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March for Life
Youth
called to March for Life!
Youth in grades
9-12 from across the Diocese of Fargo are invited to participate in the 39th
annual March for Life in Washington D.C. on Jan. 23, 2012. The pilgrimage
will begin in Fargo on Jan. 19 and return Jan. 24. Father Kurt Gunwall,
Vocations Director for the Diocese of Fargo will be the spiritual
director. In addition to participating in the March and the Vigil Mass for Life
at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, youth will also travel to Emittsburg, M.D. to visit the Mother Seton Shrine, and see the sights of
Washington, D.C. The cost for the 6-day pilgrimage is $825 and includes air and
ground travel, lodging, meals and tour fees. Deadline to register for the
March for Life in Washington, D.C. is Oct. 17. Contact Rachelle at (701) 356-7910, e-mail:
rachelle.sauvageau@fargodiocese.org or go to:
http://www.fargodiocese.org/respectlife/.
March for Life an inspiring, educational experience
Keila MarmeshThe 37th annual March for Life in
Washington, D.C., drew an estimated 300,000 pro-Life marchers. Many believe
it was more than 300,000 and a majority was composed of youth and young
adults. Youth from the across the Diocese of Fargo were blessed to have the
opportunity to participate in this year’s march. In attendance were 19
students spanning from Walhalla to Dickey, from East Grand Forks to Rugby,
and five chaperones, including Father Kurtis Gunwall, our spiritual
director. |
| Our group embarked on this
pilgrimage Jan. 18, departing from Fargo Hector Airport to Washington D.C.
Upon arriving in D.C. the friars of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy
Land welcomed us graciously into their home and excitement amongst the
students grew. Once settled in, the students led a walking rosary around the
beautiful porticoes of the monastery. The days to follow were packed with
adventure, education, friendship, the sacraments and personal growth.
We had the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum, Natural
History Smithsonian, Botanical Gardens, American History Smithsonian,
National Archives, Air and Space Museum, Mother Seton Shrine and Grotto,
Gettysburg Battlefield, Lincoln Memorial and the Basilica of the Immaculate
Conception. Each place visited had something new to offer our pilgrims and
allowed greater reflection of our purpose in being Catholic and pro-Life. |
Diocese of Fargo youth gather for a group picture with the
Washington Monument in the background during the 2010 March for Life. |
| Many students
commented that they saw a strong connection between what the world saw in
the holocaust and what is occurring in our world with abortion. Rachael
Knepper from Grand Forks agrees, stating, “We have a holocaust going on now
in the United States and that is abortion.” The Holocaust Museum was an eye
opener for the students as Martina Mlikota from Grand Forks stated, “Some
things that happened in the past you just forget about and. for me, it is as
if none of [the holocaust] was real until I saw everything with my own eyes.
It was awesome and sad at the same time.”
The pilgrimage came full circle with the vigil Mass held
at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 21 and the March for
Life on Jan. 22. Arriving at the basilica five hours in advance to save our
seats, the students had the opportunity to tour the beautiful, massive and
holy building. The Mass began at 6:30 p.m. and students were awed by the
35-minute procession of over 400 seminarians, and more than 300 priests,
bishops and cardinals. The power, humility and love that the procession
alone provided was awesome. Brittany Weiland explains it perfectly, saying,
“I could tell on each one of their [priests’ and seminarians’] faces all the
love they hold in their hearts for Jesus. I saw it in everyone. It made me
so very happy.” The general and surprising comment from the teens after Mass
was, “I could have stayed there forever.”
On Friday morning we set off early to join over 10,000
youth for Mass and a rally at the Verizon Center. This crowd of people
proceeded to march from the Verizon Center to join more than 300,000 people
gathered in the Capitol Mall. An outstanding number of young people were in
attendance. “I loved to see how many people showed up to the march,
especially how many teenagers and younger people. It showed that people
really do care about what is going on, and that life is important. It also
spoke volumes seeing that many people at the march....think of how many who
couldn't come wanted to be there, or who are pro-life! I think that was the
coolest and best part. All [the people] were there to help save innocent
lives,” stated 16-year-old Weiland.
Overall, this pilgrimage was a moving, eye-opening and
inspiring experience that we will not soon forget. First timers and
returnees to the pilgrimage took the opportunity to grow deeper in their
faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe we all returned with
changed hearts and a desire to continue to fight for the culture of life.
Many of us would agree that “the trip to Washington, D.C., was very fun,”
said Ben Sobolik from Reynolds.
We would like to thank all of those who supported the students and
chaperones on this pilgrimage through donations and prayer. We are
determined to continue to support life in our homes and towns and, as a
poster outside the Holocaust Museum affirms, may we ‘Never Forget What We
Saw’.
Marmesh is youth minister and pastoral outreach
coordinator at St. Michael’s Parish, Grand Forks. |
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March for Life
associated with the Rosary
"Rosary"
Ten beads a decade
Many reasons to pray
Protecting unborn life
Converting those who are pro-abortionists
Sorrowful mysteries for sorrowful souls
Helping others in need
Healing the hearts of those getting and performing abortions
We prayed it during the march
Each time before church
Hopefully it will change the hearts of abortionists
Thus ending abortion
Written by a march participant of St. Patrick Church, Crystal, ND.
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Father Ross Laframboise blesses a march participant as she
receives her pilgrimage rosary.
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