This past weekend, the University of Notre Dame sent a total of 8 buses on the March for Life to protest the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision to legalize abortion. This was the thirty-ninth anniversary of the decision, and tens of thousands of people marched in support of the dignity of human life.

Notre Dame students had the option of going on two separate trips. The long trip left Friday evening and the short trip left Sunday evening, and all trips returned to campus early Tuesday morning, in time for the students to return their luggage to their dorms and get ready for classes.

On January 20, the March for Life send-off began in the Basilica, with the 5:15 Mass in honor of St. Basil Moreau. Five full buses left the bookstore lot that night for the long trip, and arrived at St. Agnes Parish Center at noon the next day, after being delayed by the winter storms. Students spent the weekend visiting monuments and museums, and a few registered for and attended various pro-life conferences, such as the Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life at Georgetown University, and the Students for Life America Conference.       Sophomore Angela Bermudez attended the Georgetown conference.

“The conference was a great testament to the cause we all stood up for us we marched on Monday and provided an academic setting for intellectual discussion on the dignity of life,” she said. “It would be great if there could be a larger showing of ND students at the conference in the years to come; it is definitely worth going to.” Many students also attended the Mass with Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in the Cathedral of St. Matthew on Sunday afternoon.

Monday morning the three buses from the short trip arrived at St. Agnes, and all of the Notre Dame students and faculty came together to celebrate Mass with University President Rev. John Jenkins, CSC, before the Rally for Life on the National Mall. Following this, the Notre Dame contingent joined forces with the rest of the participants and marched along Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court.

“Notre Dame assuredly has one of the largest contingents here from any college or university in the country,” said Rev. Wilson Miscamble, C.S.C., professor of history and president of Notre Dame’s chapter of University Faculty for Life. “This not only reflects the willingness of these faculty to demonstrate their own commitment to the cause of life but also indicates the desire of faculty and staff to march with and support our marvelous pro-life students. Together we are making clear Notre Dame’s commitment to defend human life at every stage and forcefully stating Notre Dame’s unambiguous position on the great civil rights issue of our time.”

Many students took the time to sit down and reflect on why they chose to give up their weekend to travel 15 hours in a cramped bus for the March for Life. Sophomore Amanda Bambury reflected that, “It’s so easy to forget why we’re in D.C. When you’re in awe of the beautiful monuments, museums, history, and grandeur of our nation’s capital… In the midst of all the fun we have on this trip, it is essential to remember that we were brought to this wonderful city by tragedy. We are not here for ourselves, but for millions of children who are killed and silenced each day.”

Senior Sara Teising reflected on her experience of coming back to the March year after yaer. “I have been coming to the March for Life for a few years, but this year being a senior made it extra special. I listened more, watched more, and took advantage of this being my last year as an ND student experiencing this. It is awesome, and I hope to come back to the NDRTL group later and see what progress has been made. Father Jenkins said it perfectly today, ‘We will not let a court decision mask the fundamental truth.’” For more student reflections, visit http://ndprolife.blogspot.com.

Over 50 people attended the “Sanctity for Life” prayer service hosted by the Alumni Association.

Liz Everett is a sophomore PLS and English major who was blessed to go on the March for Life for the eighth time last weekend, and is already woefully behind this semester. Contact her at eeveret1@nd.edu.