March for Life 2010

This year's March for Life in Ottawa was an enormous success due to the initiative shown by thousands of youth from across Canada. I had the honour of escorting a group of my students from Lakeshore Catho-lic High School, Port Colborne. Many of them had gone last year and have made a promise to return each year. For some, this was their first exposure to the pro-life issue, but, they assured me, was not to be their last.

Of particular significance for me was the presence of many young, pro-life men. Christian Cross, a member of our school's Stu-dent Council, recognizes the value in bearing witness to this social justice issue and interced-ing on behalf of vulnerable preborn ba-bies and their mothers. He remarked, “As a society, we need to do more to help educate peo-ple about the reality of abortion be-cause many are ignorant of the facts. Seeing so many en-thusiastic young people, just like me, is moving.” Grade 9 student, Cole Camp-bell, commented, “This event was awesome. I can hardly believe that there are so many women and children who suffer because of abor-tion.” Grade 11 student, Eilish Barkhouse-Coulis, was similarly moved, “I was simply awestruck to see all the people who cared so much about some very small people who never did and never will have a chance to live, laugh, love and be loved. As we marched for life, I saw so many people from so many different places come together because they value life and feel it needs to be protected. This trip touched me in a way I never expected. I have always been pro-life, but this trip brought my be-liefs to another level.”

The one-hour march wound back to Par-liament Hill where we listened to courageous men and women from Silent No More testify to their personal sobering experiences with abortion. At the Rose Dinner with 800 other youths we heard abortion survivor, Melissa Ohden, explain why it is important to defend life. Several educational workshops held on Friday provided students with the support needed to defend pro-life causes. I learned from the presenters of a workshop designed principally for high school educators who shared their success in bringing the pro-life cause into the classroom.

As many students discovered, the pro-life issue encompasses a variety of concerns, such as abortion, euthana-sia, embryonic stem cell research and chastity. As a teacher, I know that many were encouraged by the presence of their peers and many bishops, priests and sisters. Like Timothy, these words of St. Paul urge them to continue in this vital social justice issue, “Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
Kate Purcell is a Religion teacher from Lakeshore Catholic High School.