Voices for the voiceless: Youths come out in large numbers for annual March for Life
Zoe Kidwell, 17, left, and Angela Fowler, 18, students at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, pray after receiving Communion during Mass before the annual March for Life on Jan. 24. Pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis filled the crypt church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., for the Mass. (Photo by Alea Bowling)
By Alea Bowling (Special to The Criterion)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 400,000 pro-life supporters marched in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24 to prayerfully protest
Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion in the United States.
On the morning of the march, about 200 youths and adult chaperons from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis were among the group that celebrated Mass in the crypt church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
During the Mass, transitional Deacon Dustin Boehm welcomed the pilgrims and thanked them for being there after enduring many hours traveling on buses and “less than comfortable sleeping quarters.” In his homily, he urged the youths to keep Christ’s sacrifice in their minds as they marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
“Not even this ongoing holocaust can eclipse what we celebrate right here in this chapel and will continue to celebrate on the march,” said Deacon Boehm, who will be ordained to the priesthood in the archdiocese later this year.
Deacon Boehm reminded the archdiocesan pilgrims that Christ has conquered death.
“We have every right to be frustrated, but we have an even greater right to celebration. We have every right to despair, but we have an even greater cause for hope,” he said.
Before the March for Life, the pilgrims from the archdiocese joined thousands of other pro-life supporters as they listened to several members of the U.S. Congress speak about their commitment to pro-life legislation. The speakers noted that the November elections led to an increase in the number of pro-life members of Congress—a good sign for the pro-life movement.
After standing in the cold for about two hours, the archdiocesan pilgrims started to march.
While many of the pilgrims have previously participated in the March for Life, others were there for the first time, including Emily Orbik, a student at Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis.
“I’ve just always been pro-life,” she said. “My school and the people around me have helped to inspire me to go.”
Another first-time March for Life participant, Anna Dudley, was surprised by the number of people attending the march.
“It’s been really great,” said Anna, a sophmore at Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton and member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Fortville. “I never thought there would be so many people coming here for the march. There’s way more than I thought.”
Returning participants also found the march to be inspiring.
“The march has been very spiritually enriching for me this year,” said Alexander Asbell, a sophomore at Greencastle High School and member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Greencastle.
One of the most popular signs during the march proclaimed, “I am the Pro-Life Generation.”
Since the march has become very youth-dominated, organizations have increased their use of technology to reach that young audience. Billboards encouraged cell phone users to text “Life” to donate to pro-life organizations and to text “Yes” or “No” to vote on pro-life questions.
Pro-life supporters once again prayed that this year’s march will be the last one to protest Roe v. Wade. They hoped that next year’s march will celebrate the end of legalized abortion in the United States.
Deacon Boehm offered words of advice and encouragement to everyone who supports the pro-life cause.
“Today is the anniversary for the culture of death but, because of that, brothers and sisters, it is even more so an anniversary for life because our Lord conquered death.” †
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