This January, Newman University provided 600 branded backpacks for students and chaperones for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita’s annual March for Life trip to Washington, D.C., and Topeka, Kansas.
Each backpack included information on Newman’s Catholic Leaders of Tomorrow grant and Catholic Promise grant, as well as a St. John Henry Newman sticker.
“Personally, I think it’s important for the only Catholic university in the Diocese of Wichita to support our young people in standing up for life, even from afar,” Georgia Drewes, senior associate director of admissions, said. “I’m glad we could provide an item of comfort for the long journey.”
Showing spirit at the Kansas March for Life
Eleven Newman students and three advisers from the Jets for Life club and Campus Ministry also traveled by van to Topeka for the Kansas March for Life Jan. 24.
First-year student Kaylee McNeill, president of Jets for Life, said the march left a powerful impression on her.
“It was so awesome to see so many people come together to support women and unborn children,” McNeill said. “The presentation and march gave me more motivation to continue fighting for life so I am so happy I attended.”
Senior Marcus Lines, a double major in philosophy for theological studies and psychology, said the march was a great opportunity to be reminded of the work that’s been done and the work that is still needed.
“It meant being a sign to those in Topeka — that this is an issue that is in the hearts of many in Kansas,” Lines said.
Keynote speaker Lila Rose of Live Action started off the day with an “Ignite: Rally for Life” presentation in recognition of the National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Kansas bishops and priests then offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for all in attendance.
McNeill admired Rose’s speech as well as personal testimony from an additional guest speaker, who shared an experience with a complication in his wife’s pregnancy.
“The baby was not growing properly and the likelihood of the baby surviving birth was low,” McNeill said. “If the baby did survive birth, he wouldn’t be able to survive for long. Instead of going through an abortion, the couple and their two kids suffered together. The baby was born and the family was able to hold him and he lived for three days. In those three days, he got baptized and loved on so much, he even got to go home.”
She added, “It was just so powerful to realize that even if a baby will not survive a medical condition, the baby still has a purpose and impact on those around them.”
Participants of the Kansas March for Life marched from the Topeka Performing Arts Center to the capitol building, where they rallied on the steps.
It was just so powerful to realize that even if a baby will not survive a medical condition, the baby still has a purpose and impact on those around them.
Kaylee McNeill, president of Jets for Life club at Newman
The future of the March for Life
Some thought that the March for Life would cease to exist after the 2022 landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. However, the work simply continues with a new focus.
“Instead of concentrating their attention on the Supreme Court, the marchers target[ed] the building directly across the street: the U.S. Capitol,” an article by CNBC recently stated.
Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, said in a statement that the Jan. 20 march on Washington served as “a somber reminder of the millions of lives lost to abortion in the past 50 years.”
“But it’s also a celebration of how far we have come and where we as a movement need to focus our effort as we enter this new era in our quest to protect life,” she said.
As prayers for the protection of the unborn continue around the world, Newman University is proud to support the efforts of the Wichita Diocese, Kansans For Life and the March for Life for years to come.
Newman Catholic Promise Grant
The Catholic Promise Grant is a guaranteed grant available to any graduate of a Catholic high school.
