A group of dedicated Pro-life advocates walk with balloons and a banner to Hillcrest Abortion Clinic to pray for an end to abortion in our area. On Tuesday, March 13, nine people, including two faculty members, walked from Mount de Sales campus to the back of the Suburbia Building in Catonsville. They pray one rosary there and then walk around to the front of the building to pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet.
"It is important to witness to life and show that it's not just a personal truth; we testify to a universal truth in a loving and peaceful way," said senior Jodi Schneider.
Sister Mary Celeste, O.P. typically leads the group every week, but Sister Anne Catherine, O.P. stepped in on Wednesday. The group prayed especially through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, who is celebrated on the 13th of every month to commemorate her appearance to Jacinta, Lucía, and Francisco in Portugal. Our Lady of Fatima emphasized the importance and power of praying the rosary.
"We pray the rosary because who better to have as a symbol of the pro-life movement than a teenage girl whose 'yes' to an unplanned pregnancy saved humanity?" said senior Veronica Zoeckler.
According to prolifeaction.org, 31 clinics closed in 2010 and the immediate goal of those gathered on Wednesday is to shut down the Hillcrest clinic.
"Abortion is a tragedy that goes widely unrecognized in our country, so our witness in front of the clinic is not only important, but needed, and the power of prayer even more so," said senior Branan Durbin.
S. Huber '12