by Kaitlyn McCarthy photos by Marcus Bleech

Jesuit students gather in justice's name

The idea of sitting on a cramped bus, driving for hours on end, only to turn right back around and do it again does not sound like an ideal weekend. Yet over 600 Jesuit high school and college students showed determination by traveling from all corners of the United States to join tens of thousands in the nation's capital for the 35th annual March for Life this past January.

While many of their peers were still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes back at home, these students gathered for mass at St. Aloysius Church, a few blocks from Capitol Hill. In its third year, the Mass for Life brings together students of Jesuit institutions prior to the march.

For Greg Arnold, a junior at McQuaid Jesuit High in Rochester, New York, the mass was a unique opportunity to be with other Jesuit students for a good cause. "I came last year and had an amazing time. I'm pro-life, and I think it's my obligation to go. I think 'pro-life' is not about just being against abortion but also against the death penalty and euthanasia," said Arnold.

Students from Jesuit schools in Dallas, New Orleans, Jersey City, and elsewhere converged in Washington, D.C., for the 35th annual March for Life this January. They attended a conference at Georgetown University and celebrated the Eucharist at St. Aloysius (above) before the march.

"It's been awesome seeing all these other Jesuit schools here," he added. "We're in the same hotel as Fordham Prep, and it was great being able to get to know those guys and the students from these other schools."

The number of students and Jesuits in attendance has been on the rise; many students return and bring friends.

"Each year we've had this mass, it keeps getting bigger. We started with 200 students, and now we're over 600 today," said Drew Peters, the assistant director of peace and justice programs at Xavier University in Cincinnati and university liaison for the Ignatian Pro-Life Network. He sees abortion as not a single issue but as one of social justice. "We've really worked hard to show these students that all of these life issues are related to social justice," said Peters." Together we can make a difference. And this mass is beneficial for the students to see that they're not alone in their beliefs. They really look forward to this annual gathering of the Ignatian family."

The Mass for Life was concelebrated by Fr. Matthew Monnig, SJ, and eleven other Jesuits. In his homily, Monnig urged the students to strive for complete social justice through unity: "We have come to our nation's capital today because in the words of Jesus from the Beatitudes, we 'hunger and thirst for righteousness.' Our specific motivation comes from our Catholic faith, the faith at the basis of our Jesuit schools, a faith that calls us to do justice."

Standing for the Unborn: A Statement of the Society of Jesus in the United States on Abortion is on the web at www.companymagazine.org/ProLife

Fr. Kevin FitzGerald, SJ, a professor of genetics and medical ethics at Georgetown University's medical school, spoke to the marchers about stem-cell research. "The more information you have, the more knowledgeable you can be on the subject," he says.

Although Monnig was very active in the pro-life movement while in high school, he noted that he had at first set aside his pro-life activities in college because he considered it "too much trouble" and it would have gotten in the way of his social life. Yet Monnig credits his trip to the march in his sophomore year to a "reawakening" of his conscience that led him to a deeper conversion and ultimately to his vocation as a Jesuit.

"God touched my heart to grow in knowledge and love of him through this pro-life cause, and led me along the path of my vocation as Jesuit and priest," he said. "So having een at this march as a high schooler, a Boston College student, and a Jesuit scholastic, it is quite amazing for me to be back here now as a priest."

Fr. Thomas Gaunt, SJ, the executive secretary for the Jesuit Conference in Washington, D.C., and one of the mass's concelebrants, found the presence of so many students inspiring. "Each year we have the opportunity to host students from Jesuit schools at this liturgy to support and encourage them in their standing for the unborn," he said. "From the sanctuary, it is a very impressive sight to see the array of Jesuit school names united in one place and the large presence of men in formation accompanying these students."

Veteran Marcher Jesuit Fr. William Kidwell (1924–2007) was a veteran of March for Life events; he took students from Belen Jesuit Prep in Miami and Jesuit High in Tampa to the Washington, D.C. marches for twenty years running. He was known for having a knack for inspiring students to advocate for this cause; March for Life organizers always counted on him bringing a sizable contingent of young activists. Jim Dugard, director of campus ministry at Christopher Columbus High in Miami, pitched in with organizing when Kidwell's health began to fail in 2007. Dugard recalls in an obituary in the Florida Catholic that he and others called him Yoda because he was "always vigilant, ancient, and ever-knowing."

