The Face of Right to Life at St. Mary's

By Andy Galles
November 6, 2003

REMSEN - During the Right to Life month of October, the halls and classrooms of St. Mary's High School have exploded with posters, banners, discussions, films, literature, prayers and much more emphasizing the sanctity of all life. St. Mary's heavily focuses on issues concerning abortion and pro-life decisions, which is certainly apparent around the school.

Each morning was started out at school by a prayer over the intercom system, dealing with the respect of human life. Members of the Environment team from the Christian Leadership Team (CLT) were busy promoting Right to Life with various posters and banners all around school. One poster shows the cruel reality of abortion, while many others state pro-life quotes from many well-known people such as Albert Einstein and Mother Teresa.

The team also put new flyers on each person's locker every week about abortion and it's horrifying techniques, as well as the stages of birth. The classrooms at the high school can be heard ringing with discussion of abortion and the values of respecting life.

Mary Arens, theology teacher and Spiritual Life Director at St. Mary's, states, "I think it's great when the students come into the classroom with articles and information from the news on the current abortion issues and are excited and enthused to discuss it."

Every student at the high school has also watched a 45-minute documentary on abortion and the fight for its ban in legislature. In addition, each grade has had a Respect Life prayer service, arranged by the Prayer and Liturgy team of CLT. Laura Bohnenkamp, of the Service team on CLT, had designed Right to Life T-shirts to be sold to the student body. There was a one hundred percent turnout to buy these t-shirts.

The Right to Life Mass was held on Oct. 28 with Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo presiding. Afterwards, several hundred Right to Life balloons were handed out in memory of the unborn and unprotected. All in all, St. Mary's High School has been busy all throughout October promoting human life and dignity.

The sacred belief St. Mary's holds true, coming from Cardinal Joseph Bernadine, says, "All life is sacred from womb to tomb." According to the physical and spiritual environment of St. Mary's High School in October, this certainly holds true.