Rally for life

The N.D. March for Life is back on Friday, Oct. 11. 
 
The day begins with Mass celebrated by Bishop Kagan at 10:45 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, followed by a march to the N.D. capitol building steps. The rally is set to begin at 12:30 p.m.
 
The local N.D. March for Life is modeled after the National March for Life and took place the same day, however, in 2022, a decision was made to move the local march to be held annually in October which is designated as Respect Life Month. The first Sunday of the month is Respect Life Sunday. In correlation, the N.D. March for Life is the first Friday following the first Sunday of October. 
 
The goal of the march is to raise awareness and proclaim solidarity in the mission to pray for and to protect life from the moment of conception until natural death. It is our hope that spending the day standing up for the unborn will embolden people to continue to defend life in our daily lives and within our communities.    
 
Members of the public, of all faith denominations, are encouraged to attend. Students from Catholic schools across the state are set to join the march. Bismarck Diocese priest and chaplain and director of university ministry at the University of Mary, Fr. Dominic Bouck, will serve as this year’s event emcee. The featured speaker is Dr. Pat Castle, founder of the national organization known as Life Runners.
 
As the president and founder of the largest pro-life “team” in the world called Life Runners, Dr. Pat leads the movement along with thousands of “teammates” across the world. He is an inspiring and unifying force for the pro-life cause through faith, activism, and education. The running group’s motto is “God first, life always, teammates forever!”

Running is, in a way, a form of prayer. The group unites for national races, local runs, cross-country relays, you name it, all while wearing the group’s blue jersey bearing the words, “Remember the unborn” on the back. These words are based on Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
 
The retired military veteran inspires the pro-life movement backed by the life runners creed—to end abortion and heal wounds for peace. The Life Runners creed is built on the word “peace” based on a quote from St. Mother Teresa, “Abortion is the greatest threat to peace in the world.” 

End of Roe v. Wade
 
Thankfully, a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs case on June 24, 2022, overturned Roe v. Wade to end the federal legalization of abortion and put that decision in the hands of the states. Some people might question why the march still occurs if the Roe v. Wade decision was overturned. But it’s important to remember that abortion remains legal in more than 20 states.
 
“I encourage Catholics to participate in the N.D. March for Life on October 11 because the fight to respect and defend all human life at every stage is not over,” Bishop Kagan noted. “While Roe v. Wade has been overturned each state now must address the right to life and legally prevent abortion on demand. So, it is extremely important to be intentional in defending life and marching for life is one excellent way to do so.”
 
The N.D. march event is a joint planning effort with the Bismarck Diocese, University of Mary and other entities that joined forces for the North Dakota Pro-Life Committee. 
 
Holy hour on Oct. 10
 
Bishop Kagan will lead a holy hour on the eve of the N.D. March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 10 beginning at 6 p.m. in the main body of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. The public is invited to attend. Both the holy hour and the Mass prior to the march on Oct. 11 will be livestreamed. Go to bismarckdiocese.com and click on the Cathedral livestream player.
 
The march is an outward show of support for the protection of the unborn. The faithful should continue to pray for and defend life at all stages. It’s also vital to support programs that help pregnant women, mothers and children in need.
 
“The best way to defend life is certainly to pray daily for legislators to act in accord with God’s will for each person to whom He has given the gift of life,” Bishop Kagan added. “Another way is to let your own senator and representative know that you will watch carefully how they vote for any bill concerning the life issues and you will vote accordingly in the next election. Finally, with the national elections coming soon, know the positions of the candidates and then vote as a Catholic who knows what the Church teaches on the life issues.”