Walking for Life 2011

More than 200 Thomas Aquinas College students helped lead the way through the streets of San Francisco on January 22, 2011 — the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade — in the seventh annual Walk for Life West Coast. The students prayed, sang, and peacefully bore witness to the Culture of Life with some 50,000 walkers.

Roughly two-thirds of Thomas Aquinas students have attended the Walk every year since its founding in 2005, and over the years, they have increasingly taken on leadership roles within the event. This year, for example, the event marshals selected Thomas Aquinas College students to act as lead security captains along the route and to serve as personal escorts to special dignitaries such as Fr. Frank Pavone (of Priests for Life) and Abby Johnson (author of Unplanned). Says Ralph Desimone of the West Coast Walk for Life Organizing Committee, “I cannot over emphasize how critical a role the students of Thomas Aquinas College have played over the past seven years.”

Among the estimated 50,000 men, women, and children who participated in this year’s Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco were more than 200 students from Thomas Aquinas College.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
Joined by the College’s head chaplain, several tutors and their families, and dozens of Bay Area friends and alumni, the students marched two miles from Justin Herman Plaza through Fisherman’s Wharf to Marina Green.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
With about two-thirds of the student body present, the Thomas Aquinas College delegation was the single largest student group at the Walk.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
As they did last two years, the organizers asked a large group of the College’s women to lead the march.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
Peacefully, and in stark contrast to the taunting and heckling of pro-abortion protesters who lined parts of the route, they walked, they sang hymns, and they prayed the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on behalf of abortion’s many victims, both born and unborn.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
The College’s students have participated in every Walk since the first in 2005. Because of their numbers and dedication, they have increasingly taken on leadership roles in the event, such as serving as assistant marshals along the route.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
A densely packed crowd walked 20 across in a line that stretched well over a mile.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
The Walk took place on January 22, 2011 — the 38th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
The students were assisted through the great generosity of Germaine and Jim Wensley, chairman of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors, who once again contributed toward the cost of chartering the coach that made the 300 mile-trip to San Francisco and back.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast
Invigorated by the experience, the students vow to return next year, so as to bear witness once more to the Gospel of Life.
2011 Walk for Life West Coast

Among the estimated 50,000 men, women, and children who participated in this year’s Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco were more than 200 students from Thomas Aquinas College.
Joined by the College’s head chaplain, several tutors and their families, and dozens of Bay Area friends and alumni, the students marched two miles from Justin Herman Plaza through Fisherman’s Wharf to Marina Green.
With about two-thirds of the student body present, the Thomas Aquinas College delegation was the single largest student group at the Walk.
As they did last two years, the organizers asked a large group of the College’s women to lead the march.
Peacefully, and in stark contrast to the taunting and heckling of pro-abortion protesters who lined parts of the route, they walked, they sang hymns, and they prayed the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on behalf of abortion’s many victims, both born and unborn.
The College’s students have participated in every Walk since the first in 2005. Because of their numbers and dedication, they have increasingly taken on leadership roles in the event, such as serving as assistant marshals along the route.
A densely packed crowd walked 20 across in a line that stretched well over a mile.
The Walk took place on January 22, 2011 — the 38th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.
The students were assisted through the great generosity of Germaine and Jim Wensley, chairman of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors, who once again contributed toward the cost of chartering the coach that made the 300 mile-trip to San Francisco and back.
Invigorated by the experience, the students vow to return next year, so as to bear witness once more to the Gospel of Life.

“The culture at the College, the community was very formative for me. I saw joyful people living their Catholic faith, doing it to the best of their ability, and not being ashamed of it.”

– Rev. John Marie Bingham, O.P. (’00)

Parochial Vicar, Saint Dominic’s Parish, Benicia, Calif

“May God bless Thomas Aquinas College for its excellent performance as a Catholic college since its foundation in 1971, a college where parents can send their children and be sure that this college is maintaining the best ideals of our faith and is giving not only information but formation.”

– Francis Cardinal Arinze

Prefect Emeritus

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments