Southern Nebraska Register and
Catholic News Agency
Among the tens of thousands attending the 2023 national March for Life in Washington, D.C. were hundreds of pilgrims from the Diocese of Lincoln.
Jeff Schinstock, director of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese, traveled more than 1,200 miles to the March over 22 hours, with a group of 222. The group included 27 young people from the Diocese of Grand Island, five priests, and three religious brothers from the Knights of the Holy Eucharist.
The large group, all wearing bright yellow stocking caps, got a “shout-out” from the main stage at the pre-March rally for their enthusiasm, and for traveling such a great distance.
On Thursday, Jan. 21, the pilgrims from the Diocese of Lincoln attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, toured sites in the nation’s capital, and heard from guest speakers Taylor Gage and Bishop James Conley. Schinstock said their testimonies taught the young people that “getting yourself right is the way to getting the culture right.”
The March was the 50th anniversary of the March for Life, approximately seven months after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion across the nation.
Schinstock – who’s attended the March for Life 20 times – said that fact made this year’s experience new.
“It was different because we weren’t protesting a Supreme Court decision,” he said. “It was more about being a witness to the truth.
“There was a celebratory aspect to achieving Nellie Gray’s dream of the March,” he said, “but also an acknowledgement that there is a lot of work ahead in the movement.”
He added that on each pilgrimage to the March for Life, “it is an incredible joy to watch (the students) make friends and feel invited in. That is the type of atmosphere that allows for an authentic encounter with Jesus. I pray that everyone who attended with us whether student, chaperone, priest or myself had a deepening of relationship with him.”
On Friday morning, the diocesan contingent attended “LIFEFEST,” a pre-march worship event put on by the Knights of Columbus and the Sisters of Life. Afterward, the group attended the rally prior to the March for Life.
At the rally, Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays the role of Jesus in the TV series “The Chosen,” approached the podium at the rally to roaring cheers from the crowd.
“God is real and he is completely in love with each and every one of you,” Roumie said.
“History has been made. Life has triumphed in an extraordinary way, and the light of world, who is Jesus Christ, the author of life, his light has burned so very brightly within each and every one of you, irrespective of your specific beliefs, compelling you forward for one reason or another to stand together today to fight for the worthiest and noblest cause possible — which is to allow the unborn the right to enter into the world, and defeat those earthly forces who seek to destroy the very evidence of them,” he added.
Roumie’s fellow speakers at the 2023 March for Life addressed the march’s theme, “Next Steps.” They spoke to the attendees about the importance of building a culture, both legislatively and in each person’s personal life, of support for women and babies.
Tony Dungy, a former professional football coach, father of 11, NFL analyst, adoptive dad, New York Times bestselling author, and Pro Football Hall of Famer, took the stage to speak about the recent health scare of NFL player Damar Hamlin, and the public outpouring of prayers that took place when it appeared that Hamlin’s life was hanging in the balance.
Unborn babies are not as visible and well-known as famous athletes, Dungy said, but “those lives are still important to God, in God’s eyes.”
Saving their lives is “not the end of the story,” though — mothers and babies need our help, he said. Dungy’s wife, Lauren, took the stage and spoke about their adoption experience alongside the couple’s now 21-year-old daughter.
“We are talking about lives,” Lauren Dungy said. “We need to pray for every woman who is in this situation ... we have to pray that we have enough adoptive families to pray for these precious lives.”
Summer Smith, a student at Liberty University, spoke about the importance of supporting women in need, especially at crisis pregnancy centers.
“For me, being pro-life is personal,” she said, relaying the story of how she found out that one of her own siblings was aborted.
“Speak up about abortion in your family, your friend group, and on your campus. And speak up with love,” Smith said. “Our faith must be well-reasoned and well-informed.”
Gina Tomes, the founder of Bethlehem House in Omaha, spoke about the work of her organization, drawing loud cheers from the Nebraskan pilgrims.
“Today it is more important than ever that maternity homes are strong, ready and effective,” she said.
The women served by maternity homes and pregnancy centers face “big barriers,” she said. Her organization “meets women where they are, to provide love, classes, therapy, addiction treatment, family reunification, faith formation and more, all while functioning “like a family.” She shared statistics of her clients’ successes.
“Our moms bridge out of our programs as responsible parents,” she said, “active in their communities, and find financial freedom.”
Several lawmakers spoke as well. State Rep. Trenee McGee (D-Connecticut), a leading pro-life Democrat, took the stage to decry what she called the “systemically racist abortion industry” and passionately encouraged the crowd to advocate for policies that “not only protect life, but sustain life.”
Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), said he attended the first March for Life in 1974.
“This rally stirs us all to prayer and hard work, and inspires us to do more and more and more in defense of life,” Smith said.
Smith also decried the continued instances of violence and intimidation against pro-life entities that have taken place since the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe.
Smith said the legality of abortion throughout pregnancy, as many states still allow, is a “barbaric” outlier on the world stage. He encouraged all those in attendance to continue to pray and advocate for an end to abortion.
The speeches even included one from the daughter of a canonized saint, St. Gianna Beretta Molla. Molla, a doctor, became ill while pregnant with her fourth child and was encouraged to abort the baby in an attempt to save her own life. Molla chose life and passed away a few days after giving birth, dying in 1962, at 39 years old.
“I would not be here with all of you, if I had not been loved so much!” the saint’s daughter, Gianna Emanuela Molla, who is also a medical doctor, told the crowd.
“The gift of life is truly the greatest, the most precious, and the most sacred gift we always owed to honor, respect, and defend!”
Sister Mary Casey O’Connor, a member of the Sisters of Life, spoke with her twin sister, Casey Gunning, who has Down syndrome.
“I came from all the way from Colorado to announce to America and to the whole world that life is good and that life is a gift!” Casey Gunning said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
“Your child will be a blessing to you and to the world,” she said, referring to parents with children who have Down syndrome.
After the rally, crowds then began marching toward the Supreme Court. A different route was used this year, passing the U.S. Capitol building.
At the opening Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Thursday, Jan. 19, the National Prayer Vigil for Life began with a greeting from Pope Francis, read by Apostolic Nuncio to the United States Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
The Holy Father wrote of his deep gratitude for “the faithful witness shown publicly over the years by all who promote and defend the right to life of the most innocent and vulnerable members of our human family.”
Pierre noted the many young people gathered at the basilica and read that the Holy Father trusts “that almighty God will strengthen the commitment of all, especially the young, to persevere in their efforts aimed at protecting human life in all its stages, especially through adequate legal measures enacted at every level of society.”
