South Carolinians take part in national March for Life
by Kathy Schmugge
WASHINGTON — The forecast for the Washington area would have been
enough to deter most travelers from visiting the nation’s capital, but
it did not discourage tens of thousands of pro-life marchers. On Jan.
24, they arrived by bus, airplane and car to declare to the world, by
their witness, that all human life is sacred from the moment of
conception until natural death.
Despite the icy-cold conditions, the 2005 March for Life had a record
number of participants, estimated at 250,000. Some traveled many hours
from Alaska, California and Florida to be a part of the pro-life
events. Members of the Diocese of Charleston also made the trip.
About 200 South Carolinians — almost double the number who attended
last year’s march — made the trek to Washington by buses which left
from Columbia, Charleston, Hilton Head, and Beaufort. Cardinal Newman
School in Columbia and Bishop England High School in Charleston each
had close to 30 students in attendance. Others traveled by car or plane.
Valerie Baronkin, the trip coordinator for the diocese, was pleased
with the large turnout this year. By providing the option of flying,
more people were able to attend.
John Waters, youth minister at St. Joseph Church in Columbia, was glad
to see the number of his participating youth jump from four students
last year to 25 this year. He attributes the growth to word of mouth
and the continued support of the Catholic schools.
His youth group also received a private tour of the Capitol by
Congressman Joe Wilson and his wife, Roxanne.
The night before the march an overflow crowd filled the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the National Prayer
Vigil for Life. The basilica holds about 6,000 worshippers in the Great
Upper Church and an additional 400 in the Crypt Church.
The principal celebrant and homilist was Cardinal William Keeler,
Archbishop of Baltimore and chair of the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Committee.
“The basilica is the most beautiful church I have ever been to in my
life,” said Penny Rosen, a Presbyterian student from Cardinal Newman.
She loved the art work and sculpture.
On the morning of the march, the Rally for Life and Youth Mass were
held at the MCI Center. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of
Washington, was the principal celebrant and was joined by thousands of
other priests and the dynamic homilist Father Andrew Fisher, associate
rector of the basilica.
“In the womb God had a plan for us to love. Each of us has a bond with
all humanity,” said Father Fisher. “We wear the same uniform and play
for the same team.”
He challenged the youth to be pro-life in all they do, which means
reaching out to the outcast, the unpopular, and the unloved around them
in their daily lives.
Quoting from Pope John Paul II’s “Gospel of Life,” he said two things
were necessary for spreading this message. First, the church needs good
teachers who teach by example, and second, it needs good missionaries.
The priest explained that a mission territory could be one’s own
neighborhood, school, or even the Internet.
“Some say that youth are afraid to commit. I have never found that to
be the case. You are enthusiastic and generous,” said Father Fisher to
the roaring cheers of 21,000 youth. He suggested that they were
tailored for the job of ambassadors for life and commissioned them to
be instruments of change.
“Remember that with God, change is possible. May the Eucharist
strengthen us for our mission to transform the world, one person at a
time,” he said.
Tony Melendez was the highlight of the rally for many of the
participants. Born without arms, the talented musician and singer uses
his toes to play the guitar and evangelizes through his music. Melendez
thanked the youth for standing up for life, expressing with great
emotion how especially vulnerable an unborn with birth defects can be.
“As long as I can love God, let me live,” said Melendez.
The annual march has taken place since the first anniversary of Roe v.
Wade on Jan. 22, 1974. At the rally before the march, crowds gathered
at the Atrium to hear the guest speakers and pro-life politicians
discuss the victories and battles ahead for the cause of life.
Encouragement also came from Missouri congressman Todd Akin, the father
of six children. “You are fighting for the same basic freedom that our
founders fought for — that people have dignity, worth and value — and
we will never stop until we put an end to abortion,” he said.
Participants then processed down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol and
finally ended the march at the Supreme Court
Building.
“I have always been very pro-life, but I felt glad to be able to stand
up for what I believe in,” said Ben Fisher, an eleventh-grader at
Cardinal Newman and a Baptist. He said that the most powerful sign that
took the most courage to carry was the one that read, “I had an
abortion and I regret it.”
Susan Henry, one of the chaperones for the Columbia youth, was
impressed with the number of people participating in the march. “Such a
crowd could be threatening, but not these marchers. It was a wonderful
and moving experience,” she said.
Peter Drogalis, also a student from Cardinal Newman, was not as
surprised by the endless stream of marchers since he recently moved
from a town in Virginia where the event was well publicized and covered
locally.
“The national news has always under-reported the event,” said Drogalis.
Newlyweds Joe and Ivy Monahon of St. Mary Help of Christians Church in
Aiken met on the march last year and were married in December at Corpus
Christi Church in Lexington. The march will always have great meaning
for the couple.
“God willing, we will be back next year,” said Mrs. Monahon.
Published Feb. 3, 2005
The Catholic Miscellany