March For Life
Marching for a Emily Adams
The March for Life was truly an amazing experience. I know, once you hear you are taking a bus it sounds miserable, but if I’m being honest, it really wasn’t. On the trip our thing was “offer it up” … offer up your sufferings for others. I really encourage everyone to go on this trip because I promise you will benefit from it and have so much fun in the process. The things that really impacted me the most: 1) The National Arlington CemeteryThere are so many tombstones that it looks like never ending dominos. You really get to see how many people have died to save us, and those people are the reason we live in a free country today. You can think about how big the number 400,000 is, but you won’t realize actually how big it is until you see over 400,000 veteran graves. 2) Another huge impact was the actual March for Life. The whole week leading up to the March, I kept hearing “Okay, there is going to be a lot of people, probably over 600,000” and we would be like “Wow, that’s a big number.” Once again, you can’t imagine how big it actually is until you see it in person. When I was marching and we got to the top of the hill, Miss Russo said, “Turn around and look.” It was breathtaking how many people were behind me. Over 600,000 became more than just a number, and I can’t say I’ve ever seen so many people in one place. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and it was an amazing experience that I hope everyone gets to experience one day. Emily Adams, 11th grade Central Catholic School Morgan City
Guest Columnist Kimberly Russo
One hundred fifty youth and adults from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in this year’s March for Life. The group consisted of 100 youth and 50 adults including Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, seven priests and seven seminarians traveling on four busses. According to Amanda Garcia, who coordinated the March for Life pilgrimage for the diocesan Office of Vocations, this year’s overall theme was “I am.” Every morning on each bus, group leaders would oversee ice breakers, discussions and activities about the theme of the day, which was related to the overall theme. Each of the stops made along the journey were specifically tied to the overall theme in some way. Following is a schedule of the events that took place during the six-day trip with the theme for each day. n Monday, Jan. 20 I am called Arrive at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Schriever Mass at 6:30 a.m. Depart Compline (night prayer) with the Nashville Dominican Nuns Sleep on Bus n Tuesday, Jan. 21 I am unique Arrive at Arlington Cemetery Witness the “Changing of Guards”; Houma-Thibodaux presents wreath
24 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • March 2020
National Museum of African American History and Culture Mass at Camp Wabanna n Wednesday, Jan. 22 I am valuable Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Mass celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre National Museum of National History Memorial Walk (Vietnam War, Lincoln, Korean War, MLK, FDR) Adoration at Camp Wabanna n Thursday, Jan. 23 I am meaningful Geaux Forth Rally Holocaust Museum Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Life is Very Good Evening of Prayer and Worship Camp Wabanna n Friday, Jan. 24 I am sacrificial March for Life Depart for Home Sleep on Bus n Saturday, Jan. 25 I am sent Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Meridian, MS: The Knights of Columbus treated us to an amazing breakfast. Arrive back at Pastoral Center For the first day, the theme was “I am called.” What better way to see this lived out than through the Nashville Dominicans? It was such a treat to spend the first night of the pilgrimage with them. By chance, we actually arrived to the motherhouse earlier than expected. Since we did arrive early, they treated us to tours, and a question and answer panel. Through their vocational stories, we were truly able to see what it means to be called by God in such a radical way.
a
