Seminarians join the March for Life
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Faculty and students of the Conception Seminary College at the Conception Abbey attended the March For Life on Jan. 22 in Washington, D.C. Pictured are, front row, left to right: Phillip Novotny, Ivan Montelongo and Michael Schreck. Back row: Kevin Lenius, Fr. Samuel Russell, Doug Leikam, Keith Chadwick, Josh Carroll, Brad Berhorst, John Herrera, Fr. Paul Sheller, Nick Ruiz.
Father Samuel Russell, president-rector of the Conception Seminary College and Father Paul Sheller, vocation director of Conception Abbey, took 10 seminarians to the March for Life on Jan. 22 in Washington, D.C. They joined an estimated 500,000 people for the annual event.
“The March for Life is a peaceful demonstration that protests abortion and seeks to foster greater awareness of the dignity and sanctity of all human life,” Sheller said. “It was such a powerful experience to see so many people united for something that they believe in.”
Pro-life advocates began the March for Life on Jan. 22, 1973 because the Supreme Court invalidated 50 state laws, and made abortion legal and available on demand throughout the United States in the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions.
Seminarian Kevin Lenius chairs the pro-life committee on the Seminary’s campus and led the student efforts in the March for Life trip.
“The opportunity of attending the March for Life came as a welcome gift, as pro-life concerns have always been a focus of mine,” Lenius said.
Sheller, who made his fourth trip to the March, said the Seminary sends a group of students to the event every other year. He assisted Lenius with organizing transportation and travel.
The trip included a stay at St. Joseph’s Seminary College, an evening vigil at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and mass at the D.C. Armory.
Following mass, they followed the “floods of people” to the National Mall for the demonstration. The group listened to speakers and politicians followed by participating in the March.
“The enormous amount of young people in attendance brought such a powerful witness, telling the world that we are the pro-life generation, and I was happy to peacefully demonstrate my view of the dignity of life with so many of my peers,” Lenius said. “While we were protesting a somber topic, the march was filled with hopeful and contagious joy, a witness in itself. Seeing so many people united for a common cause inspired me to continue to work for life, and all the joys that come with it.”
The seminarians prayed the Rosary and other prayers, and shared stories with fellow marchers throughout the event.
“I pray that this momentum will continue in the coming years, so that human life will be seen as a gift, and not a choice,” Lenius said.
