250 Students Travel to March for Life in DC

On January 17, Catholic school students from the Archdiocese of Boston will begin their journey to attend the March for Life in Washington, DC. Approximately 250 students from 10 schools are participating in the March for Life. Almost 104 students are participating in the Archdiocese’s Witness to Life Pilgrimage, and 145 students from Cardinal Spellman High School are participating in the school’s own program. In addition, 80 additional travelers, including people from parishes, small groups and families, and Archdiocese of Boston staff are participating in the Witness to Life Pilgrimage.

Superintendent Kathy Mears said, “I am happy that so many school communities are participating in Right to Life activities here and in Washington, DC. Their commitment to their faith and social justice is inspiring to many.”

Liz Cotrupi, Director of Family Life & Ecclesial Movements in Office of Lifelong Faith Formation & Parish Support, is the coordinator for the Witness to Life Pilgrimage. “The Office for Lifelong Faith Formation and Parish Support is excited and blessed to be joining our pilgrims with thousands from across the country this Friday, January 19, to ‘witness’ to the dignity of all life from conception to natural death.”

She continued, “We are so thankful that principals and pastors support this pilgrimage through the help of their campus ministers, teachers, youth ministers and volunteers. Our gratitude extends to the parents and guardians of these children for saying ‘yes’ and of course to the youth who will be lending their voice to this incredibly important social justice issue that is the basis for all other causes. If we can't get ‘life’ right, we won't get anything else quite right. Keep us in prayer!”

This year there are two tracks for Witness to Life pilgrims: “24 Hours for Life” and “Stay and Pray.” The 24 Hours for Life is a one-day event. Participants depart by bus Thursday evening and arrive in Washington, DC, on Friday morning in time for Mass with Cardinal Seán O’Malley at Sacred Heart Shrine. Then they walk in the March for Life, and board the bus for home at 4:30pm.

Participants in the “Stay and Pray” track have a longer and more robust experience. These attendees depart early Thursday morning and arrive in Washington, DC, to attend the Life is Very Good Rally Thursday evening. They also attend Mass with Cardinal Seán Friday morning and walk in the March for Life, and Friday evening they convene for Adoration, Confession, and discussion of the March. After Mass Saturday morning and a short period of independent sightseeing, the students board the bus bound for Massachusetts.

Can’t make it to DC? Be a part of the experience by following @RCAB_evangelize on Twitter and Instagram. In addition, follow @CSOBoston on Twitter and Instagram to see tweets and posts from schools that are participating in Right to Life activities.

The schools attending the March for Life in Washington, DC, are:

Arlington Catholic High School, Arlington

BC High, Dorchester

Cardinal Spellman High School, Brockton

Cathedral High School, Boston

Central Catholic High School, Lawrence

Our Lady’s Academy, Waltham

Presentation of Mary Academy, Methuen

Sacred Heart High School, Kingston

St. Joseph Prep, Boston

St. Mary High School, Lynn