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HERALD Staff Writer |
This year's theme for Bishop O'Connell High School's pro-life program is "Leaders for Life: They Show us the Way." One of those leaders is Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, who opened the school year and the pro-life program with a Mass at the school in mid September.
O'Connell students who are active in the pro-life movement feel a strong connection with Bishop Loverde who prays at a local abortion clinic once a month. In the past few years, O'Connell students have carried the lead banner in the annual March for Life, have built a pro-life memorial at the school and have appeared on EWTN as witnesses to the pro-life movement.
Throughout the year and in keeping with the theme, the school will host pro-life leaders from local organizations including, Rock for Life; Human Life International; American Life League; HOPE of Northern Virginia; AAA Women for Choice; St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home; and the Diocesan Family Life Office.
Not only will students learn from local pro-life leaders, but they will be asked to step forward as leaders themselves. Leaders of sports teams, clubs and student government will be asked to be leaders for life and promote student involvement in the March for Life on Jan. 22.
The pro-life club will again launch the 100,000 Rosaries for Life, which is described as "a spiritual campaign to end abortion, euthanasia and all crimes against the dignity and respect of every human life." Students will receive pledge forms and information about the campaign in their Religion classes. They will be asked to obtain as many commitments as possible from people who will pledge to say their rosaries from Oct. 8-Dec. 20. The goal is to have 100,000 rosary pledges for life.
Not to neglect the political side of pro-life issues, a unique part of this year's program is that members of the pro-life club will do an internship on pro-life legislation with Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), known for his consistent pro-life vote and recipient of the Brent Society Award.
On Jan. 21, on the eve of the annual March for Life in Washington, O'Connell will host a pro-life assembly featuring Tony Melendez, who was born with no arms and a clubbed foot due to the drug Thalidomide. As a successful musician, Melendez travels with his brother professing the pro-life message.
Father Daniel Mode, chaplain and founder of the pro-life program at O'Connell, says he has witnessed a definite transformation in the student body since the program started four years ago.
"It has become normative to talk about pro-life issues — an expected part of life here just like football or the Superdance," said Father Mode. "The students have initiated pro-life activities on their own such as visiting babies ward at St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in Washington."
Father Mode receives numerous emails from graduates telling him how grateful they are to have had the opportunity to take part in the pro-life cause and how they have put the experience into practice since they left, especially those who have gone on to secular college campuses.
"It's exciting to see what a difference this program has made," he said. "The school has become internationally known and copied because of its pro-life work."
Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 39,
dated October 7, 1999.
.
E-mail:
letters@catholicherald.com
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Circulation: 703/841-2565
A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that ordinary everyday run of the mill abortion is also murder. We must understand that aborting the life of a baby is murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not make the other methods less so. We should be horrified and sickened by any abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly:
"Thou shalt not kill."
A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.
Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any abortion occurs. Please
contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,
to let them know how horrified you are that abortions are legal and to
stop, once and for all, Partial-Birth abortions and all other abortions
as soon as possible.
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