The annual March for Life will take place on Friday, January 27, in Washington D.C. This year’s theme is “The Power of One.” The largest pro-life rally in the world, the March is held on or around the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing abortion in the case of Roe v. Wade.
Although the diocese is not organizing buses to the rally, the diocesan high schools and some parish groups are arranging for transportation. The March opens to music on the grounds of the Washington Monument at 11:45 am, with a rally at 12 noon. Marchers step off at 1 pm and head up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court. There they will hear testimonies from Silent No More and have a chance to visit their Representative or Senator.
Kolbe Cathedral High School
Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport sends 50 students annually to the March for Life, according to Father Augustine Nguyen, Kolbe’s chaplain. This year, they will leave Kolbe at midnight and travel via bus to D.C., where they will attend a youth rally at the Verizon Center followed by the March itself. Students are currently selling candy to raise money for their trip.
St. Joseph High School
St. Joseph High School in Trumbull sends 40 students and adult chaperones by bus to D.C., leaving around midnight, and in the early morning will attend the Youth Rally for Life at the Verizon Center, which will be attended by thousands of young people from around the country. Then the group will participate in the rally on the National Mall before marching to the Supreme Court to speak out for the unborn.
“We are generating interest and excitement in the March for Life and promoting the pro-life cause throughout the year, including conducting a Pro-Life Baby Shower Collection which was held in October and benefitted Hopeline Pregnancy Resource Center,” writes Jessica Nayden, St. Joseph campus minister. “We also hosted a pro-life speaker, Megan Almon from the Life Training Institute, who addressed the student body in December, delivering a powerful argument for the pro-life cause.”
Immaculate High School
Immaculate High School in Danbury is sending 40 students with seven chaperones, including IHS chaplain Deacon Jeff Font, to the March. The group will attend the “Life is Very Good” Evening of Prayer and Morning Rally at George Mason University before meeting up with thousands of others for the March. Font said, “The March is a way for the students to know that their voices are being heard, even though they are young adults, and that there are others like them, because many teen organizations and youth groups go. They are not alone in their fight for life.”
Trinity Catholic High School
Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford will join with the East Side Catholic Youth Group from St. Benedict-Our Lady of Montserrat/St. Mary’s and the youth group from St. John’s in Darien to travel by bus to the March. The group of about 35 will spend a day sightseeing before attending the Verizon Center youth rally prior to the March. Trinity’s Crusaders for Life club held bake sales throughout the year to fundraise for the March. Father Joseph Gill, Trinity’s chaplain, said that the March “raises awareness among the students of the grave threat that abortion is to human life.”
St. Theresa Parish
St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull will have a Mass at 3:30 am on Friday prior to bus departure at 4 am. The parish’s Rally Bus departs from the St. Theresa Church Parking Lot at 5301 Main Street in Trumbull. Tickets are $75 per person. Registration and ticket purchase are required in advance here.
St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield is sponsoring a bus to the March. For more information, contact Pat Postiglione: (203) 438-7336.
Parishes not mentioned here may be making individual arrangements.
By Rebecca Vodola
