Neither the snow nor the pandemic held back a March for Life event on Sunday, Jan. 23 at Newark St. Francis de Sales Church that included a day retreat, Mass, speakers and periods of praise and worship. The retreat focused on the dignity of human life, the responsibility to protect life from conception to natural death and the call to live abundantly in Christ.
In addition to attending the retreat, more than 100 Newark-area Catholics participated in a Eucharistic procession from St. Francis de Sales Church to the Licking County courthouse in downtown Newark, covering slightly more than a half-mile.
The procession, with Father David Sizemore, the parish pastor, carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, made its way slowly from the church to downtown. The participants prayed the rosary as they followed Our Lord down Main Street before circling the courthouse and stopping in the town square for Benediction and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
At the courthouse, attendees heard a powerful message from Tricia Moore, a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales, a graduate of Newark Catholic High School and the law director for the city of Newark. She also sits on the board of Heartbeats, a pregnancy resource center in Newark.
In addition, a personal testimonial by Anna Breen brought a real-life message of abortion, forgiveness and new life.
On the way back to St. Francis, participants sang hymns and held up signs bearing the verse “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
The hometown march allowed those unable to travel to Washington, D.C., for the national March for Life to publicly stand witness for the protection of life and to unite in prayer with the community.
Organizers said the event provided an opportunity to witness to the truth that all life is sacred and should be treated with reverence. The parish hopes to expand the local March for Life event next year.
