Franciscan Sisters were among large crowds in Marches for Life in three locations: Tucson, AZ, Washington D.C. and Chicago, IL.
Tucson March for Life
The Tucson Diocese March For Life began with a moving Eucharistic Liturgy celebrated by our Bishop Edward Weisenburger along with a number of priest concelebrants. Students from San Miguel and other Catholic high schools participated in the liturgy prepared by Sister Leonette.
Following the liturgy around 1600 people participated in the walk to the Catholic Cemetery, 4.5 miles, upon arrival there was a beautiful rose ceremony remembering all the lives lost through abortions for each year since 1973.
Washington D.C. March for Life
Franciscan Sisters Sister Barbara Mathe and Sister Elizabeth Ann Miller traveled by bus for 26 hours with young people from Guardian Angels Central Catholic High School, West Point, NE to the Washington D.C. March for Life. This was just the beginning of our pilgrimage on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
Our first full day in Washington, DC included a tour of the Capitol in the morning, Mass with Archbishop Lucas at St. Matthew’s Basilica this afternoon, and the “Life Is Very Good” concert with Eucharistic Adoration tonight. Another full day followed! Here’s a picture with 5 bus loads of pilgrims from Omaha Archdiocese outside St. Matthew’s Basilica.
Day 2 in Washington D.C. began with Mass at our hotel. From there we went to the rally on the Mall. After nearly 3 hours of music and speakers, we started to peacefully walk down Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court Building.
Chicago March to Life
Seven Franciscan Sisters boarded a bus in Manitowoc, WI for Chicago’s March for Life on January 14, 2018. We were among 300 others from Wisconsin in a crowd of 10,000 people downtown at the Federal Plaza.
Religious, civic and community leaders spoke about renewing every effort to build a nation and culture dedicated to protecting life at every stage and eliminating the violence of abortion. The speaker list included the Orthodox Bishop of Chicago, Pat McCaskey, Pastor Ed Stetzer, Cardinal Blaise J. Cupich, Bishop Donald J. Hying, representatives of Congress and an Illinois Student of Life. We walked with our own Franciscan made signs, but picked up ProLife Wisconsine banners along the way.
