People of all ages from our Diocese trekked the 400 miles to Washington D.C. to join in supporting the voiceless, the most vulnerable, the innocent unborn children of God in their mothers wombs. The March for Life peacefully expresses our enthusiastic and loving witness to the inherent dignity of every human person. It’s one of the largest marches, by people of all faiths, for social justice in America!
This year’s theme was “Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman.” Citing our year 2020, marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, Jeanne Mancini, MC for the Rally at the National Mall, pointed out that half of all the babies in the tragedy of abortion are women, and that there are two victims, both the mom and her infant. Therefore, Pro-Life IS Pro-Woman.
20 students from the Academy of the Holy Family in Baltic, Students for Life from UCONN, parish youth groups and parishioners from St. Mary’s in Baltic and various other parishes throughout our Diocese attended.
16 students and teachers from St. Bernard School joined groups from all over the country for a night of praise, worship and prayer at the Diocese of Arlington’s ‘Life is Very Good Rally’ the night before the march. For them, this was great preparation for taking to the streets the next day to proclaim the Gospel of Life with thousands of fellow students.
Xavier High School in Middletown sent 48 students and chaperones and following Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, visited the St. John Paul II Museum, before heading over to the National Mall to hear President Trump’s pro-life address. It was the first time a U.S. president attended the March for Life in person. “This peaceful protest was the most exciting and passionate gathering I’ve ever attended, and I highly recommend going to it!” student Joe O’Brien expressed.
Mother Mary Jude Lazarus, S.C.M.C., Director of our diocese’s Hispanic Ministry, led a group of 17 marchers.
Many thanks to various Knights of Columbus Councils from around the state who generously helped our young people to attend the March for Life.
By Fr. Brian Maxwell