Thursday, May 8th marked the National March for Life in Ottawa. Early that morning, two buses sponsored by St. Catharines Right to Life made their way to Parliament Hill to join in solidarity with 8000 Canadians from across the country in support of human life. First time march-for-lifers were shocked to see that the majority of these were young people.

As everyone rallied on Parliament Hill before and after the March, members of Parliament addressed the crowd, assuring us that pro-life legislation is possible, and encouraging us to persist in our efforts at the grassroots level. Perhaps the most powerful witness was that of the courageous women from Silent No More Awareness who related their personal abortion experiences. Uninformed and alone, these women resorted to abortions in their past. However, through God's grace they found both healing and the strength needed to speak out about the lethal effects of abortion on women and children. Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, led us in prayer both on the Hill and during the Youth Conference the next day.

When speaking with my friends after the March for Life, the impact of the event on them was apparent. Stephanie Della Smirra said that it was "an eye-opening experience. There were so many young people with the same faith." Within our schools and society it often feels as if pro-lifers are the minority. Events like the March for Life help us to realize that we are not alone, and that victory, through Christ, is assured. As Fr. Frank Pavone said in his homily during the morning Mass which kick-started the Youth Conference, "We are winning this battle."

Battle though it may be, when you get a bunch of teenagers in it together, they are sure to have a blast! Ania Bryzka said that the March was "so much fun." Her favorite part was singing praise and worship songs on the Hill with a big crowd of teenagers crowded around the band. Bryzka joined Notre Dame's Right-to-Life group shortly after coming to Canada from Poland last spring. She found it hard to believe that in Canada there are no laws governing abortion, since “human life is very important." When asked about his experience at the March for Life, Ronald Angervil had only one word: "Amazing -- especially talking with Fr. Frank Pavone in the elevator!" His friend Eugene added that he "liked the Mass, and the speakers -- everything they said was interesting."

At the Youth Conference we became equipped with knowledge about the abortion debate, so that we could better defend the pro-life perspective on a day to day basis. This is a real challenge because what allows abortion to remain legal in Canada is silence and ignorance. Very few people know what abortion truly is. Most know it only as a simple choice and a medical procedure, not the violent murder of a human child.

The mainstream media complicates this problem by being selective in their coverage. During the entire March for Life, I only saw one video camera, and that belonged to Campaign Life Coalition, not CBC or another news network. This means that we pro-lifers must be both passionate and committed to our cause. We must persevere until we cannot be ignored, and the truth becomes public knowledge. This may be difficult, but the March for Life is one of many signs of hope that the fundamental right to life can be restored to the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society. As Della Smirra said after the March, "This is the next revolution. The battle for life is up to our generation to fight."

Adelaine Nohara
Notre Dame College School

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