Remsen group to service March for Life in D.C.

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
January 13, 2005

REMSEN - Eleven high school students and adult chaperones from St. Mary's High School in Remsen will be among the tens of thousands of people expected to take part in the March for Life slated for Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C.

"One day it came to me that the March for Life would be the greatest thing to go to," recalled Mary Arens, spiritual life director at St. Mary's. "I think to put our students into the midst of over 100,000 people who are all there for the same cause, it has to ignite a spark somewhere as to how we are all called to defend the unborn."

After it was determined that the trip was a go, Arens contacted her former Briar Cliff University theology teacher, Father Tim Friedrichsen, who presently teaches at The Catholic University. The diocesan priest helped them line up lodging as well as offered a contact person to set up service opportunities.

The group leaves Jan. 21, flying from Omaha. The first two nights, they will stay at St. Bernard's Parish and Rectory.

"On Saturday morning we will start the day with Mass at St. Bernard's. Then we are going to do four different service projects throughout the day," noted Arens, who is one of the adult chaperones as is Father Tim Johnson, pastor at St. Mary's. It was Father Johnson's idea to incorporate service into the trip.

The students will break into two groups, each volunteering for two projects. Some of the students will work at the Missionaries of Charity Soup Kitchen in the morning.

"Another group will work at a mobile soup kitchen called Martha's Table, so we will be out among the people," said Arens. "In the afternoon we will go to the Missionaries of Charity AIDS and Hospice shelter." The other group will go to St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in the afternoon.

After a day of service, the group will enjoy themselves at a Moroccan restaurant - The Marrakesh - where they will be served a seven-course meal that takes three hours.

On Sunday, they will tour the Washington Monument and go to the Holocaust Museum.

"Then we will go to The Catholic University and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception," she explained. "We will stay at the university that night with over 1,000 other students. These are students from all over the United States, who are also going to the March for Life."

She pointed out that the highlight of the evening will be Mass at the basilica from 8 to 10 p.m., celebrated as part of the National Prayer Vigil for Life.

"They will be offering the sacrament of reconciliation until about 12:30 a.m. and adoration all night long," said Arens. "I will want our students to participate in that, definitely."

After breakfast on the university campus, they will tour the Capitol building. They will visit Senator Chuck Grassley's office and then attend a reception with Congressman Steve King for Iowa pro-lifers.

The March for Life is set for noon to 2 p.m.

Since the first March for Life in 1974, participants have traditionally gathered at the Ellipse between the White House and the Washington Monument for a rally before beginning the march down Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court and the Capitol.

Numerous speakers including politicians and religious leaders are slated to give talks, urging those present to take part in political action and prayer to end abortion.

That evening, the Remsen group will fly home.

This experience will be added to the long list of pro-life activities that have been promoted at St. Mary's. They do many projects each October during Respect Life Month.

"Respect for Life starts with the unborn. How can we truly respect others when we can't even respect those who have no voice for themselves? It has to start there," said Arens. "If we can instill that into the people and in to our students the importance of respecting the unborn child then hopefully it will lead them to respect others in all forms of life."

With this being a first time experience, Arens opted to only offer it to members of the Christian Leadership Team. If all goes well this year, next year they may open it up to more students.

Several other people from the diocese will also be present at the march in Washington, D.C.