We-we are pro-life! We-we are pro-life!
These were the sounds of our group of more than 300 youth who joined our religious family for the March for Life in Washington DC on January 24th.
Marching for Life
These youth came from our various parishes throughout the country, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Mankato, MN, Avondale, PA, Wauchula, FL and New Bedford, MA, as well as many local youth and young adults.
Though our group was large and energetic, it was just a drop in the sea of hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers who marched through the streets of our nation’s capital this year.
Witness the entire March for Life in a 58-second time lapse video:
Beginning in 1974 to commemorate and protest the Roe vs. Wade (1973) decision that made abortion legal in the US, the March for Life is the world’s largest pro-life event. Every January, thousands flock to DC to march to the steps of the Supreme Court and demand justice and protection for the unborn.
However, the March is more than a political protest. It is also a joyful celebration of life.
The witness of the joy of life was particularly palpable with in our own group of young people and Religious. Singing, dancing and shouting to the beat of drums and the sounds of a trumpet, their energy never faded.
When we paused the singing in order to pray the Rosary, their fervor continued, this time interceding to Our Blessed Mother who accompanied us in the march. The sisters carried an image of Our Lady of Lujan on their shoulders in the march.
After the March, we gathered for evening prayer, and pizza at the IVE Seminary. Faces were tired but happy – a day well spent defending God’s precious gift of life.
Winter Youth Festival and Young Adult Conference
The following day, Saturday, was the Winter Youth Festival and the Young Adult Restore Conference. The day was packed with formational talks, games, group discussions, sports, a Rosary procession, Adoration, confessions and Holy Mass, concluding with dinner and a show performed by the IVE Seminarians.
The whole weekend wrapped up with a final celebration of the Holy Mass on Sunday and breakfast, before groups began departing for their various destinations.
We give thanks to God for the gift of life that He has bestowed on us. We thank Him especially for the gathering of youth and young adults with our Religious Family for the March for Life, the Winter Youth Festival and the Voces Verbi Restore Conference.
We ask our Blessed Mother to protect all life from conception to natural death and to bestow on us the grace and strength to continue striving joyfully for a Culture of Life.
Mary, Mother of Life, pray for us!
