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Cleveland seminarian shares his experience at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

News of the Diocese

January 22, 2019

Andrew Karpinski, a senior at Borromeo Seminary and a member of St. Mary Parish in Hudson, was among the diocesan seminarians who travelled by bus to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life. He shares his experience below.

I was able to march with hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country who gathered in the nation’s capital on Friday, Jan. 18 at the annual March for Life, protesting against abortion. I traveled and marched with about 50 other seminarians from Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries.

Cleveland seminarian shares his experience at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

We all marched because on Jan 22, 1973 the Supreme Court, in the case of Roe v. Wade, ruled that restricting a woman from having an abortion is unconstitutional. The decision made abortion legal across the entire country. The March For Life protests this famous Roe v. Wade decision and stands up for unborn human lives.

We departed from the Center for Pastoral Leadership at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17. Our first destination was the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Thursday evening, we all participated in the opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Naumann, archbishop of Kansas City and chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Thousands of people gathered — lay people, seminarians, priests, religious and bishops — for this celebration of the Eucharist. Seminarians were given special seating towards the side of the basilica. It was truly a remarkable experience to be gathered with so many Catholics from around the country, all connected through our shared faith.

Cleveland seminarian shares his experience at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

On Friday morning, we walked from our hotel to a local Catholic church for morning Mass and then were given the morning to explore D.C. Due to the government shutdown, most museums were closed. I went with a couple other guys to the live Ben Shapiro Show on the National Mall. He had his show dedicated entirely to arguments against abortion. During the show, Vice President Mike Pence called in to offer his support for the march and all of us gathered there.

After the show ended, we walked around the Mall for a couple of hours before gathering with our group to march. Then we did what we came there to do: marched for life. We joined in the march with hundreds of thousands of others, offering our voice to the voiceless. We marched with great joy singing songs and praying. The march ended at the Supreme Court building were we all sang the “Salve Regina.” Then we got back on the bus and journeyed home to Wickliffe.

This was my sixth time attending the March for Life. It has become an annual tradition for me, depending on the road conditions. However, every year that I go I always have bittersweet feelings towards it. I am filled with joy to be surrounded by so many individuals who are willing to stand up to an unjust law, but I am saddened that such a march is necessary. Yet I always hope and pray each year that I will never have to attend the March for Life again.

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