April 29, 2018

Coordinator for Students for Life headlines at pro-life breakfast

REGIONAL
Story and photos by David Martin

Abigail Young, the New England Regional Coordinator of Students for Life of America, addresses the crowd at the fourth annual Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley, Inc. breakfast, Saturday, April 28 in Granby.

GRANBY – Close to 140 people gathered for the fourth annual breakfast, sponsored by Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley, Inc., Saturday, April 28, at the Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 Hall in Granby. Abigail Young, the New England regional coordinator of Students for Life of America (SFLA), was the keynote speaker.

“God tells us that we are made in his image and his likeness and that is something that we need to respect. Each and every person is deserving of dignity, of love and life,” Young told the crowd.

Students for Life of America is the largest pro-life youth organization with a mission of empowering youth to stand up for the most vulnerable in society, including the unborn, the elderly and the sick.

Young recently graduated from Boston College where she earned bachelor of arts degrees in both psychology and theology. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She currently resides in Boston, as she continues her mission to change hearts and minds on the issue of abortion in New England.

Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski thanks people for their witness at the annual breakfast sponsored by Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley, Inc. in Granby, Saturday, April 28.

She said one third of her generation is missing because of abortion. Young added that 44 percent of abortions are performed on women 18 to 24 years old and 79 percent of abortion facilities are within five miles of high school and college campuses.

“As Catholics, we are called to affirm and defend the glory of all God’s creation. As women, we are called to embrace the incredible gift of motherhood that God has so blessed us with. As human beings, we are called to uphold the dignity and rights of all humanity,” Young told iObserve.

The annual breakfast helps to raise money to send young people to the March for Life each January in Washington, D.C. Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley also supports other pro-life ministries throughout the Diocese of Springfield. Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, who attended the breakfast, said he was grateful that those present could draw strength from each other.

“I thank you. Your presence here this morning, your witness, really indeed speaks to a wider world, a wider culture and gets out the good news of what it means to choose life — life that is so precious and such a gift from God,” said Bishop Rozanski.

Part of Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley’s outreach to the youth includes an essay contest for students in grades four through 12. In the grades four through six category, sixth-grader Zachary Sullivan came in first; sixth-grader Caleb Sullivan came in second and sixth-grader Lamadia Strain came in third. In the grades seven through eight category, seventh-grader Ava Lapa won first place; seventh-grader Zorelix Perez won second; and eighth-grader Leah Sullivan placed third. In the high school division, junior Megan McGuinness, placed first; senior Danielle Bovat was second; and junior John Calderigi placed third.

Harold Brunault, the president of Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley, Inc., said this year the essay writing contest had a big response.  He said it is important because it gets the youngsters thinking about life.

“It is nice to see the young people involved because they are the next generation,” said Brunault.

For a video version of this story, tune into an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” the Diocese of Springfield’s weekly television newsmagazine that airs Saturday evenings  at 7 on WWLP-22 NEWS