ST. CHARLES—Three days of worsening warnings from weather forecasters, youth event organizers in Washington D.C., and the coach bus company finally led to “the difficult decision” to cancel the March for Life bus trip, says Jennifer Collins, director of the diocesan Life and Evangelization Office.
With that, the focus of the Jan. 20 Mass at St. John Neumann Parish had to change. It was to have been a blessing and send-off for more than 100 pilgrims traveling by bus to the annual march in the nation’s capital.
The Mass became a prayer for all who were traveling to the March, for the country and its leadership, for women in difficult circumstances and for children, especially those as yet unborn. It hosted some who had planned to make the trip, some of their friends and families, and some parishioners including two sections filled with the parish religious education students who had been looking forward to attending Mass with the bishop, one teacher said.
“It’s a very different evening, obviously,” said Bishop Malloy as he recalled how the send-off Masses other years were followed by dinner and then a bus ride of more than 15 hours to D.C., first to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for a vigil Mass, then to an early morning Mass and youth rally followed by the march itself.
“Year after year, I’m really proud,” he said, of those who choose to make the sacrifices necessary to attend the march, where youths are “part of the national political process” as they tell the world through that event that “Yes, life matters.”
After asking, “How is it that we have to stand up for life? It seems a no-brainer,” Bishop Malloy referred to a second century writing that described the early Christians, including that “they don’t expel the fetus.”
All those centuries ago, he said, abortion existed – and Christians were saying “no.” Science, he added, has only confirmed that “from the first moment” a baby is different from the parents, and is a separate person.
The bishop spoke of how being friends with Jesus “brings out joy … we don’t just get angry (or) bitter,” and how that joy, especially in the witness of young people, is important for the world to hear. He described the joyful message for those thinking about abortion as “Come with us. There’s a better way,” and for those who are sad because of their abortion as “There is forgiveness; come meet Jesus again.”
“What is the answer?” he asked. “Truth combined with your joy, your purity, your faith … We pray, we fast, we go to Mass and we trust God” to help take care of those affected by abortion.
“I wanted to say this to the pilgrims, so I will say it to you,” Bishop Malloy concluded. “I am so proud of what you do for life. I am so grateful for your prayers. I am so grateful for your witness. I am so grateful for your love. Good for you!”