‘We have hope’
CHARLOTTE — Babies with toothless grins wearing “All Life is Precious” stickers were just some of the bright signs of hope seen at the March for Life Charlotte Jan. 13. The 11th annual march drew hundreds of men, women and children hoping to bring a positive prolife message to the streets of uptown during lunch hour.
Unseasonably warm weather prompted a joyful spirit among the marchers, who hoped to witness to the sanctity of all human life and for the need to love mothers and their children who find themselves in a difficult situation.
“What a great opportunity we have on a glorious day like this to point people towards the love of Christ,” said Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, as he addressed the marchers before leaving the Pastoral Center parking area on the 1.5-mile march.
He asked for the intercession of the saints to help remind people today that sin never has the last word.
“We have hope – hope in Our Lord and Our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Peter Jugis was also present and spoke to the marchers before they began the march.
“I appreciate all of you being here to witness to the sanctity of human life, the unborn child in the womb. For those who have come from nearby and those also who have made sacrifices to come from other parishes further away in the diocese, thank you for your sacrifices you have made to be here today. We pray that the Lord will reward you for the sacrifices you make for this very important cause for our country.”
Once the marchers reached Independence Square, Father Eckert delivered the keynote address.
One of the points that he made was “We need to avoid turning in on ourselves, thus risking our salvation,” he said.
But, he continued, “We have the opportunity to experience heaven in this life, as well, to participate in true and lasting love. And what is love? What does it mean? Does it mean we skip through life, happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical, listening to music all the time and eating from one of the countless delicious restaurants around us? No!”
He quoted C.S. Lewis, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” Opening oneself up to love can be scary, he continued, but it also offers hope and the only sure way to heaven.
Kathy Belfiore, who was adopted as an infant and is now a board certified medical technologist, mother and lector at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, also spoke to the marchers, sharing her and her brother’s story of being adopted by a loving family and growing up to lead a fulfilling life.
People of all ages joined in the march and to hear the presentations in Independence Square.
Several parishioners from St. Luke Church in Mint Hill participated.
“We come out every year because this is something we can’t let go,” Bob Hayes said. “If we don’t let the public know that this is a problem, it’s not a problem. We have to show them we’re here and to pay attention.”
Deb Lawrence and her husband also attended.
“This is something we believe in,” she said. “We think this is a basis of our faith. I’m not sure of where the confusion is. It’s just important. If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.”
Charlotte Catholic High School students Lewis and Charlotte Nazarian were enlisted to help carry a banner and a sign behind the statue of the Blessed Mother in the March for Life. They have recently relocated from Rochester, N.Y., where they say the prolife movement is not as active as it is in the Diocese of Charlotte.
“I’m a huge supporter of the prolife movement,” Lewis Nazarian said. “I have friends who have had parents or relatives who have been victims of abortion. I have friends who have been failed abortions and have survived, and seeing them and the sanctity of their life has inspired me to continue and strive to help this cause and help those who are in danger of such an awful thing.”
Charlotte Nazarian added, “I think it’s really important to show the young people are just as involved as the elderly, because often we get a bad rap as being the pro-choice generation – but we are the prolife generation.”
Marie Cook traveled from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin with her 7-year-old granddaughter, Catherine.
“I wanted to bring our granddaughter to see this part of the Catholic Church, to see what we believe,” Cook said. “It’s such an important thing to educate the young on what is right or wrong. She has been showing her (prolife) sign to everyone this morning.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter. Photos from Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte provided by Christiana Witt.
See live video and video highlights from the March for Life in Charlotte on our Facebook playlist.
March for Life events in Raleigh and Washington, D.C.
‘The Power of One’ is theme of this year’s March for Life in D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The March for Life Education and Defense Fund has announced the details for the 2017 March for Life to be held on Friday, Jan. 27. “The Power of One” will be the theme of the annual march, which seeks to draw attention to the value of every life and the power of every American’s voice in speaking out for the unborn.
A Mass for pro-life advocates from North Carolina will be celebrated at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of The Catholic University of America at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Bishop Peter J. Jugis will serve as the principal celebrant and homilist.
The March for Life events will begin with a rally at noon on the National Mall, which will be followed at 1 p.m. by a march to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear testimony from women who regret their abortion.
Other D.C. March for Life events
A Youth Rally and Mass for Life hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington will take place on Jan. 27. The ticketed event will be held at the Verizon Center and the D.C. Armory, both in Washington, D.C. For more information about the event, visit youthrallyandmassforlife.org.
The Paulus Institute for the Propagation of Sacred Liturgy, Washington, D.C., will hold the Fifth Annual Nellie Gray Mass Jan. 27, immediately after the March for Life, at 3p.m. The Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form (traditional Latin Mass) will be offered at St. Mary Mother of God Church at 5th and H Sts. N.W. in downtown Washington, D.C.
On Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, Latinos Por La Vida will host its Third Annual Pro-Life Conference in the Sheraton Tysons Hotel in Tysons Corner, Va. after the March for Life. There will be a concert from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 27. Entertainment will be provided by Martin Valverde and Azeneth Gonzalez. On Jan. 28 the conference will feature two keynote speakers: Father Augustino, C.F.R., and Dr. Pilar Calva. For details, go to www.latinosporlavida.com/events.
Diocese of Raleigh events
The Diocese of Raleigh will host a Love My Life Rally for Catholic teens on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh. As part of the event, a diocesan Mass for Life will be celebrated at noon. The March for Life with North Carolina Right to Life will immediately follow the Mass at 1 p.m.
For details, go to www.dioceseofraleigh.org
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
The upcoming 2017 Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1.
Parishes and schools which participated in last year’s CRS Rice Bowl will receive the same number of materials again for this year’s CRS Rice Bowl with no need to place an order. (Shipments of Rice Bowl materials were scheduled to arrive in parishes and schools by mid-January).
Parishes and schools that wish to participate for the first time, or participating parishes and schools which need additional materials, should call toll-free 1-800-222-0025 or go to www.crsricebowl.org to place a new or updated order. Orders for first-time or additional CRS Rice Bowl materials that are requested by Monday, Feb. 13, should arrive in parishes and schools in time for distribution prior to the start of CRS Rice Bowl on Ash Wednesday.
Any questions? Contact Joseph Purello at Catholic Charities, who serves as the CRS diocesan liaison, at 704-370-3225 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..