Parishioners working toward Life march
St. Joseph Catholic Church will have several members attend the 40th March for Life in Washington D.C. on Jan. 25.
Recently the church held its second fundraiser of the year for those attending the march. The event was an Ole’ Fashioned All-You-Can-Eat Chicken Fry. Diners feasted on fried chicken plus mashed potatoes and gravy, country style green beans, corn, rolls, ice tea and lemonade, and homemade desserts. Proceeds benefited the Washington D.C. March for Life pilgrimage.
There are 56 parishioners going from the church in January including Father Rickey Valleroy. The group will be leaving Jan. 22 and return Jan. 27.
“Not only is it an awesome patriotic experience, but a very spiritual experience of standing up and witnessing the dignity of human life,” said Fr. Rickey.
While the group is in Washington D. C. they will be laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, pray the Rosary in front of the Supreme Court building, have Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, stop in Shanksville, Penn., to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial and Touring Montpelier, the home of James and Dolly Madison.
This year they have all ages going. The youngest is five years old and they have two families of three generations making the trip.
According to the Marchforlife.org website, late in Oct 1973, grassroots pro-life leaders became concerned that Jan 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court’s infamous abortion decision and without petitioning Congress for redress.
No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact pro-life March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots pro-lifers wanted to march. About 30 pro-life veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.
On Jan 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the west steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 pro-life Americans rallied that day on behalf of the sanctity of life.
In 1974, the March for Life was incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization.
The numbers have gradually risen through the years despite reduced numbers due to bad weather in 2000 and the terrible 9/11 attacks just months before the March 2002. The group says the growing numbers give testimony to the increasing ranks of pro-life Americans and the importance of the group’s work.
This is the eighth year St. Joseph has participated in the rally.
