January 9, 2017

Pilgrims across the diocese prepare for March for Life 2017

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

(IObserve photo/submitted)

SPRINGFIELD – It is never an easy task organizing a road trip for a large group. Add frigid January temperatures, all night on a bus, and a lot of walking, it can be a hard sell for organizers of the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Yet, each year as many as 100,000 people from all across the country offer up the sacrifice to be a witness for life. Deacon John Leary from Greenfield’s Blessed Sacrament Parish is among them.

“Yes, it’s totally exhausting and extremely difficult to plan, organize, and promote this pilgrimage for life each year. Hopefully, by God’s grace, sometime soon there won’t be a need. But until that happens, I stand proudly and joyfully as a Catholic for the rights of women, men and children in this struggle for life,” said Deacon Leary, who will lead Catholics for the Unborn to the 44^th annual March for Life.

Last year he and the Franklin County group braved the storm, heading down the nation’s capitol even as a blizzard targeted the mid-Atlantic region. God provided, he said, at the time, with his bus and others from the Diocese of Springfield leaving Washington ahead of the storm. This year, Deacon Leary said he’s putting the trip in God’s hands once again.

“I made a promise to Larry Filiault the day he died, on Jan. 22, 2011, which happened to be the 38th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, that I would continue the March for Life trip in his name and all others unable to make the march,” Deacon Leary said, referring to Larry Filiault, a very much missed leader of the pro-life movement in Franklin County. Filiault, a father of four and grandfather, died after a battle with ALS.

“Quite frankly, there is no greater honor for me than to show the world through the joyful witness of the Gospel how much God loves everyone,” Deacon Leary added.

The march is held each year to commemorate the controversial 1973 Supreme Court decision, which legalized abortion across the country. According to National Right to Life, more than 58 million babies have been aborted since then.

The march is being held a week later this year, on Jan. 27, due to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Pioneer Valley Massachusetts Citizens for Life (PV-MCFL) has reserved three buses to leave from St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee, Thursday, Jan. 26. Eucharistic adoration and Mass will be held prior to the 10:30 p.m. departure. In addition to Greenfield, youth groups from St. Stanislaus in Chicopee; St. Elizabeth Parish and St. John the Baptist School in Ludlow; St. Cecilia Parish in Wilbraham; St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in North Adams; and the Newman Center at the University of Massachusetts are making plans to attend the pro-life march.

National organizers announced “The Power of One” as the theme, describing the difference one person can make in the world. Organizers also said the theme refers to a quote from author J. R. R. Tolkien who wrote, “Even the smallest person can change the course of history.”

Deacon Leary takes those words to heart.

“When we use the word pilgrimage, when we can experience getting closer to God and removing ourselves from our day to day routine and sometimes they can be times of great distress and feeling uncomfortable. That’s exactly how the March for Life works. It’s meant to be uncomfortable, cold, snowy and tiring. If it wasn’t, then quite frankly it would seem just like any other demonstration,” he said.

“But this is our time to shine, showing all those who participate and those who watch on TV the power of good will always win against the power of evil and no matter the circumstances we will persevere.”