Dr. William Blazek, SJ, who was active in the event's planning, thinks the annual gathering allows for an opportunity to educate and witness to the students.

"This mass offers people associated with the Jesuits, in the midst of a national gathering, to pray together and have fellowship before joining the larger march," said Blazek. "Students today really are conscious of social issues. They see the integration of all life issues, from conception to natural death."

Blazek, an assistant professor at Georgetown's School of Medicine, said he understands the struggles of students today, especially those active in the pro-life movement. "There was no voice for life in my medical school at all, period. There were pro-life students, but nothing to support us," commented Blazek. "We have found a way to network these students."

Cardinal O'Connor Conference

In the weekend prior to the March for Life, Georgetown hosted the ninth annual Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life, which featured speakers on various life issues. Jesuit scholastic Daniel Tesvich came from Dallas along with four Jesuit College Prep students. Tesvich serves as the moderator for Jesuit's Pro-Life Club. "We came to this conference to not just declare what we believe but to be educated," said Tesvich. "It's not just stating what we believe but also engaging with the issues."

Tesvich and his students attended the session, "Stem Cell Research: Promise and Peril," hosted by Fr. Kevin FitzGerald, SJ, a doctor and professor of molecular genetics and medical ethics at Georgetown Medical Center. Many listeners sat in the aisles between desks, while more attendees spilled out into the hallway. FitzGerald spoke about the medically and morally complex process of stem-cell research, both the science of it and the ethical questions underlying it.

For FitzGerald, the session was an important piece of the conversation about a hotly debated subject. "The more information you have, the more knowledgeable you can be on the subject," he said. "I try to come to this conference every year I can. It's by participating in this conference that I am doing what I was missioned by the Society to do."

Topher Boehm, a member of the pro-life club at Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, felt that FitzGerald's talk was easy to follow despite the complexity of the subject. "He was great; he shared with us a vast amount of information that was simple enough for those of us without PhD's to understand," said Boehm. "What I learned really helped me solidify my views on different kinds of research. And, [the talk's] underlying message, to spend our money to improve the way the entire world lives, was a unique [belief] that really puts everything in perspective."

James Stormes, SJ, the Jesuits' secretary for social and international ministries in the United States, and Tom Gaunt, SJ, the executive secretary at the Jesuit Conference, were among the concelebrants at a mass for the marchers at St. Aloysius in Washington, D.C.

The march

After mass, the students flowed out onto the steps of St. Aloysius for the group photo. Some mugged for the cameras, others offered toothy grins. The photo-op was followed by the fourteen-block march. As the students rounded the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and turned onto 7th Street, they were welcomed to the National Mall by a wall of humanity. The backdrop of the Capitol building set the stage of the rallying point for the March for Life.

It was Drew Peters's job to organize the various schools into one group; many students huddled together to block the wind and drizzle. The weather for the march lived up to its reputation: cold, dreary, and gray.

Sarah Schumacher, who had traveled for eighteen hours with fellow Saint Louis University students, had heard about the annually unpleasant weather. "I knew it was going to be cold and gross, so the whole theme today is layering your clothing!"

Kaitlyn McCarthy, originally from Connecticut, is the communications specialist at the Jesuit Conference of the United States in Washington, D.C.

The march began as it always has, slow and lurching. But once the massive assembly began to move, many of the students began to pray the rosary, sing songs, or walk silently. Some carried homemade signs: "Choose Life—Your Mom Did," "What Would Mary Do?" and "Babies are Cool!"

Perspective seemed to be the overwhelming message for the entire weekend. While many of the students were tired and bleary-eyed, they were excited to be in Washington. Yet, among their joys was the sobering reality of the day, and why many had traveled hour upon hour to get here for the same cause, standing as one, marching united for justice for all, born and unborn.