The snow storm in Washington, DC caused the cancellation of three bus loads with 150 people from the Downriver area planning to attend the annual March for Life in Washington, DC on January 22nd. The bus trip was organized by Southern Downriver Right to Life and was to have included many students from both Gabriel Richard (Riverview) and St. Frances Cabrini (Allen Park) High Schools.

In Wyandotte, snow was not a problem for the 80 people who participated in the January 24th March for Life organized by Upper Downriver Right to Life, another affiliate of Right to Life of Michigan.

The group departed from Our Lady of the Scapular parish in Wyandotte. They prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as they walked past three of the neighborhood Rosary Shrines on their way to Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In the chapel, Deacon Luis Flores, assisted by Deacon Richard Bloomfield, led a prayer service remembering more than 57 million victims of abortion since the Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court on January 22, 1973. The group also prayed for the healing of mothers whose babies were aborted, that medical personnel involved with abortion would become healers and stop the killing, and for government officials to help bring an end to abortion.

Choir members from St. Patrick Church of St. Vincent Pallotti parish led everyone in singing Immaculate Mary as the group processed from the chapel to the adjacent Memorial Monument for the Unborn where the choir sang more hymns. It was 20 years ago, in 1996 when the Knights of Columbus from Wyandotte Council 1802 dedicated the monument. There has been a prayer service there every year since.

Following the prayer service, many warmed up with hot chocolate, donuts and pizza at the Right to Life of Michigan Education Office Open House on 20th and Eureka in Wyandotte.

The bus from Dearborn’s Divine Child High School and some others from the Metro Detroit area did make it, but with delays caused by the snow on their return trip.

Marching past the capital in DC

Orchard Lake, MI in DC

Notre Dame Prep, Pontiac, MI in DC

Another prayer service had been held January 17th, organized by Paul McKenzie at Community Bible Church in Trenton. Song, prayer, a skit and the stories of two families who had adopted children showed the value of all human life, born and unborn. Giving a child up for adoption costs the mother nothing. It can cost the adoptive parents up to $40,000. An abortion typically costs $400. Elayna Brown and Claire Castle sang “Who will speak up for the little ones? I’ve got to speak up, won’t you?”

Elayna Brown & Claire Castle in Trenton

Paul McKenzie