Next Steps: Marching into a Post-Roe America
March for Life - 1/20/23
The 50th annual March for Life was the first since Roe v. Wade was struck down by the Supreme Court just 7 months prior.
March For Life is the largest annual human rights protest in the world. Busloads of people of all ages converge on the Capital from all over the nation to pray, rally and march to the Supreme Court building.
32 Minute Video by Stephane of KofC Coffee Run Council #6768 beautifully documenting our bus trip:
EWTN Full Coverage of Rally & March (7 hours):
Life Wins!
Ray Christensen represented St. John the Beloved Council #11796 of Knights of Columbus on bus from St. Mary of the Assumption church in Hockessin, DE.
Video by Webmaster Ray
Pro-life Committee
AP Photo by Patrick Semansky
Bus Group photo by KofC Coffee Run Council
Equality Begins in the Womb
March for Life - 1/21/22
Ten of thousands of pro-life advocates participated in the 49th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 21, 2022.
The joyful celebration of life from the moment of conception had a spirit of extra optimism that this would be the year that the Supreme Court strikes down the wrongly decided Roe v. Wade case of 1973.
March For Life is the largest annual human rights protest in the world. Busloads of people of all ages converge on the Capital from all over the nation to pray, rally and march to the Supreme Court building.
Warm hearts on a cold day
Ray Christensen represented St. John the Beloved Council #11796 of Knights of Columbus on bus from St. Mary of the Assumption church in Hockessin, DE.
This was my first time to the March and it was even more emotional and uplifting than I had expected!
Bus Trip to Basilica, Rally and March in Washington
- Prayerful Bus Trip
8am - Temperature was around 16 degrees when 35 of us boarded the Delaware Express bus organized by Ann Courtney of St. Mary of the Assumption and and Nancy Frick of Church of the Holy Child Pro-Life Committees. Beautiful opening prayer by Philadelphia priest Fr. John McFadden, who has been active in pro-life ministry for many years. - 830am - Received a "Goody Bag" of snacks and an orange scarf to help identify us as group members throughout the day.
9am - Prayed the Rosary, made a rest stop in Maryland and then watched the moving "Blood Money" movie documentary narrated by Dr. Alveda King. - Basilica Visit
1030am - Arrived at National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in D.C. where many of us attended Mass in the basement level crypt. It was held by Franciscans, including a beautiful choir. Afterwards, enjoyed a tour of the basement level exhibits and chapels on basement and main level. - 12pm - Another Mass was being held in the main Basilica as we toured the chapels surrounding it. Then we headed outside to the cold, but brilliant sunshine for photos on steps before again boarding the bus. It was wonderful to see all of the other groups of pilgrims from east coast parishes, high schools and colleges, all converging on Washington with the common purpose of defending life.
- Group photo in front of the Basilica in 21 degree temps!
Mass in Crypt of Basilica
Ray at Basilica
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Pilgrims visiting basement level of Basilica
St. Mary of the Assumption & Church of the Holy Child bus group - more group photos below
- Washington, D.C. and National Mall
1pm - Drove through the streets of D.C. towards the National Mall, where the rally was in progress. We parked just blocks away and bundled up to join the crowd. It was still frigid, but just a light breeze under clear blue skies. Many of us grabbed Knights of Columbus posters to carry. We'd be braving the cold for about 3 hours. - 130pm - Arrived at side of the stage while the last speeches were in progress and felt the energy, excitement and joy of tens of thousands. Keynote speaker was Fr. Mike Schmitz. Everyone was reminded where we'd meet the bus a few blocks behind the Supreme Court building.
- March Gets Underway
2pm - Some of our group walked across the mall to position ourselves along the route and waited there to watch the head of the parade pass, before joining in. - There were tears in my eyes constantly, seeing all of the happy faces of kids, teens and adults. Many "I am the pro-life generation", "Pray to end abortion" and "Love Life" posters and huge banners announcing who the various groups were. Additionally, there were thousands of green and black Knights of Columbus "Defend Life" and "Love Life, Choose Life" posters like I carried.
