Roadside demonstrations, prayer vigils at abortion clinics, Masses for life take place as Washington’s March for Life goes virtual
CLARKSTON — Usually, hundreds of high schoolers from Metro Detroit’s Catholic schools would be boarding buses and heading to Washington, D.C., this time of year for the March for Life.
But COVID-19 has thrown “usual” out the window, so students at Everest Collegiate High School and Academy in Clarkston held their own rally Jan. 29 instead.
Early Friday afternoon, dozens of students gathered beside Clarkston Road with signs displaying pro-life messages, letting passing motorists know they haven’t forgotten the unborn.
“Usually, our school plans a trip down to D.C. for the March for Life, but with COVID, we’re not able to do that,” said Michael McGrath, a senior and president of Everest’s student government. “So we decided to try and support the march locally, putting on a ‘mini march’ of sorts.”
Nearly 100 students gathered in front of the school at noon for a 30-minute, socially distanced and mask-wearing demonstration, followed by a holy hour in the school chapel.
McGrath said around 50-60 Everest students usually go the March for Life, but with the coronavirus lingering and travel and accommodations limited, the roadside demonstration served as a substitute in an academic year where chances for camaraderie have been limited.
“This is a big deal for us,” McGrath said. “School has been tough this year, switching back and forth between virtual and in-person (classes). To have something like this, a big community event that we are used to having, it’s a little bit of normalcy.
“Change starts with the youth, so promoting life at an early age is important,” McGrath continued. “We are the future, so we’re encouraging kids to help with this organization, this movement. That’s why as high school and middle school students, we’re happy to do our small part to raise awareness of life.”
Pro-life demonstrators staying local
Elsewhere, pro-life advocates picketed the Planned Parenthood clinic on Farmington Road in Livonia in honor of Joseph Scheidler, a champion for the pro-life cause who passed away Jan. 18, said Lynn Mills, director of Pro-Life Michigan.
“When the March for Life (went virtual), it took a lot of wind out of the sails,” Mills said. “We are hoping to capture it again. People would normally go to D.C. to be motivated with people from across the country. So it’s our job to recapture that.”
Mills has been in contact with other pro-lifers, including Citizens for a Pro-Life Society — which is still sending a small contingent to D.C, according to its leader, Monica Miller, Ph.D.
“It’s a huge event, and it’s important to let America and the legislatures know we are here,” Mills said. “We’re not going away; we will keep fighting for the defenseless. We know this isn’t the same thing as marching in D.C, but we need to show the world that we are not afraid, that we are not going anywhere, except right back out to (protest before) the abortion mills.”
Coming together in faith, leading in action
Numerous parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit held their own vigils, Masses and demonstrations Friday to stand up for life.
In Detroit, St. Aloysius and Our Lady of the Rosary parishes are teaming up for a Mass for Life at Our Lady of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m., with participants encouraged to bring supplies to donate to Image of God Crisis Pregnancy Center in Detroit.
“We want to have prayer, but also action,” said Beth Allison, parish engagement coordinator for St. Aloysius Parish. “We’re reaching out to people to bring diapers, wipes, baby lotion, shampoo, taking it all to Image of God Crisis Pregnancy Center.”
The two parishes also invited 21 Catholic artists to display their work, many with pro-life themes, at Our Lady of the Rosary after Mass on Friday night and Saturday morning.
“We’re trying to make an event for St. Aloysius and Our Lady of the Rosary that has a prayer component along with a social and action component,” Allison said. “It’s a good opportunity for us to be in solidarity, and a way we can safely gather and offer prayer for the particular cause.”
North of Detroit, St. George Chaldean Catholic Church in Shelby Township is organizing prayer vigils at various abortion clinics in the area Friday afternoon.
In the evening, the parish and the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle will have Eucharistic adoration at St. George starting at 7 p.m., followed by testimony from pro-life speaker Christina Marchetti and Theology of the Body catechist Dr. Louay Mansour, who will present in Arabic.
Chaldean Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat will celebrate Divine Liturgy at 8:30 p.m.
