The Jan. 19 rally at the D.C. Armory also featured musical performances, testimonies and the opportunity to venerate relics of several saints and blesseds, including St. John Paul II, Blessed Carlo Acutis and the recently beatified Ulma family. Long lines formed to pray before the relics and to go to confession as busloads of high school and college students arrived at the Armory early in the morning through a winter storm.
Students and other guests were welcomed by emcees Sister Charity and Sister Cora Caeli, who opened Life Fest by reminding them that the “task of building the culture of life is just beginning” — and that it starts with understanding the value of their own lives.
“How can we ensure that every unborn child is reverenced and welcomed as a gift? How can we support every pregnant woman so she knows she is not alone? … How can we spread the good news of the Gospel of life?” they asked. “Love is the answer. … And in order to give love, we need to first be able to receive love. Our prayer for you this morning is that you receive the love God the Father has for you.”
Sister Charity and Sister Cora Caeli went on to introduce several speakers, including two women the religious order has served. One woman spoke about encountering God’s mercy through the Sisters of Life after years of shame and anger in the wake of having an abortion. Another woman, Raisa, described refusing an abortion and finding the help she needed to care for twins from the sisters. Sister Charity and Sister Cora Caeli held Raisa’s two daughters beside her as she spoke.
During adoration, Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, reflected on the death of his youngest brother when he was a teenager, his deep grief, and the consolation he received while praying before the Eucharist. He realized, he said, that “until I die … the closest I can be [to my brother] is here with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.”
Life Fest concluded with Mass, celebrated by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, served as the homilist, and three other bishops and more than 70 priests also concelebrated. Cardinal O’Malley opened his homily by telling the crowd that the snow falling outside was a special blessing: “It gives us an opportunity to give an even more striking witness to our commitment to life.”
Cardinal O’Malley warned those in the pro-life movement against becoming either complacent or judgmental.
“Dismantling unjust laws is only the beginning,” he said. “We still have the arduous task of creating a pro-life culture, of changing people’s minds and hearts.”
Several Life Fest attendees said they appreciated the chance to ground their public advocacy at the March for Life in prayer and fellowship with other young Catholics.
“It’s obviously an event about spreading awareness about abortion, but it’s also a bunch of people coming together because Christ calls us here, a bunch of people who want to see change in the world. And there’s so many of us,” said Paddy Murray, a high school junior who traveled to Washington with a group from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida. “It’s different from the other trips we go on — it’s a pilgrimage.”
Nick Aguirre, director of campus ministry with University Catholic, likewise described the journey to D.C. as a pilgrimage. A member of Nashville Council 544, he helped to lead a group of students from Vanderbilt University, Belmont University and other Tennessee schools, who traveled to the capital in a bus sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. They prayed the Liturgy of the Hours as they drove through the night, and attending Life Fest, he said, further enhanced the spiritual character of their trip.
“It’s a great gift to be here,” Aguirre said as his group prepared to head out into the snowy city for the march. “It’s been beautiful to get to pray in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, to get to be together with so many priests celebrating the Mass, and the Sisters of Life did a wonderful job leading us in reflection. The women who shared their testimonies were particularly moving for the young people here.”
The students’ enthusiasm gave hope to Maryland State Deputy Christopher Powers, who volunteered at Life Fest with about a dozen Maryland Knights and family members. Several groups of college Knights also assisted at the event.
“It’s great to see thousands of kids here excited about being Catholic and willing to demonstrate that in the public square,” Powers said. In small ways and large, “we can proclaim the Gospel with our lives, and that will change people over time.”
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CECILIA HADLEY is editorial director of Columbia and the Knights of Columbus communications department.
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