From Mark and Mary Jane Duplin, St. Paul Parish Culture of Life Ministry:
Friday, January 19
th
We arrived on the National Mall about an hour before the event was to start. There were already thousands of folks gathering from all over the country.
We walked around with our cameras and signs and started conversations with many of the marchers. There were moms, dads, entire families. People of all ages, races, ethnicities, physical and intellectual disabilities were there to march.
Parishes, dioceses, schools, youth groups were all well-represented. Every one of them had the same positive message and frame of mind –
we need to be here because life is precious and should be protected under all circumstances.
As the time grew near for the speeches to start, the mall was packed - initial estimates are well over 100,000 participants – simply amazing being among that many people, all with the same upbeat purpose.
After the speeches, we joined up with the large group from the Hartford Archdiocese (including many kids from St Paul Catholic High School) and marched with them to the Supreme Court. Along the way, some groups were singing, others were praying the rosary, others conversing with new acquaintances. A couple of high school marching bands played along Constitution Avenue. It was a loud and very joyous noise!
And the singular, direct message delivered that day was ‘Life is precious….simply because it’s a gift from God’. Respect it, protect it and defend it - because as this year’s march slogan says ‘Love Saves Lives’.