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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court building towered over Jennifer Andrysczyk as she knelt on a wall of concrete and began praying the chaplet of Divine Mercy at the Washington, D.C., landmark where abortion was legalized 39 years ago in Roe v. Wade.
Close behind Andrysczyk, a 17-year-old Xavier High School junior from Hortonville, a slowly moving human carpet filled the road from curb to curb with loudly chanting participants in the annual March for Life from the National Mall down Constitution Avenue and ending at the Supreme Court.
As Andrysczyk prayed, she felt one of those marchers kneel next to her on the concrete, wet from persistent rains.
"A total stranger, a guy in his 20s, kneeled down and began praying along with us. It was totally awesome that someone had the courage to kneel down and pray with us," Andrysczyk said. "The power of prayer is important to show that abortion is not right. I am so passionate about standing up for the culture of life."
Bishop David Ricken gathers with representatives from Silver Lake College near the steps of the Supreme Court Building during the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Pictured from left are Kathy Van Sleet, Tommy Nelson, Bishop Ricken, Taylor Geiger, Katie Creiver, Craig Majewski, Brittany Schoeder, Max Ver Voort and Kayln Nelson. (Steve Wideman | For The Compass)
Andrysczyk was one of a group of 125 high school youths from the Diocese of Green Bay who joined tens of thousands of youth and adults from across the country on Jan. 23 to protest the continued legality of abortion.
The number of youth attending the annual rally is growing and represents a switch to a new generation in the fight to recognize the right to life for all people and things, said Eric Wert, 16, a junior at Xavier who made his third trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the March for Life.
"The first year I came there were 250,000 people. Last year it was 400,000. There are more people coming each year and more youth," Wert said.
Wert said he feels a huge percentage of people from his generation and his parents' generation know abortion is morally wrong. But it's up to the younger generation to take the fight to Washington, D.C.
"The pro-life movement is expanding. It is talked about more and more at school and the issue is getting noticed by more youth," Wert said.
Going to March for Life inspires him to carrying on the fight at a local level.
"I always talk about the issue when it comes up. I can talk heart-to-heart, person-to-person to my classmates," Wert said.
A youth rally before the march, attended by 23,000 young people at the DC Armory that included Bishop David L. Ricken, provided inspiration for Andrysczyk.
"The fight is definitely being taken on by our generation. One of the priests at the youth rally said our generation is so passionate about life and we are getting the word out," Andrysczyk said.
She and Wert were encouraged to see Bishop Ricken at the youth rally and march that began in a muddy quagmire on the National Mall.
"It was awesome to have Bishop Ricken there. It showed solidarity, that we are all part of the fight. To see him marching was wonderful," Andrysczyk said.
"It was great that the bishop showed support for us," Wert said.
Bishop Ricken told The Compass that witnessing so many young people stand up for life was edifying.
"It was a great encouragement to me that many young people from the diocese are wanting to know the value of life from the very beginning of life at conception until the natural end of life," he said. "They not only want to know but they want to speak out and engage actively. They want to help the voice of the church to be heard and acted upon in benefit of life in our country's policies. This is tremendously edifying."
Seven students from Silver Lake College of the Holy Family traveled to the rally, said Tommy Nelson, director of campus ministry at Silver Lake.
"Our purpose in coming was to re-ignite the pro-life mission of our campus ministry program and to expose our students to the pro-life movement on the national stage, to show how powerful it is and how many people do believe in the sacredness of life," Nelson said.
He hopes the students will bring awareness of pro-life issues back to Silver Lake and that the college will send a larger group in 2013 to join the growing number of youth participants.
"It (growing youth numbers) is not only a witness of the number of parents teaching their children on the value of life, but also shows the fight is being handed over to a new generation. The new generation, the Lord willing, is going to be the one to see abortion end. It's our fight and the troops are ready," Nelson said.
Nelson's wife, Kayln, 22, from Darboy, a student at Silver Lake, said her trip to March for Life "was really eye opening."
"It was always a very distant thing," she said of the rally. "The issue was left up to those in Washington, but going to March for Life made it really personal. It made me realize I can make a difference in saving lives."
Craig Majewski, 20, from Pulaski, a junior majoring in theology at Silver Lake, said it was "so awesome to get together with other people who believe in the same thing and to stand up for the cause and be part of something that is a lot bigger."
"I think it needs to be turned over to a new generation and it is being turned over," Majewski said.
"The younger generation is going to be a lot more passionate about it in the future," Majewski said. "I think the growing number of young people getting involved in pro-life issues comes down from parents who are teaching the youth that abortion is wrong and that they need to stand up for what they truly believe."
Brittany Schoeder, 21, a junior theology/psychology major from Janesville, said she went to Washington, D.C., because she "wanted to put my faith into action and stand up for something I strongly believe in and to be a witness for the cause and to be a symbol of faith. Not just to preach it out, but to be an example for others in the younger generation."
"We have power and can speak volumes just by standing together in solidarity," Schoeder said. "This generation is very active in our faith and realizes if we want things to change we need to start standing up and taking a stand. We are truly living out our faith and becoming stronger and realizing we can make a difference."
Max VerVoort, 19, from Appleton, is studying theology at Silver Lake and made his second trip to March for Life.
"It's a rewarding feeling to be a part of something so large that you are really passionate about," VerVoort said. "We need to stand up for the unborn and all life in general. More people are realizing what abortion is and that they can have power and impact on Washington and people who make the decisions."
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