Remsen students participate in March for Life, offer service in Washington, D.C.

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
February 3, 2005

REMSEN - For the students from St. Mary's High School in Remsen who participated in the March for Life in Washington D.C., the overall trip provided a good mix of prayer, service opportunities, cultural experiences and a new way of promoting life.

Eleven high school students and three adult chaperones made the trip. The students were sophomores to seniors who are members of the school's Christian Leadership Team.

"These students are very pro-life, very pro-active," noted Mary Arens, spiritual life director at St. Mary's.

One of the reasons that Arens wanted her students to experience the March For Life was to know that the strong pro-life stance they have is shared by thousands of other people throughout the country.

She also mentioned that at St. Mary's the Respect for Life message is not only something that is stressed during the traditional respect life month of October, but is promoted on an ongoing basis.

While the trip offered a variety of experiences, for sophomore Maggie Russell, the actual march was the highlight of the trip.

"It was touching to see all of the young people gathered for the march," said Russell, who added, "there were almost more guys than girls."

Laura Bohnenkamp, a senior, pointed out that she wanted to go on the trip to see how other people reacted to the march and to stick up for what they believe in.

"Seeing all of the young people gave me hope that it (abortion) will end," she said.

Brittney Srericks, a senior, explained that she wanted to take part in the trip because it would open her eyes to things she would not see around here.

The most significant experience "was in the midst of the march because we were all marching for one cause. It brought everyone together."

At the same time, she was also able to witness protesters who were pro-choice.

The group flew out of Omaha to Washington, D.C. on Friday, Jan. 21. They stayed at St. Bernard's Parish and Rectory for the duration of the trip.

On Saturday, they worked in the soup kitchen run by the Missionaries of Charities. The Remsen group helped prepare the meal and serve it to the homeless.

"Right in their midst was a home for unwed mothers and there was also a little school where the Missionaries of Charities teach the poor," noted Arens. "We got to work in three different areas - serving those in need."

Originally, the plan was to split the group and go to two different locations but a snowstorm nixed that idea. In the end, though, with the variety of service opportunities available the change in plans worked out well.

"We simply don't experience poverty in Remsen, Iowa, so if they can be in the midst of these people it brings out the compassion in the students and teaches them that they are called to care for others as Jesus did," said Arens. "We are not to sit back idle and thank God it is not us. We are called to help those in need and we are called to live as Jesus did."

Russell mentioned that they were able to help a lot of poor people. She liked the fact that they were helping Mother Teresa's sisters.

The students expanded their cultural experiences with a visit to the Holocaust Museum.

"The museum touched each one of us," said Russell.

Arens mentioned that upon leaving the museum there was a hate group standing outside. Dressed in black, the protesters were carrying signs with hateful messages. One sign bore the message: Pro-choice, kill the Jews and other sign stated: Jews are inhuman.

"I think that made as big of an impact on our students - to really see the hatred and know that it still exists today," she said.

In addition to the actual March for Life, one of the highlights of the trip was attending the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. More than 5,500 people attended the two-hour Mass on the Sunday evening prior to the March for Life.

Bohnenkamp pointed out that there were many high school-age people at the Mass as well as adults. She added that it was satisfying to know that they were coming together for a common cause.

Prior to the March for Life, they had a meeting with Senator Chuck Grassley and then toured the capitol building.

"Once we got to the march, I thought this is what it is all about. Seeing the students carrying the signs that read, 'We shall overcome abortion,' that made the whole trip worthwhile," said Arens. "It was a very peaceful march, a peaceful demonstration."

The final evening, the Remsen group met up with Father Tim Friedrichsen, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City who currently teaches at The Catholic University. He had been one of Arens' theology teachers at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. They capped off their Washington D.C. trip with another cultural experience, a multi-course meal at a Moroccan restaurant.

Throughout the entire trip, prayer was a part of the experience as the students gathered for Scripture reading, prayer and reflection each evening.

Next year, a group from St. Mary's in Remsen plan to attend the march.

"It was really a rewarding trip - an experience that I will never forget," said Bohnenkamp. "We did service and could see the sights, but every night we came together in prayer. It kept you in the moment and didn't let you forget about God while you were there."

Srericks also said she had a great experience and would recommend the trip to other students.