Diocesan youth lead March for Life

CARROLL/FORT DODGE - Two busses left Fort Dodge and Carroll early Jan. 21 to join thousands of people from across the country for the big pro-life march in Washington, D.C.

Among the group of pro-lifers were Kuemper Catholic and St. Edmond High School students. These busses picked up students from Madrid, Coon Rapids-Bayard and Dowling along the way. Seven busses from Dubuque also joined them. The Iowa pro-life group made it to Washington, D.C. on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22.

According to Dave and Terri Prenger, members of Iowans for Life and trip organizers for the Carroll area group, they attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday night.

"We arrived two-and-one-half hours early and still had to sit on the floor in the aisle," she said.

The estimated crowd was around 15,000. People even filled the basement.

"During the Mass at the Basilica, you could feel the spirit and love of God throughout the room and thousands of people loving God right back," said Tawni Langstaff, a St. Edmond student. "The March was amazing because thousands of people, different in age, sex, and religion came together to fight side by side for a common cause: to defeat abortion."

Father Brad Pelzer from Fort Dodge was one of over 600 priests and bishops to concelebrate the Mass.

"There were so many priests and bishops it took 25 minutes to process in," said Terri Prenger.

The main celebrant and homilist was Cardinal William Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore and Chairman USCCB Committee for Pro-Life Activities.

The March for Life was held on Monday, Jan. 23.

As Iowa had such a large contingency of high school students attending the march, the Kuemper and St. Edmond students were asked to lead the march.

"The students were given red ponchos and the huge March for Life banner," said Dave Prenger. "I was so impressed by the students patience during the pre-march time. They were so attentive to all directions and ended up standing in one line for two hours waiting for the March to begin. So many people remarked on their excellent behavior. Iowa should be so proud!"

The Prengers pointed out that while the diocesan students were given the honor of leading the march and carrying the official March for Life banner, they willingly switched off with other students from Iowa, so all could have a turn.

"It was a privilege to lead the March with all the teenagers," said Paula Templemeyer, sponsor from St. Edmond's. To see over a hundred thousand young people willing to stand up for their beliefs is awe inspiring."

She said the future is in their hands. Templemeyer has confidence in their generation.

"The 2006 March for Life trip was an amazing experience. When we marched, I couldn't have felt more proud of my generation. That day, as thousands of young people marched with us, we showed our peers, our congressmen, our country, that teenagers today care about something other that ipods and cell phones," said Sarah Riesberg, a Kuemper student.

She said they proved that young people today are more aware than ever and care about the sanctity of human life in the world.

"So often people will justify their support of certain causes or activities because they claim to be led by the 'Spirit'; yet I find their causes questionable, the goodness of their activities dubious, and evidence of the guidance of the Holy Spirit suspect. In the March for LIFE the opposite is true. The absolute righteousness of the cause was certain, the activities were inspiring and the evidence of the Holy Spirit overwhelming. If you ever want to see the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of our young people, you must attend this march," said Father Pelzel.

Many of the students were interviewed by the various media covering the event. The Prengers said the students answered with loving voices, articulate responses, and a genuine knowledge of what they were standing up for. As the leaders of the march, the students were also pictured in the Washington Times, New York Times and with the Catholic News Service.

"What a great show of compassion and support for the right to life, " said Patrick McCarty, a student at Kuemper. "We were all there to march in peaceful protest against a great wrong in our world and to be able to be a part of it has strengthened me spiritually so much that I will continue the march every year until this murderous crime is stopped."

Another Kuemper student, Christa Sander, said she has never felt so spiritually inspired before.

"We are in an era that needs a momentous change. The March for Life is a small step to the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, and I am so grateful and humbled that I got to be a part of it," said Kristen Greteman, Kuemper.

After the March, many students attended a reception hosted by Stephen King, Congressman from Iowa, while others returned to the steps of the Supreme Court to listen to the courageous members of "Silent No More" give their personal testimonies of past abortions.

Tuesday was a free day and all Fort Dodge and Carroll students took the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

"We walked everywhere in Washington; seeing buildings and monuments of awesome heights. However, no view was as moving as the 100,000 people with banners and rosaries and a common commitment to overturning Roe vs. Wade," said Aliese Hoesel, a student from St. Edmond's. "We shouted chants during the march and my throat was getting sore, so I decided to stop and take a glance behind us. I saw miles of people marching, protesting the heinous act of abortion. I got misty-eyed, turned around and yelled even louder."

Ten students from Kuemper and three chaperones were also invited to the Senate Judiciary room for the final statements and vote on Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito.

"We were ushered into the room through the Senators private entrance and were honored to sit on the raised desk area behind the chairmen's table," said Prenger.

They headed home Tuesday night arriving in Carroll around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Along with Father Pelzel, other St. Edmond chaperones included Paula Templemeyer (teacher) and Wynn Touney. Along with the Prengers, Carroll chaperones were Kathy Steffen, Becky Behrens and Cindy Lawler.