California
|
Share:

Last Friday evening, four charter buses carrying just under 300 students left Thomas Aquinas College, California, bound for the 19th Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco — the first since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last June. The students joined thousands of people from all backgrounds to celebrate life and advocate for mothers and unborn children throughout the U.S. and the world.

After the nearly seven-hour journey up the California coast, the College’s contingent arrived at Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach, where they unpacked and enjoyed local fare before bed. Saturday morning began with Mass, and then it was off to the Walk.

While waiting for the event to begin, students Maria Brittain (’24), Anna Van Wijk (’24), and Eli Hunt (25), gave an interview to EWTN. Mr. Hunt told the network that the Walk’s success resides in “displaying Christ-like prayer for others and showing Christ-like love for others.”

That Christ-like prayer and love were on full display as the College’s students took their place at the head of the Walk, gathering behind a banner proclaiming that “Abortion Hurts Women.” Contributing to the joyful atmosphere of prayer was none other than the Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, who walked with the College’s contingent.

The column of several thousand peaceful walkers made its way down 1.8 miles of picturesque San Francisco streets, concluding at Embarcadero Plaza. Many sang hymns, chanted pro-life slogans, and prayed. Despite the heckling of counter-protesters at certain points, the walkers remained serene and modeled Christian charity and calm.

Crowding into their buses again on Sunday after Mass, students returned to campus with joyful memories and a sense of gratitude for their opportunity to participate in the beautiful cause of life.