The video tribute to the legacy of Nellie Gray plays on the Jumbotron at the Rally before the March for Life.

If you ever thought that one person can’t make a difference, watch this great video. It’s a tribute to Nellie Gray who organized the first March for Life in 1974. She thought it would be a one-time event. 20,000 people came.

Nellie continued to be the force behind the March for Life for four decades until her death last August. She was in her late 80s.

This moving video was shown on the Jumbotron at the Rally for Life.  Click here to view it.

Our Witness for LIFE began with a 5:30 am Mass at St. Paul’s in Congers. 25 people were in attendance as Fr. John Palitucci, of St. Paul’s, offered the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. (Our thoughts and prayers are with Fr. Palitucci, whose sister, Jeannie, passed away at 3 am, the very morning of the March.) We were welcomed to coffee and treats following the Mass.

Soon our bus was packed and ready to roll . . .

. . . with Max making sure everyone was accounted for.  Continue reading →

A Rockland Right to Life banner rises above the crowd, surging along Constitution Avenue toward the Capitol. If you were there, and would like to have your photos, memories, or comments posted, please send them to RocklandRTL@optonline.net. The photo above is by John Ferrao.

Standing in the crowd in the National Mall at the end of the Rally for Life can give you the chills (even when it’s not 20°). You can see the Washington Monument. The White House is across the park. And now the hundreds of thousands of people are somehow moving into a great line of march that will soon move down Constitution Avenue, past the Capitol Building, to the Supreme Court.

At that moment, you are never more aware of what America stands for: One nation under God, government of, by, and for the people, with liberty and justice for all.

And yet, with sadness, you know that the march is, in a way, a “road to Calvary” as you remember the 55 million unborn children who have been killed by abortion. And how our country has betrayed its great ideals by 40 years of legalized abortion.

But yet, something tells you the march is something more.

As you stand among a half million people — you know you are not alone in your hopes for change. And you know that the half million here — young and old, rich and poor, of all races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds — are only a fraction of the millions more at home who are praying and striving that abortion will end.

And holding high your signs and banners you all begin to move together, and the march becomes a march of resolve, commitment, hope for the future — of love, and even joy.

Continue reading →

The March for Life Rally, is where it all begins. Here before a stage erected near 7th Street in the National Mall, the crowd gathers at noon to hear the words of the leaders of the right to life movement.

From the worlds of politics, religion, medicine, and social action, they bring their passionate message to inspire us and to encourage us never to give up the fight for LIFE. The excitement builds.

In this part of our March for Life coverage, you’ll see the marchers of the Sacred Heart bus at the Rally. The quotes under the photos are from the speakers.

Defending life, of course, is about much more than voting the right way or saying the right things. It’s about promoting a culture of life. It’s about understanding that abortion is a defining human rights issue of our time. — Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio)

We indeed, Mr. President, must care for the vulnerable—but that also includes unborn children and their mothers. No one gets left out or left behind. All people are created equal. — Rep. Chris Smith, (R-NJ) Chairman of Congressional Prolife Caucus

Continue reading →

The March for Life is a long day that begins before sunrise. But to give the unborn the chance to “see the light of day,” we gladly get up in the dark — and journey home in the dark when our mission is complete.

On the morning of Jan. 25, chartered buses from every state in the union were converging on their destination, Washington, DC, for the world’s largest annual civil-rghts demonstration — The March for Life.

Some of their passengers had been on the road for days.

We didn’t have quite that far to travel, but, still, our journey was 5-hours long. We gathered at Sacred Heart Church in Suffern before 6 am.

Bundled in layers of clothes against the single-digit temperatures, we boarded the bus with our provisions for the trip — snacks and things to read on the bus.

Our intrepid bus captain, Dave DiNapoli, (right) took attendance.

The bus captain is the go-to person on the bus, the leader who’s responsible for keeping the group together, answering their questions, and keeping them safe.

David is the son of Marie DiNapoli, of Suffern, the recruiter for the Sacred Heart bus, who took reservations, collected fares, and procured the scarves, banners, and materials for the trip.

The bus captain of the St. Paul’s bus was Eileen Peterson, of Stony Point.

Meanwhile, Msgr. Joseph Giandurco, (left) the pastor of Sacred Heart, greeted everyone outside as they entered the bus. Then he came aboard and offered us his congratulations and gave us his blessing before we left.

And then our friendly bus driver (we actually had two drivers — one is the other fellow in the photo with Msgr.) pulled out of the parking lot and we were on our way. 6 am! Bussing for Life! Washington, here we come.

 Fr. Jerry Deponai (below), the pastor of St. Anthony’s in Nanuet, led us in prayer for a safe trip and that our March would be fruitful.  Continue reading →

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COMING TO YOU LIVE, FROM THE ROCKLAND MARCHERS IN WASHINGTON (updated):

Sunday, Jan. 27 — To the Rockland Marchers: Thank you, Father Jerry (St. Anthony’s, Nanuet), for braving the cold and witnessing in the March for Life in Washington.  For being one of the hundreds of thousands there who know the Truth and want those who shut it out to overcome what Planned Parenthood and like organizations tell them.  We know, and science has proven that life begins at conception.  Abortion is an evil.  But God always forgives the contrite, those who have had or have contributed to someone killing an unborn child.  Many potential mothers and fathers who made the wrong decision and are hurting from it can heal.  It was wonderful to see the throngs in Washington on EWTN.  Looked for you!  God bless you.  Betty Lynch, Rockland County Catholic Coalition   Continue reading →

Photo by Robert Reers, 2001

Events for the 40th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., will be broadcast live on the Eternal Word Television Network, available on Cablevision (Optimum) channel 135 and Verizon Fios channel 285.

Opening Mass Of The National Prayer Vigil 
Thurs. Jan. 24 at 6:30 PM ET
Cardinal Sean O’Malley leads the opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life, from the The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Closing Mass Of The National Prayer Vigil 
Fri. Jan. 25 at 7:30 AM ET, Sat. Jan. 26 at 12 AM ET
Archbishop Timothy Dolan leads the Closing Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for life, from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

March For Life
Fri. Jan. 25 at 9 AM to 3 PM ET, Sun. Jan. 27 at 12 PM ET
Full, on-the-ground coverage of the most important pro-life event of the year: the 2013 March For Life. in Washington, D.C.

UPDATE: BUSES WILL LEAVE PROMPTLY AT 6 AM. PLEASE BE ON TIME!

UPDATE:  WEATHER  WILL BE COLD — high of  25°. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS FORECASTING A “LIGHT SNOW EVENT (1-2″) ” FOR ROCKLAND AND “A PASSING SWATH OF LIGHT SNOW” FOR DC. SO BUNDLE UP!

UPDATE: WE ARE TWEETING @ROCKRTL. FOLLOW US ON THE DAY OF THE MARCH.

Continue reading →

Sister Brigid from the Sisters of Life in Montebello helps load a trunkful of green scarves for the Rockland marchers.

It’s traditional for participants at the March for Life in Washington to wear distinctive colors to identify themselves. These green scarves let everyone know we’re New Yorkers — and they’re so nice and warm too!

The scarves are provided each year from the Family Life/Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New York.

A videographer from News 12 films Richard Bruno leading the group in prayer at the 10 o’clock hour of the Day of Remembrance outside Planned Parenthood in Spring Valley.

Today — Jan. 22 — prolifers throughout the nation stood up for life in prayer services, rallies, marches and protests to mark the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The anniversary was observed in Rockland with a Day of Remembrance for the 55 million unborn children lost to abortion over the past 40 years.

Click here to see the video of the event in Spring Valley from News 12.