High school students join 40 Days for Life vigil

By Tanya Connor 

The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – Area teenagers seemed pleasantly surprised by their first experience of praying in front of an abortion facility this week. 

A poll showing Catholics’ support for legalized abortion had something to do with their presence there. 

Tuesday five students and an administrator from Holy Name Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School joined the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil. 

It is held across from the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts facility on Pleasant Street, where abortions are performed. Local organizers of the semi-annual, global 40-day campaign to end abortion encourage groups and individuals to sign up for time slots between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily to pray there.

This year David Perda, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, asked the schools to participate sometime during the March 6-April 14 campaign. He said some high schools have sent students to the vigil in the past, which he’d like them to do this year. He encouraged elementary schools to have their students participate in some other meaningful way, such as with age-appropriate information and prayer.

The superintendent told The Catholic Free Press about poll results that spurred him to action. A Feb. 11 Providence Journal story said 71 percent of registered voters surveyed, and 61 percent of the self-described Catholics in the poll, indicated support for a bill that would protect legalized abortion in Rhode Island.

“When I read that, I was just floored,” Superintendent Perda said. If that’s how the general population thinks, maybe some Catholic school students do too, he reasoned. Perhaps a lack of education is part of the problem.

“It would be irresponsible of me as a superintendent not to educate these students on why we believe in life,” he decided. He said he and a team from the Chancery will look at what’s being taught about life issues in Catholic schools in the diocese.

He was also touched to learn that a baby was saved from abortion with the help of someone who stopped for just 15 minutes to participate in a 40 Days for Life vigil in Worcester. He said he and campaign organizers talked about how schools could participate.

Sandra Pollette, Holy Name assistant principal, said she volunteered to take students who signed up to go. She compiled a packet with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, scriptural sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, and Stations of the Cross, she said.

Two women from St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury, Clare Burke and Kimberly Haugli, were at the vigil at the same time and joined Holy Name to say the prayers. 

“We were happily surprised to have them here,” said Mrs. Burke. 

Some students admitted they were a bit apprehensive about going.

“I didn’t really think anything was going to happen … like physical altercations or somebody yelling at us,” said Thomas Aldredge, a Holy Name junior. 

“It was really nice,” he said after the group had prayed. “It was really peaceful … being near the mysteries of the cross. We’re meditating on Christ’s death.… We should do this more often – the whole of Lent.” 

“It wasn’t what I expected,” said Alexis Desmarais, a senior. She said she thought someone might be aggressive, but found the experience peaceful and very enjoyable.

The women from St. Mary’s who attend regularly said things are usually quiet there, and urged the students not to argue if someone starts trouble.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Ms. Pollette, who said she’s new in the diocese. She said the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., can be more difficult, because people know the pro-life marchers are coming.

Mrs. Haugli told the students if they are old enough they should go see “Unplanned,” a movie rated “R” by the Motion Picture Association of America. It is about Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood clinic director-turned-pro-life advocate. If they can’t go see the movie, they should read her story, Mrs. Haugli said.

Mary Graff, a sophomore, said she is going to the movie. She said the 40-Days vigil was “really peaceful” and “it was really nice to have the opportunity to come out and do this.”

Martin Ma, a senior, echoed the sentiment that the experience was “peaceful.”

“It was very nice,” said Robert Pingeton, a sophomore. He said he expected there would be more people from other places there. Asked if he’d consider coming again, he said, “Yes, definitely.”

“I was proud of our students,” said Ms. Pollette, noting that they came despite slight apprehensions, and participated in the prayers. “They’re anxious to go back next week.” She said they signed up for a 9 a.m. slot April 2. 

Guardians for Life from St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School are slated to go to the vigil at 2:15 p.m. April 2. Students from St. Mary’s Schools are scheduled to participate at noon April 3. Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Still River, which regularly brings students, attended March 22 when Bishop McManus was there to lead the rosary, and is to be there again at 1:30 p.m. April 12.