January 27th 2017, was an almost unbelievably “too-good-to-be-true” historic day for the pro-life movement. Immaculate Heart of Mary School’s bus, driven by Brother Peter Mary, MICM, and packed with students and Brothers, rolled into D.C. after an all-night ride from Massachusetts, to join the hundreds of thousands of pro-life marchers who also came to show their support for the right to life.
But this year was different from the preceding 43 years, because this year the marchers weren’t the only ones showing their support at the rally. “Steps away from here, in the White House, a president and a vice president sit at their desks and make decisions for a nation… As they sit there, they stand here with you!” The surreal words of Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President of the U.S., echoing in the green nearby the Washington Monument, were soon drowned out by the immense clapping and noise of a rejoicing crowd.
“This is a new day, a new dawn, for life,” Kellyanne said. The right to life “is not a privilege, it is not a choice. It is God-given… This is a time of incredible promise for the pro-life, pro-adoption movement.”
As if the day couldn’t be more uplifting, the main speaker of the rally, Michael Pence, made even more history in the March for Life as the first vice president ever to address the marchers. “Let this [pro-life] movement be known for love, not anger,” Pence encouraged. “Let this movement be known for compassion, not confrontation. When it comes to matters of the heart, there is nothing stronger than gentleness.”
A representative group of MICM Sisters attended this wonderful event, observing that a renewed spirit, a refreshing outlook was tangible in the attitude of the crowd. “What an uplifting and exhilarating experience overall,” a Sister noted. “The youthful crowd and prayerful spirit was great, and in the march we even met up with a good number of Morning Star Campers!”
IHM bus left as the sun set behind the Capitol building, each student and Brother filled with thankfulness in their hearts, rejoicing with millions of the pro-life generation. “Life is winning again in America,” Pence stated. Thanks be to God for these hopeful times!
