FEBRUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Featured Article:

March for Life 2022 In Review: by Grace Chaffins

On January 21, we gathered in Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. The hope, joy, and energy among those gathered was remarkably intense and moving. Above all, what gave me the most hope was seeing the numbers of young people who came with such enthusiasm to show their defense for the unborn. Oftentimes, we as young people can feel isolated and as if we are the only ones who are pro-life. But the March for Life proves that this is wrong - very wrong. The majority of those gathered were high school and college age students - chanting, cheering, and proving to the world that we truly are the “pro-life generation.”

We arrived in Washington D.C. on Thursday, January 20th and attended the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Thousands were gathered to join in prayer for an end to abortion in America through the celebration of the Mass, the rosary, and a Holy Hour.

On January 21st, we visited the Holocaust Museum before attending the March for Life. This museum recounted the horrors of the holocaust and the murder of the Jews in Nazi Germany. For us, this was an especially poignant message when viewed in the light of the modern holocaust of abortion. The museum's call to recognize modern genocides and do everything in our power to speak out against it echoed in our hearts as we walked to the National Mall to join in the March for Life.

On January 22nd, we were able to take part in the National Pro-Life Summit. This conference event hosted a number of speakers who educated, inspired, and trained attendees, including former vice president Mike Pence, SFLA president Kristan Hawkins, Dr. Alveda King, and Trent Horn. It also featured powerful testimonies from abortion survivors, theology of the body teachings, and analysis of current pro-life political issues, among a host of other topics.

As we remember and reflect upon this year's March for Life, we should have so much hope for the future of our nation. I pray that this experience will renew joy and courage in all of us so that we may continue fighting for life!

Guest Article

A Reflection from our Trip Chaplain: by Fr. John McEvoy

[In late January] I had the privilege of being on the 49th Walk for Life in Washington D.C. On Thursday, January 20, I celebrated Mass at the beginning of the National Prayer Vigil for Life in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities was the main celebrant. The Mass was overflowing with young people; the capacity of the Great Upper Church is over 6,000 persons.

On Friday, Reuters News reported, Hello from the National Mall, where it is 19 degrees and there are tens of thousands here for the March for Life which they hope will be the last under Roe v. Wade. The march was very peaceful and radiated a profound sense of hope. The theme for this year's walk was, Equality Begins in the Womb and highlighted how true equality is only possible if we recognize that children in the womb also deserve protection as they are a gift from God. The quotation used repeatedly at the summit at the Omni Hotel was, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you. The hotel was at full capacity with nearly 2,000 young Catholic students staying there, a great hope for the future.

The way to change the culture of abortion is to emphasize life is a gift from God, beginning in the womb. The second way comes from [the second reading from January 30th], if I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal... if I do not have love, I am nothing... Love never fails... faith, hope, and love remain but the greatest of these is love.

The students at the summit were taught the main concepts of the Theology of the Body from the teachings of St. John Paul II. We are called to love; the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being is love. Today, love is confusing but St. John Pal II points us to Christ, the main door through which the body enters theology. At the end of the Walk for Life 2022, the students were very hopeful that they will see abortion abolished in their lifetime, joyfully singing, I am the Pro-Life Generation.

To read the entire bulletin, see here: https://saintanneruskin.org/

Prayers:

Prayer for the Dignity of Human Life

God of all life,

Help us to appreciate the great gift that is human life
formed in your image, a reflection of your holiness.

Help us to recognize you
in all whom you have created:
children not yet born,
families affected by poverty and war,
people of different abilities,
people from other lands, and
all who are victims of hatred and racism.

Help us to bear witness to the dignity of all whom you have created,
regardless of stage of life,
or wealth,
or ability,
or color, or creed,
for every person is fully equal in your loving eyes.

Share with us your holy knowledge
that we are all your children,
each bestowed with inherent dignity.

May your justice reign forever!

Amen.

Pro-Life Quotes:

“Use your imagination to see what abortion really is! Fight against the kind of social stupor that gripped Nazi Germany – the feeling that the problem is so huge and so horrendous and so out of our control that I just can’t be wrong to let it be. Use your imagination to see and feel what is really happening behind those sterile clinic doors. If you could see each little handiwork of God and what it looks like when it is being crushed or poisoned or starved, you would say, this can’t be happening. Civilized people do not do this! The children will not be saved and God’s work will not be reverenced without an act of sustained sympathetic imagination. Otherwise, it is out of sight out of mind – just like Auschwitz. It just couldn’t be happening and so we act as if it isn’t.” - John Piper

“Abortion and racism are both symptoms of a fundamental human error. The error is thinking that when someone stands in the way of our wants, we can justify getting that person out of our lives.” - Dr. Alveda King

“Some people argue that changing laws will not eliminate abortions.  What is forgotten, however, is that the law is the great teacher.  Children grow up believing that if a practice is legal, it must be moral.” - Cardinal John O'Connor

News:

2022 March for Life
The 2022 March for Life occurred on January 21, 2022. Tens of thousands were gathered to walk from the national mall to the steps of the Supreme Court, peacefully advocating for a legal end to abortion. Despite the cold weather and the COVID-19 restrictions, an estimated 150,000 people (Students for Life of America) attended.

"Catholics for Life" Protest at the National Prayer Vigil for Life

A group that calls themselves "Catholics for Life" demonstrated their protest against the March for Life on Thursday, January 20th at the National Prayer Vigil for Life. This prayer vigil, held annually at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, drew crowds of thousands who joined in prayer for the protection of the unborn.

"Catholics for Life" illuminated the outside of the Basilica with a projected messages. Some of these messages included "Pro-choice Catholics, you are not alone", "Stop stigmatizing, start listening", and "My body, my choice." This action was strongly condemned by Church hierarchy. Both the Archbishop of Washington D.C. and Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco reacted to the incident by denouncing the "attempted desecration" of the church.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer Announces Retirement
In late January, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will be retiring at the end of this term from his position in the country's highest court of law. The 83 year old pro-choice judge will step aside to allow a younger judge to fill his position. This will secure the seat for another pro-choice judge and will allow them to continue filling Justice Breyer's role.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, February 5th at 2:00pm EST - Monthly pro-life rosary

Saturday, February 12th at 6:30pm EST - Vocations: The Pro-Life Perspective with Sr. Alexia, SCTJM

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/GzX3KEHtbBk56PAY9

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