On the way home from attending a luncheon for the Connecticut March for Life kickoff last month, my wife Kerry and I began discussing the value in holding such a rally in Hartford this spring. It was certainly expensive to charter buses, print signs and pay for gas and parking if one drives there. Why not instead use this money to fund pregnancy resource centers? It was also inconvenient, requiring us to take time off from work. Why hold it on a Wednesday during a busy week? What good is it having a bunch of us out in the street waving flags and banners?
After much discussion, thought, and prayer I was hit with a revelation. We march together for the rights of the unborn to be heard and seen. We gather on one specific day to be surrounded by people who share beliefs and values. We discover that we are not alone. We see that there are thousands of people throughout Connecticut that feel like us. We show that together we form a powerful coalition that can be heard and seen.
I also realized that organizing a march encourages discussion in our parish and community. As we spread the word, we’re educating others and are compelled to take time in the few weeks leading up to the event to focus on the issue of the Right to Life.
Why do we hold a march and rally on a Wednesday in spring? Because that’s when our state’s General Assembly is in session. Spring - the time of year when the world blossoms with new birth.
The 2023 Connecticut March for Life will be held on Wednesday, March 22 at the State Capitol in Hartford. The rally, with many inspirational guest speakers, will commence at noon, followed by the march around Bushnell Park.
Buses are being organized, signs are being made and our formidable pro-life community is working together to be seen and heard again this year. We encourage all who believe in the “right to life” to join us. Please help your pro-life committees at church, your Knights of Columbus councils, Connecticut Catholic Conference and Family Institute of Connecticut get the word out as we all work together to organize this year’s event. And most important, please join us. I hope and pray we will be seeing you, your family and friends there in March.
By Scott H. Evans
Scott Evans is the Life Activity Director for the CT Knights of Columbus, a District Deputy for 7 local councils in the Norwich Diocese and a member of Council #5633 in Niantic.