Students talk about why they march for life

By Margaret M. Russell
The Catholic Free Press
For local students attending the 47th March for Life in Washington, D.C., education is key. Some of the young people grew up in homes where the value of all human life was talked about and lived. Others did not. When they learned the truth about abortion they took a stand for life. Many are now determined to spread the pro-life message – to their peers and even to other family members.
“Our nation’s youth are more pro-life than their parents,” Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said to great applause at the opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life Jan. 23 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
An estimated 10,000 people, many young people, attended the Mass where the Kansas City archbishop preached. Archbishop Naumann is chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
Back in Worcester that evening, Bishop McManus was encouraging the students who were about to get on buses, sponsored by the diocesan Respect Life Office, to travel overnight to Washington.
Megan Capurso, St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School director of campus ministry, was leading her second group to the march. By early morning Friday, they were outside the Crypt Church at the basilica where seminarians and others held vigil at adoration all night long. They awaited the closing Mass of the National Vigil for Life in the Great Upper Church.
It was the fourth March for Life for Olivia Russell, a senior at St. Peter-Marian. This year she brought her sister, Lauren, who is a freshman at St. Peter-Marian. Both are members of Guardians for Life, a student group at the school that raises awareness of the life issues.
The sisters and others in the group of eight students who traveled to Washington from St. Peter-Marian suggested that opinions at their school are split 50/50 on the abortion issue.
“I think they just don’t know the facts about abortion,” Olivia said.
“In my freshman year at SPM I had no idea what abortion was,” said Brianna Rawlston, a senior who was attending the march for the second time.
“I started to understand and to do research, then I thought ‘If I was that baby, I wouldn’t want that done to me.’ Then I decided I wanted to be a voice for people who don’t have a voice,” she said.
Last January when Brianna went to Washington she told her dad she was going on a sightseeing trip because she was uncertain about how he would react. This year when he dropped her off, he knew where she was going.
“After I joined Guardians for Life and learned more about abortion I wanted to be an advocate for all life,” said Aysha Chin, a junior at St. Peter-Marian.
Senior Michael Clark said he has always been pro-life. “My mom, who is a prominent pro-lifer, talked to me about it in the first grade,” he said. Nancy Clark, Michael’s mom, is a sidewalk counselor outside of Planned Parenthood in Worcester where abortions are performed. She was a plaintiff in a U.S. Supreme Court lawsuit that overturned buffer zones around abortion facilities in Massachusetts.
Chaperone Donald Murphy said he was attending his first march – with St. Peter-Marian, where his daughter Anna goes to school. His daughter Maria was attending with her school, Assumption College. It wasn’t the first time for either of the girls.
Mr. Murphy said he was going to make sure the young people were safe; he expected a stronger counter-protest than usual “because the pro-life movement has been making strides, victories.”
Anna Murphy said the word should be spread, especially on social media. “I’ll post where I am and the value of and importance of human life. I have seen some vicious comments online. But we need to respond in a calm manner,” she said.
Julio Del Vale, a senior at St. Peter-Marian, said he came to SPM from Trinity Catholic Academy in Southbridge, where he was pro-life, so he knew he wanted to join Guardians for Life. “I came to march now because I wanted to take a stand,” he said.
He wasn’t the only one who wanted to profess his beliefs. More than 250,000 people attended the March for Life, according to estimates made by the national group Students for Life.       
“Massachusetts is such a pro-choice state and it is interesting to see so many people who think the same way as we do,” said Cassie Tomczak a senior at St. Peter-Marian.
The closing Mass for the prayer vigil was held at 7:30 a.m. Friday and the basilica was overflowing with pilgrims again.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, archbishop for military services, was principal celebrant and homilist for the morning Mass. He said a night of prayer always preceded important moments in Jesus’ life and it was fitting that people spent the night in prayer in the Crypt Church.
Deacon Scott Colley from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Barre, who was attending the March for LIfe for the eighth time, served at the morning Mass. Father Richard F. Reidy, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, concelebrated Mass and distributed Communion.
In his homily, Archbishop Broglio encouraged those who would be marching in the capital of our nation.
“It is an authentic act of patriotism to proclaim the dignity of the human person. It is the duty of the state to protect that dignity,” he said.
He said the Church has a role to play in civil society and that “the believer is charged to be leaven of the Gospel in the world.”
It is not enough for us to keep our beliefs to ourselves;  we must share them with others and change their lives, he said.
“Life is a pilgrimage that leads to life without end – we are also responsible for helping our brothers and sisters complete their pilgrimage,” Archbishop Broglio said.
He sent marchers off telling them that their politeness and civility to all is “our demonstration to the dignity of the human person.” It tells others that “we profess that you are created by God and you have inestimable value.”
Following the Mass the St. Peter-Marian group met up with a group of students from Holy Name Central Catholic High School to walk in the March for Life down Constitution Avenue to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building.
The March for Life began at noon with speakers on the National Mall. President Trump was among the speakers and the first sitting president to address the march in person. He too commented on the number of young people attending the March for Life.
“Young people are the heart of the March for Life, and it’s your generation that is making America the pro-family, pro-life nation,” the president said to applause.
On the march route a banner for Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Still River, was being carried, surrounded by 56 people from the school community. Brother Anthony Marie, MICM, said he has been taking students to the March for Life for 34 years “to experience the awesome experience” he has had.
“I absolutely love it. I am so moved to see other kids my age,” said Kylie O’Brien, an IHM senior from Ayer, who was marching for the second time.
Mary Festa, a junior from Still River, said it was her fourth year.  
“It is a cause near and dear to my heart. I had to go because it a cause worth fighting for – standing up for kids with disabilities,” she said.
Many people have called them the pro-life generation. Mary said she thinks that is true because, since abortion has been legal for 47 years, “it makes them think it could happen to them.”
“Abortion is not a right – but murder,” Mary said. “Young people are waking up and realizing it is an atrocious crime.”
Distinctive in the crowd was Father John R. McFadden of Philadelphia who marched with the aid of a walker. The 84-year-old retired priest said he has only missed the March for Life about nine times in the past 47 years – when he was serving as a military chaplain in the Navy.
Eileen Siter, of the Church of the Holy Child in Wilmington, Delaware, who was walking with Father McFadden, called him a holy priest. She said he is dedicated to helping women who have had abortions through Rachel’s Vineyard, a post-abortion healing program, she said.
As she stood watching people walk by on Constitution Avenue, Molly Finn, of Sturbridge, was impressed by the crowd. She said she has been attending the March for Life since 1997 and was with the Holy Love Ministries from Ohio who were exhibitors at a March for Life venue.
“In the line, people were smiling, peaceful,” she said.

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