- It would be too cold to take sips of the small water bottle I brought and I needed to keep my phone in pocket inside my coat so it wouldn't freeze up.
Side view of Rally stage
Constitution Avenue waiting for parade to start
March For Life gets underway
Constitution Avenue
- Banners, Flags, Chants, Drums, Smiles
230pm - Families, nuns, priests, high school groups, organizations and dads carrying toddlers all marched past the Capitol to the Supreme Court building. Groups along the sidewalks chanted, sang and played drums to keep us energized. Periodically, we'd stop for a few minutes.
Police on both sides of the street stood and smiled, they knew that this was the most peaceful, clean and respectful group of protesters they'd see each year. - Supreme Court Speeches
3pm - The Supreme Court building marks the end of the parade route and marchers head their own ways from there. For about an hour, speeches and testimonials are given by men and women who have had abortions, regret it and pledge to be "silent no more" about the horrors of killing babies. - Many people remain in the area for a while and it's quite a grand finale being surrounded by people giving speeches, groups singing religious songs, drummers keeping cadence and the tens of thousands happily passing by, all at the same time.
"I am the post-Roe generation" signs
330pm - All of us were praying that 2022 would be the long-awaited year that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade. A decision is expected in June. We then walked a couple blocks to where our bus would meet us. Didn't lose anyone!
Warm Bus Ride Home
430pm - The warm bus felt so good as we relaxed and peeled off some layers. Another Rosary was joyful. Some fun prizes were raffled, we crossed the Bay Bridge to avoid I-95 traffic and appreciated closing remarks from Ann and our priest.
During the March
Wilmington For Life banner and orange scarves marked our group
March For Life
Supreme Court
Pray to end Abortion
Supreme Court
Culmination of March
Bill Buxton (a KofC), carrying The Wilmington for Life banner
Father Frank Pavone (Priests for Life) with Joanie Kosinski, Lourdes Abosalo, Helen Tang-Yates and Felix Spitelli (a KofC0
Father John McFadden -- a retired priest from Archdiocese of Phila. and long-time advocate for Life
Felix Spitelli, Father McFadden, Bill Buxton, other, Ray Christensen, Deacon Anthony Gallo -- on steps of Basilica after Mass
Ann Courtney, Father McFadden, Eileen Siter, Chris Retkovis and Kathy Dunworth -- waiting for bus to take us home
Michele Snyder with Sr. M. Cecilia (from IHM) and companion
EWTN Livestream Complete Coverage of 2022 March for Life Events (7 hours)
- This was fun to view the following day in the warmth of my own house!
- Includes all prayer and speeches at rally, video of the march and EWTN studio commentary
- EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 40th year, is the largest religious media network in the world.
Knights March for Life
Supreme Knight Kelly expressed support for the march as Knights from across the U.S. assembled
in nation’s capital during historic year for protection of the unborn.
K of C Website
Email note sent to our group afterwards:
Thank God for our safe, successful, and fulfilling pilgrimage to March for Life on Friday! It was a God-filled day!
May we be prayerful for mothers who are considering abortion to know that there is help available with local pregnancy centers (i.e. Birthright of DE and A Door of Hope) and may they trust that God will provide for them. May we be prayerful and charitable to mothers & fathers struggling with the abortion they had. May we be prayerful and vocal to stop legislation that will impose assisted suicide/euthanasia.
We know God is the Victor, so may we stay active participants on His team!
It was wonderful to have you attend and participate in the day of pilgrimage with us. We thank you for your efforts and sacrifices!
Gratefully,
Nancy Frick and Ann Courtney
Webmaster Ray is a full time web designer since 2005.
This is an example of a "Landing Page" which can greatly increase conversions (effectiveness) of pay-per-click ads (PPC), facebook ads and any other form of advertising.
More info at www.AttractWeb.com
