John Smestad Jr. receives ‘Proudly Pro-Life’ Award

John Smestad Jr., archdiocesan executive director of Pastoral Planning and Ministries, was honored with the 2018 Proudly Pro-life Award at the 19th Annual Proudly Pro-Life Dinner sponsored by Louisiana Right to Life on Jan. 11. Smestad was honored for his work of beginning the annual CYO March for Life pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. Since he began organizing the trip in 2006, more than 4,000 young people have attended the CYO-sponsored March for Life. He is pictured with his mother, Jimmy-Ann Smestad, at the event.