More than 5,000 students packed into EagleBank Arena in Fairfax Jan. 24 to unite in defense of the lives of unborn children.
The Life Fest event, serving as a prelude to the National March for Life in Washington, attracted students, parents, and religious orders, from every part of the country including a large group of students from the Archdiocese of Miami and as far away as California and Montana.
“It’s really important to show your support for the pro-life movement as a young person,” said Nina Baker, a student at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly. “I am confident that we can make a difference if we continue to do things like this and show our support as a group.”
Students from Denmark and South Korea provided an international flavor.
Jacob Williams came with a large group from St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio. “This is great to see everyone with one faith, meeting together on one common ground to end abortion,” he said.
“We live in a culture where everything is about death,” said Gabriel Infante of Stamford, Conn. “It’s important to stand up for what really matters, and that means putting God first. This is inspiring.”
Mass was celebrated by Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori and concelebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond.
In his keynote address, Dominican Father Gregory Pine challenged students to always stand up for the dignity of human life, and to support pregnant women in need.
“They have options, they just see all those options as bad,” he said. “They find themselves riddle with fear and paralyzed with the prospect of making a decision they know they’re going to regret.
“For us, as a pro-life generation, we need to come up with a better testimony. We need testimony that will actually give witness to the grace of God. Live your life so that they can live their lives, with their children. We must be about the business of living well and living beautifully.”
