March for Life Pilgrimage 2016

I was thoroughly impressed by the evident attention to detail in the planning of this year’s “March for Life” pilgrimage put on by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and I am extremely grateful that I was able to go. The three people who need to be mentioned for their efforts leading up to and throughout the trip are Megan Noll, Director of CYO/Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese; Joey Pistorius, Associate Director; and lastly, Andrew Gutierrez, an outstanding seminarian who is studying for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Without their hard work, over five hundred people would not have had such an unforgettable experience.

Our trip was cut short by the impending winter storm “Jonas” and, initially, the reactions from the attendees were leaning toward a “glass-half-empty” mentality. Obviously, most of the young people attending the trip had never heard the words of the prophet Andre 3000, who warned: “You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.” Nevertheless, it was not long on the ride back home before spirits began to lift and we all began to accept the reality that the Pro-Life movement is more than just a week in Washington, D.C., with hundreds of thousands of people marching for the cause. It is a mentality that must be lived out daily in our interactions with our brothers and sisters who do not understand the dignity we possess and the sacredness of all human life from beginning to end.

I pray that all involved will see the trip for what it was — a lesson in appreciation for every aspect of life and how we are meant to come together in a time of need. I pray that the seeds sown by the Lord in each person’s heart will bear abundant fruit.