People from across the nation recently joined together at two major pro-life events: the January 22 March for Life in Washington, D.C.; and the January 24 Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco, CA. Among them were a number of Lasallian students and teachers. The attendees from two San Francisco New Orleans District schools reported on their experiences at these events.
Saint Paul’s School | Covington, LA
The Saint Paul’s School delegation to the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
The January 22, 2015 March for Life in Washington, D.C. was an eye-opening trip for the boys from Saint Paul’s School as well as for me. A 24-hour bus ride bonded us with other schools and youth groups from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. During the ride, we spent time learning more about the pro-life movement and about the tragedy of abortion in our society.
Arriving in D.C. a day early, we went to the Geaux Forth Rally for a 1,400 strong delegation of students from the great state of Louisiana. We listened to dynamic speakers like Lila Rose, Father Josh Johnston, Stephanie Gray, and New Orleans’ Archbishop Gregory Aymond, all of whom engaged our hearts in this all-important fight for the lives of our weakest members of society.
Later, we prayed a rosary for life in front of the Planned Parenthood building and also the White House. We descended upon George Mason University for Adoration of the Eucharist, with music provided by Christian singer-songwriter Matt Maher. Our hearts were touched by this encounter with Christ, the source and summit of life.
Our first day also provided time to experience some of the sights and sounds of our nation’s capital. We enjoyed a light snowfall by dancing, tasting snowflakes, making snowmen, and throwing snowballs. Not typical activities for folks from the Gulf Coast! We also were inspired by the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women who were honored by the various war memorials located on the National Mall.
On the morning of the March, we attended Mass with Archbishop Aymond and prepared our hearts and souls to be witnesses for the unborn, sick, dying who often do not have a voice for themselves. We rallied together at the National Mall with hundreds of thousands of young people in the largest peaceful demonstration in the country. We met priests and religious from many different dioceses and orders. We chanted pro-life songs and chants and prayed rosaries and Divine Mercy chaplets with fellow Marchers.
Throughout the March, we were witnesses and yet we also were being witnessed to. It was amazing to look up and down the street and see faithful citizens as far as the eye could see coming together for the most basic of all human rights.
After the March, we were invited by the Louisiana congressional delegation to hear what they had to say about the fight for life. We were encouraged by their words and also the pro-life bill that they had just passed in the House to ban the use of taxpayer money to fund abortions. We prayed that the bill would eventually become law. After a long day, we returned to our hotel and were strengthened by a night of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Saint Paul’s students meet with Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise in his Washington, D.C. office.
The next day began with the entire New Orleans delegation visiting he various museums of the Smithsonian Institute. The boys from Saint Paul’s then had the special honor of being invited by Steve Scalise, the Majority Whip for the House of Representatives and a Congressman from Louisiana, to visit his offices and receive a special tour of the Capitol building by his staff. We got to see some of the behind-the-scenes action of Congress. The tour immersed us the rich history of our nation and helped us better understand the process of law-making.
The 24-hour bus ride back home further bonded us with one another and with the local youth group from down the road. It also gave us a chance to unpack the amazing experiences from the trip. Many of the students, including our boys from St. Paul School, got up and shared how the trip changed their perspective on the sanctity of life and encouraged them to engage society in a battle to protect all life. For some, the battle has made their faith more real to them. All in all, it was a life-changing experience for the boys and for me.
Mr. Tommy Lahey
Religion Teacher
Saint Paul’s School
Covington, LA
Justin-Siena High School | Napa, CA
On Saturday, January 24, 2015, I participated in Walk For Life West Coast in San Francisco, CA. I was very excited to stand up for an issue that I feel so passionately about. I was excited to fight for life!
I took a bus from my church, St. Apollinaris in Napa, CA, to the event in San Francisco. I joined with over 50,000 other pro-life people from all over the west coast and I even heard some people came from Texas and Arizona. The day started with everyone gathering in front of the city hall and listening to some powerful speeches that got us hyped for the walk. We then marched down Market Street in San Francisco chanting “Pro-Life!” or “We are the pro-life generation!”. I walked with some members of my parish community and family, and we were behind a group that came from Fresno. The group from Fresno was playing instruments and singing a bunch of happy songs in Spanish. We marched, chanted, danced, and sang. My family and I had a great time.
At the end of the walk, there was a large group of people there to greet us. They were holding up big eight-foot signs that showed the names of women who had passed away while trying to get an abortion. The group also held up balloons and they were cheering us on. More people gathered in a large circle at the end of the walk, dancing around to lively music and having a great time in one another’s company.
It was such a powerful experience, being surrounded by thousands and thousands of people who believe in the same thing you do, all fighting for a common cause: life.
We are the voice for the unborn. We are the pro-life generation.
Grace
Student
Justin Siena Catholic High School
Napa, CA
