40 Days For Life as well as the Marches For Life in Washington, D.C., and Hartford.

Trudy has volunteered at Carolyn’s Place, a Pregnancy Care Center in Waterbury, for the past four years. She spends every Tuesday on the Mobile Ultrasound Van as a Client Advisor, ministering to women who need support and who are oftentimes abortion-minded. She educates them about the variety of supportive services offered by Carolyn’s Place. Respect for the sanctity of human life is of utmost importance to her as she serves these vulnerable women and encourages them to choose life!

Additional involvement in our Parish: 

Trudy is a very active member of our Parish at St. Anthony Church! She has been a member of the Ladies Guild for 25 years, and has been the President of the Guild for the past 4 years. She became a Catechist in 2018 and has taught Faith Formation classes for students in upper-elementary and middle-school. Currently, she is teaching a Faith Formation class for students in 6th grade.

Congratulations, Trudy, on this well-deserved award!