The 2019 March for Life trip was a life-changing experience that opened my eyes to God’s love for all. It was eye-opening to see so many marching and chanting to raise awareness of the importance of all human life.
On Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 ruling, changed America forever with its landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion. Every year since then, hundreds of thousands have gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest the decision by “Marching for Life.” This march is an important way to keep alive the cause for life in the U.S. because it fights for all women who are reluctant to keep their unborn child.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – They came in 10 busloads from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, praying the rosary, lifting up the sanctity of life and letting the world know that their young voices must be heard. More than 500 students from high schools in the archdiocese traveled to the nation’s capitol Jan. 15-20 to lend their voices to the 46th Annual March for Life, a rallying cry that is being promoted in stronger ways than ever by young people often stereotyped as self-absorbed and disengaged. “There’s no doubt, that if you talk to the majority of our young people today, they are pro-life,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond said before leading the archdiocesan contingent on the march along the National Mall. “It is my generation that was pro-choice. It’s my generation when Roe vs. Wade took place. “That was very dominant for a long time, but attitudes (toward unborn life) have changed, and I think that’s in large part due to the young church, the young adult church. They don’t just speak about pro-life. We have 500 people here who are willing to go to Washington and march and say they are pro-life.”
Seminarian Ajani Gibson told the travelers on a 24-hour bus ride to the March for Lufe that they were going on a pilgrimage. “We are going to DC for a purpose - to defend life; to give a voice to the voiceless.” This year’s theme is “Why Believe?” The patron saint of the trip to be used as example is St. Paul, originally a nonbeliever and persecutor of Christian, but became one of the greatest disciples known to man, Ajani said. St. Paul is the perfect model for the March for Life theme, “Why Believe?” He asked that same question before he became a Christian, and became among those who were persecuted. A movie, “Paul, the Apostle of Christ” was shown on his adult life. Ajani also handed out prayer cards on the bus so pilgrims could pray for unborn babies and one another.
Join Christine Bordelon on a 24 hour bus ride to Washington D.C. for the March for Life rally, the world's largest pro-life event! Click the map below for the itinerary , then follow along on Facebook and here on our website.
John Smestad with the Archdiocese of New Orleans tells the history of the annual March for Life pilgrimage from New Orleans. It was launched in 2006 and now attracts 500 Pilgrims on 10 charter buses.
High school senior Meghan Farnsworth had a faith conversion back to the Catholic Church after her first trip to the March for Life with the Academy of the Sacred Heart. It was the invitation of her campus minister that changed her life. One person can make a difference in the lives of others.