Through silent prayers in Adoration, praise and worship at two standing-room only Masses, cheers on the steps of the State Capitol and chants on the streets of Harrisburg, Pennsylvanians united their voices for the protection of the unborn and care for women facing unplanned pregnancies during the fifth annual Pennsylvania March for Life on Monday, September 22.
In what has become a yearly turnout of the pro-life movement, thousands of people – from seminarians and clergy, to religious Sisters, high school students and families – flooded the Capitol steps and its lawn and streets in an outward sign of their belief in the sanctity of life.
A joint event of the National March for Life and the Pennsylvania Family Institute, the rally was streamed live, showing the day’s line-up of speakers ahead of the march that fully encircled the Capitol grounds.
Holy Mass Begins and Ends the Day
Two Masses attracted scores of faithful to St. Patrick Cathedral before and after the rally and march, in reparation for the sin of abortion and to pray for the protection of human life.
“Being pro-life means that we are pro-God,” Bishop Mark Eckman of the Diocese of Pittsburgh said in his homily for the opening Mass, celebrated less than a block away from the Capitol at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg.
The morning Mass, celebrated by Bishop Timothy Senior, commenced after overnight Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
“We who are gathered here today have a great faith. It’s expected that we will share this faith with those around us,” Bishop Eckman said. “This faith that we have inherited and cultivated is a great treasure, not meant to be kept selfishly to ourselves, but shared with other people to give light to all who witness our living out our faith.”
“In our faith, we recognize the sanctity of all life, from conception until natural death. We recognize the sanctity of all life, no matter what country of origin we may come from. We recognize that we need to treat all people – from the youngest to the oldest – with respect, dignity and love,” he said.
The closing Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia, included dozens of seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and groups of high school students from across the state. Bishop Alfred Schlert from the Diocese of Allentown was the homilist.
“Laws may shift, public opinion may waver, but the truth about the God-given dignity of the human person never changes. Christ’s victory over death assures us that life is the final word. Our task is to keep proclaiming that truth with love – both in public witness and in daily living,” Bishop Schlert said.
“The Eucharist we celebrate today is the greatest witness to the dignity of life,” he said. “As important as that walk to the Capitol was, the walk to this altar is so much more important, so much more efficacious, so much more of a witness to our faith, our belief in the presence of Our Lord. In the humble host, Christ gives us His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity so that we may have life to the full. When we receive Him, we are sent forth to be His witnesses, to defend life, to love each person as Christ loves us.”
Young Voices for Peace
The youth movement was once again evident at the Masses, rally and march, with high schools bringing scores of students intent on lending their voices for life.
A group of teens from Trinity High School in Camp Hill told The Witness they wanted the day’s events to be a bastion of peace in response to shootings in recent weeks that killed and wounded students at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, activist Charlie Kirk and police officers in York County.
“With the shape of the world today, it seems everyone is on edge because of different political beliefs, especially with all the violence we’ve seen the last few weeks. Today, I want it to be about peace – loving and accepting each other, regardless of opinion. We don’t always agree, but we’re all human beings with dignity and we all deserve the right to life and opinions,” said Joseph Bolster.
“You can say any day of the week that you’re pro-life, but it’s one thing to say something and another to go out and witness to it in the midst of everything you have going on in your life. That’s why we’re here today. We march for everyone who doesn’t get a voice. It backs up what we truly believe,” he said.
“I want this march to show people that being pro-life is more than just being against abortion – it’s against any type of violence and it’s about protecting any life. It’s about peace and protecting and caring for one another,” said Eleanor O’Brien.
“This is a good witness to others that it’s OK to speak up for what you believe in,” said Gavin Mann. “With the violence we’ve seen in this country recently, people can be scared to come out. But with all of us here in this witness, I hope it inspires others to not be afraid of what people might think or say. We all have a voice and we deserve to speak it.”
“I love coming to this event every year,” said Ethan Mann. “I love the community that comes together for this cause. We all have voices to speak for life, and I hope it leads to a greater movement around the world.”
‘Put it into Action’
From the stage at the foot of the Capitol steps, speakers at the rally shared inspirational stories about the life-changing work of pregnancy resource centers, the gift of adoption and the blessings of choosing life despite challenging circumstances.
Keynote speaker Ryan Bomberger, a native of Lancaster County and the co-founder of the Radiance Foundation, shared the inspirational story of his upbringing in a family with 10 adopted children.
“I was the first of ten kids adopted into a family of 15,” he said, showing pictures of siblings – some with disabilities – who are African-American, Native American and Vietnamese.
“Our family is a reminder that we are all just one human race,” he said to thunderous applause.
“Some of us experienced severe trauma when we were just little kids, situations where people said we would have been better off not being brought into the world. I’m here to tell you that nobody is better off dead. We are all better off loved,” he said. “Triumph can rise from tragedy.”
The Manheim Central High School graduate encouraged the crowd to speak with peace and love in defending the sacredness of human life.
“We can all speak hope and life into others. Speak up. Speak loud. Speak love,” he said.
Harrisburg-area emergency medical physician Dr. Robby Waller also inspired the crowd with a heartwarming story, bringing his wife and young children on stage to underscore the gift of adoption.
Parents of three children, the Wallers had been praying about adoption when Dr. Waller was called to assist a woman who had just given birth in a car. The mother chose adoption for her infant, and the Wallers took the newborn girl into their home, officially becoming her adoptive parents some months later.
“Our story is a witness to the fact that God’s designs for people start before conception,” Dr. Waller said.
Highlighting the life-affirming work of the nearly 160 pregnancy resource centers in Pennsylvania, Sarah Bowen, founder of the Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative, urged the pro-life community to put their words into action by volunteering and contributing to these centers, which offer critical baby supplies and educational resources and emotional support to women facing a crisis pregnancy.
“We can’t let the march be the end of our story today. Take it and put it into action. Make it personal,” Bowen told the crowd. “Reach out to your local pregnancy resource center to see how you can volunteer or donate. Let’s make sure no woman walks an unplanned pregnancy alone.”
Before the march commenced, Jennie Bradley Lichter, President of the March for Life, rallied the crowds to continue witnessing for human life, supporting pregnant and new mothers, and speaking against the horror of abortion.
“Let today empower you. Our voices raised together are so powerful. This is an unmatched opportunity to show the persistence, love and strength of the pro-life movement,” she said.
“We know how the story ends. Life wins,” she said.
Next year’s Pennsylvania March for Life is planned for September 21.
(Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness. Video by Rachel Troche, Multimedia Production Manager for the Diocese of Harrisburg. Aerial photo submitted.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
