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PEACTHREE CITY—A busload of 40 teens and chaperones from Holy
Trinity Church’s Life Teen program joined thousands of protesters in the
annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.
In January, the group made the trip to the nation’s capital
to join the peaceful demonstration, down Constitution Avenue, which is designed
to protest the federal government’s failure to pass legislation that would
protect the unborn.
Father Kevin Peek, parochial vicar at Holy Trinity, accompanied
the teens on the trip, which, for many, sparked an awakening of the need to
respect life from conception.
Ryan Brady and his younger brother, Bobby, were two of the teens
that developed a greater understanding for the value of life as a result of the
trip.
“All human beings have the chance for a great, well-led
life,” Ryan said. “Why not give it to them? God loves us all, no
matter who we are.”
“It was good to see there are a lot of people trying to stop
abortion,” Bobby said.
The teens, though not quite adjusted to the frigid weather, were
well-prepared spiritually for the pilgrimage. The night before the rally, they
joined several thousand teens and adults for a special pro-life Mass at the
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Andy Costantine, youth minister, said that the Mass, in which
several priests including Father Peek, bishops and cardinals concelebrated, was
moving.
“Even though many of us had to sit on the floor, the Mass was
awe-inspiring to say the least.”
The next morning, before the group left for the march, Father Peek
celebrated Mass at their hotel and gave a rousing homily in defense of life.
Many teens, such as Kenny Jubb, said that the Mass helped them get excited
about their mission to protect life by participating in the march.
“Before the march, everyone was getting so pumped up,”
he said. “I thought about the tens of thousands of people who were going
to be there and a chill ran through me. I was so thankful I had the chance to
save the unborn.”
During the march, the group sang songs, prayed the rosary and
encountered new and old friends along the route.
“The march itself was great,” Jubb said. “It helped
me to grow closer to God. While we were marching, I thought that if we saved
one unborn child, we were successful.”
Amanda Vaughn, a freshman, was also moved by the support for life
that she witnessed.
“It was so cool when we started to sing and other people we
didn’t know sang right along with us,” she said.
Patrick MacDougall, also a freshman, described the experience.
“We got to the top of a hill and turned around,” he
recalled. “For about a half-mile, there was a sea of people walking behind
us.”
For Kathleen Powers, a junior, it was comforting to know that she
was not alone in her fight for life.
“Sometimes it seems like I’m the only one standing up
for certain beliefs, like pro-life,” she said. “Being in D.C. and
seeing so many people striving for the same goal really strengthened me.”
The emotional tug of the march was also felt by the adults who
accompanied the teens. Many, like Life Teen core member Helen Gaede, were
struck by the sense of camaraderie among old and new acquaintances alike.
“Throughout the march, we kept running into people we had met
earlier on our trip,” she said. “We all marched, prayed and journeyed
together to the Supreme Court. When we arrived there, we all stopped and prayed
together. What a show of unity for life!”
Father Peek summed up the experience with a variety of adjectives.
“It was fun, it was challenging—it was everything the
Christian life is meant to be,” he said. “We all grew in our
understanding of God’s love and providence—for ourselves and for all
those involved in the work of defending life.”
At the conclusion of the march, the group boarded its bus with
plans to return to Peachtree City before dawn the next morning, but their
adventure was not over yet. Snow began to fall as the bus left Washington. By
the time it had reached Petersburg, Va., about one hour south of the capital,
the group learned that all interstate highways in North and South Carolina were
being closed by the Highway Patrol.
“We made the decision to stay at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic
High School, where we had spent the night on the way into Washington, to
weather the storm,” Costantine said. “Soon after we arrived at the
school, the snowstorm hit full force and 13 inches fell that night. A few of
the teens got a little panicky at the thought of being snowed in but most of
them remained pretty calm under the circumstances.”
The group was marooned for an entire day, as local schools and
businesses also were shut down by the weather. As they waited for the weather
to clear, Father Peek celebrated Mass, led the rosary and conducted Bible
study. The teens and chaperones also took ample breaks to play in the snow.
Despite the spartan conditions, participants agreed the snowstorm
had the characteristics of divine intervention.
Jacqueline VandenBergh, a college student and core member,
insisted that being stranded was a “gift” that allowed teens and
adults to “bond with each other and, most importantly, to spend quality
time with God.”
Jennifer Boddy, a senior, agreed.
“The experience was a precious gift from God,” she said.
During this time our youth group became so much stronger as a whole. We all
realized how awesome the gift of life truly is. The pillow fight with Father
Kevin was pretty cool, too.”
Many of the teens shared in the sentiment that the snowstorm
happened for a purpose.
“I think God stranded us for a reason,” Jubb said.
“I think God wanted us to grow together as a group and be united with
him.”
A day later, the Highway Patrol opened the roads and the group
made its way back to Peachtree City, along the mostly deserted highways.
“With many thanks to God and everyone who prayed for us, we
made it back from our pilgrimage and adventure,” Costantine said.
“But those of us who participated have memories that will last for many
years to come.”
Father Peek said it is a trip he won’t soon forget.
“Of the 10 Marches for Life that I’ve attended, this is
certainly the most memorable.” |
