Faithful from the Diocese of Portland attend March for Life 

Priests, religious, students, parishioners and more from Maine were among the thousands to attend the National March for Life in Washington, DC. on Friday, January 24. The annual event, held in the U.S. capital, began in 1974 and is the largest pro-life gathering in the world.

The group of more than 40 from the Diocese of Portland traveled by bus on January 23, the eve of the march, and attended the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

"The church is the largest in the continent and it was filled to overflowing," said Sr. Francesca Silver, a Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE) who teaches at St. Dominic Academy. "A powerful moment at Mass was the time of Communion. The lines of people just kept coming, and it was amazing to contemplate the Eucharistic presence of Christ entering that many hearts at once."

The following morning, the Maine contingent attended Mass at St. Mary Mother of God Church along with a group from the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama. Father Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of Prince of Peach Parish in Lewiston, served as the celebrant with Father Brad Morin of Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, and Father Patrick Finn, chaplain at St. Joseph's College, concelebrating. Seminarian Erin Donlon assisted.

Following Mass, the group walked to the pre-march rally and were joined by Bishop James Ruggieri. Speakers at the rally, held at the Ellipse near the Washington Monument, featured elected officials, including Vice President JD Vance, and faith leaders. The keynote address was given by Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who survived a shark attack as a youth and is now a well-known pro-life advocate. Following the rally, the march proceeded to the U.S. Capitol.

"We reflected that Jesus comes to each of us in the Eucharist to be with us, out of love for us, and also to be carried to the people we would meet," said Sr. Francesca of the experience. "In this way, everyone who was at the march and everyone who watched from the roadside had an encounter with Christ. He marched with us and the message was all His." Sister Christianna Hamman, FSE, was also a member of the Maine group.

The trip was coordinated by the Diocese of Portland's Director of Public Policy and Pro-Life Liaison Suzanne Lafreniere.

"It was so inspiring to experience this celebration of life with a group of Mainers so passionate about human dignity," said Lafreniere.