Hundreds of archdiocesan youth get ready for annual March for Life in Washington

By Mary Ann Wyand

More than 500 youth and adults from central and southern Indiana will journey to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22 to participate in the 32nd annual March for Life on Jan. 24 in the nation’s capital.

The theme for the national pro-life march is “It Is the Duty of Each American to Uphold the Life Principles for the Common Good of Self, Neighbor and Country—No Exception! No Compromise!”

Four priests, seven seminarians, several dozen college students and other chaperons will join more than 400 high school students from 10 archdiocesan deaneries for the four-day pro-life pilgrimage.

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein will be attending a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Dallas and will be unable to participate in the March for Life as he has in previous years.

Father Robert Robeson, director of the archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and director of the Bishop Bruté House of Formation at Marian College, will join Father Jonathan Meyer, associate director of the youth and young adult ministry office and associate pastor of Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish in Greenwood; Father Eric Augenstein, associate pastor of Holy Family, St. Andrew and St. Mary parishes in Richmond; and Conventual Franciscan Father Paul Schloemer, associate pastor of St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute, on the pilgrimage this weekend.

Deacon Shaun Whittington of St. Michael Parish in Brookville and seminarians Eric Lecher of St. Mary Parish in Greensburg, Andy and David Proctor of Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish in Greenwood, Aaron Thomas of St. Andrew Parish in Richmond and John Hollowell of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish in Indianapolis also are scheduled to participate in the pro-life pilgrimage.

Servant of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry, said “this year’s March for Life focuses our attention on the 32 years of unrestricted abortions that have depleted American society of approximately 46 million children.”

Sister Diane said the organizers of the march insist that each person be responsible in word and deed for promoting the dignity and sanctity of human life from conception until natural death.

“As we move into the new millennium,” Sister Diane said, “it becomes clear how the infamous Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion has prepared society to welcome embryonic stem cell research, therapeutic cloning and other medical procedures that violate God’s law and reduce human life to a negotiable entity.

“Now, more than ever,” she said, “Americans must reclaim their duty to oppose pro-abortion propaganda and anti-life legislation that would ensure the continued destruction of innocent human life. Now, more than ever, Americans must work to construct the culture of life that flows from Christ and his truth.” †