The message in Bishop Keith Chylinski’s homily during the opening Mass for the Pennsylvania March for Life on Monday set the tone for the sixth annual event that brought a record crowd to Harrisburg to witness to the sanctity of all human life and pray for an end to abortion.
“The pro-life movement is a movement of light,” said Bishop Chylinski, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.
“In the battle for life that we’ve been engaged in in so many different ways and facets, sometimes there can be a temptation to be discouraged or to have the impression that darkness has overcome. But we’re invited today as we celebrate this Mass to discover and rediscover the opposite,” he said.
The opening Mass on September 21 at St. Patrick Cathedral, with Bishop Timothy Senior as principal celebrant, drew a standing-room-only crowd of families, seminarians, elementary and high school students, and individuals from all corners of the commonwealth.
The case was the same for the closing Mass, with Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia as principal celebrant and 150 seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary filling the first several rows of pews.
Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Cooke of Philadelphia was the homilist for the afternoon Mass. “How important it is to see how our Lord encounters others who were less than perfect, and how the Vicar of Christ today, Pope Leo, reminds us of the goodness of a person. Pope Leo says, ‘The quality of a civilization is measured by its ability to recognize the other as a face,’” Bishop Cooke remarked.
Both Masses were streamed live on the Diocese of Harrisburg’s YouTube Channel. They served as fitting bookends for the rally and march, hosted and streamed live by the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
Youth Movement
Among the youngest contingent were several dozen students from St. Theresa School in New Cumberland.
Eighth graders Molly Morris, Emily Deppen and Eleanor Bauer spoke with The Witness and gave a clear message as to why they attended the Mass, rally and march.
“We want to send the message today that God loves all of us, even though we are all different, and he has a plan for all of our lives,” said Emily, who was attending her first March for Life after transferring to St. Theresa School last year.
“There are probably people outside of the pro-life movement who think we’re too young to speak up against abortion, but we are informed on it, and we know that God loves us and gives life to every one of us,” said Molly.
The girls were astounded at the sight of the crowded Cathedral and the throngs that spilled from the Capitol steps onto its grounds and sidewalks.
“It’s amazing to see that there are so many others who share the same beliefs and values and come together as a family to support each other in the pro-life movement,” Eleanor said. “I hope we give the message today that Jesus is our savior and we should keep believing in God and the value of human life.”
Like several other diocesan schools, students from Trinity High School in Camp Hill always bring a strong number of participants. Lucas Harder and Jack and Jake Costello have come to this pro-life event for several years and said they’ll keep working to defend life and change people’s hearts about abortion.
“The message we’re sending today is ultimately about care for humanity. It’s all for the support and betterment of our community,” Jake said.
“It’s always exciting to see so many young people here and it bodes well for the future. It’s a great way to show mothers that they have a place to go when they’re dealing with an unexpected pregnancy,” said Jack, referring to the more than 160 pregnancy resource centers in Pennsylvania that provide baby supplies, educational resources and emotional support to women facing a crisis pregnancy.
“I appreciated Bishop [Chylinski’s] message about how we’re called to bring our light to the world. I really feel like this is what we’re doing here today,” he added.
A Clear Message for Life
The pre-march rally once again drew a contingent of speakers that sparked the crowd to chant, pray and sing as they encircled the Capitol Complex. The choir from Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg performed The Star-Spangled Banner before speakers and guests took the stage, including several of the state’s Catholic bishops, pro-life legislators, representatives of Pennsylvania’s pregnancy resource centers and pro-life members of the medical community.
In a keynote address, Rick Santorum, a former U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania who introduced the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act that ultimately passed in 2003, urged the crowd to keep pushing for pro-life legislation and to stand strong against the culture of death.
“You may march today and there will be another hundred abortions in Pennsylvania tomorrow. But remember this, you’re doing what God has called you to do. You are doing his will. You are doing his work. You are standing for his truth,” he said.
“Be fearless. Be courageous. Stand for life. Not just because God is calling you, because our country desperately needs that light, that witness to the dignity of all human life,” Senator Santorum said.
Carrying Rosaries, banners and signs, marchers filled the streets as they walked, chanted and prayed along the route that took them around the Capitol complex and back to their starting point by the stage and steps. As in past years, the front of the march again caught up to the tail end in a unified and peaceful display for the sanctity of life.
“I think it’s great that we can have this event on a state level,” said Trinity student Lucas Harder. “Whether we’re marching here or in Washington, D.C., the message for life is still clear.”
(Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
