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By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Diocesan youth and adult chaperones from the Diocese of Evansville joined faithful from across the state for the annual March for Life.
Over 150 diocesan youth participants joined adult chaperones at the ninth-annual March for Life Jan. 22 in Indianapolis. This year’s March for Life included a pre-march rally, a march to the Capitol Building and a rally at the Capitol Building.
A Mater Dei High School senior and leadership team member for Mater Dei Students for Life, Ashlyn Sexton chose to attend the March for Life for the second time not only to join an important movement but also get involved in her community and be a voice for the voiceless.
She added there is a sense of unity that comes with the March for Life.
“The moment you realize you are surrounded by hundreds of adults and teens who share your viewpoint on such an important topic is when you really feel it,” she said.
Also a Mater Dei senior and a leadership team member for Mater Dei Students for Life, Natalie Bonham said through attending the event multiple times, she feels less alone in her beliefs. She noted social media and a lot of pop culture celebrities would want you to think you are alone and nobody else is with you in the pro-life cause.
“There’s a lot of community out there and a lot of force for this,” Bonham said.
Peyton Catt, Athletic Director at Washington Catholic School and a graduate of Rivet School in Vincennes, said one of his biggest highlights was seeing such a large and diverse group of people gathered peacefully for a shared cause. He also thought spending time with Washington Catholic students made the experience especially meaningful, noting it was an opportunity to grow in school community.
“My biggest takeaway was that the pro-life movement is not only about legislation, but also about supporting mothers, families and communities in life.”
Sexton believes attending the March for Life is a small way to make a big impact. The event gave her the opportunity to voice her beliefs with a purpose, marching alongside others making a stand for life, she said.
She also said the March reinforced her standpoint on abortion, as well as making her realize the importance to standing up for that which she believes.
Catt thinks the event is important because it provides an opportunity for people to publicly witness their beliefs in a peaceful and constructive way. It also helps build community among those who are committed to protecting life and supporting women and families, he said.
“Attending the March strengthened my perspective rather than changing it,” Catt said. “Seeing so many individuals, especially younger people from all around the dioceses of Indiana and Washington Catholic, passionately engaged reinforced my belief that this issue continues across generations. From a faith standpoint, the event served as a reminder of the importance of living out one’s beliefs not only privately, but also in the public square, with compassion.”
Bonham added attending the March for Life is a good way to get involved and make connections. The group at Mater Dei joined with other Evansville area schools, she noted.
“So it kind of branches out and you can form bigger pro-life student-led organizations in Evansville and in your school,” she said. “Because I think there’s not one in every school right now. It’s just branching out.”