Eleven high school parishioners had an amazing experience January 19 to 21 at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, Youth Minister Daniel Obendorf accompanied the teens to the March for Life Expo, where they spoke with pro-life exhibitors and purchased hoodies to wear to the March the next day. The took the Metro to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to attend the Mass for Life, where they were able to receive Reconciliation and tour the side chapels prior to the Mass, which was very crowded. "It was standing room plus," says Daniel. "It was an above-average size for March for Life--they made it very clear that the March will continue, despite Roe v. Wade being overturned."
On Friday the group went to Mass and then attended a rally ahead of the March that featured speakers such as actor Jonathan Roumie and football coach Tony Dungy. The teens then marched up Constitution Avenue, past the U.S. Capital Building, to the Supreme Court. "We were pretty close to the front," says Daniel, "which was pretty cool. I've never been that close before." After praying the rosary in front of the court building, the group had dinner and then went back to the National Mall to view the statues and monuments at night, which Daniel suspects was the part the kids liked the most.
On Saturday the teens went to D.C. museums and then headed to the airport, where they attended an intimate Mass said by Fr. Michael Groth, who was there with another group from St. Joseph in Downers Grove.