You’ll see the Rockland Right to Life banner passing before the Supreme Court at around 3:30 on the timeline.
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Senate Rejects 20-Week Abortion Ban
Jan. 29 — Tonight the U.S. Senate failed to pass a bill that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks — the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act — by a vote of 51-46. The bill had passed in the House of Representatives on Jan. 19, the day of the March for Life in Washington. Pres.Trump had said he would sign the bill into law if it came to his desk.
The vote was mainly along party lines, with Democrats voting against it and Republicans voting for it. However, two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the bill, and three Democrats, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana voted for it.
A recent Marist poll showed that two-thirds of Americans support a 20-week ban on abortion.
This was lost on our two senators for New York, Chuck Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gellibrand (D),who voted against this prolife legislation. They joined our representative in the House, Nita Lowey (D), who voted down the bill last Friday. Three out of three fail again to protect the mosts vulnerable! Very sad!
Fios News Coverage: ‘Prolife Rockland Residents Protest Planned Parenthood’
Here’s the link to the video. Click here.
Jan. 22 — Verizon FIOS News — Lower Hudson Valley sent out a crew to cover the gathering of prolife supporters in Spring Valley, who gathered outside Planned Parenthood on Perlman Drive to pray. It was on Jan. 22, the true anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in 1973 to legalize abortion in America. (The March for Life this year was on Friday, Jan. 19).
Good for FIOS! Unlike the Journal News/USA Today who didn’t print a word about any March for Life events, but had plenty to say about the Women’s March that took place the next day. And, as usual, the three major TV networks combined — CBS, ABC, and NBC– had less than three minutes of coverage of the March. CBS had nothing at all.
Well, it’s nice to know that balanced journalism is still alive somewhere around here — at local FIOS news.
(update 1/28/18) The Journal News (Lo-Hud) has since published an article with extensive remarks from five marchers, March for Life 2018: 5 People Share Their Vision of the Future. Print story appeared 1/27/18; online 1/26/18.
Rose Mass Celebrated at St. Gregory’s
Pastor of St. Gregory Barbarigo Church Fr. Joseph LaMorte speaks to the eighth graders of Rockland’s Catholic elementary schools at the Rose Mass for Life.
Jan 19 — The Rockland Region of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New York hosted the annual eighth-grade Rose Mass for Life on Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church in Garnerville. It was attended by students from Sacred Heart School in Suffern, St. Anthony’s School in Nanuet, St. Margaret of Antioch School in Pearl River, St. Paul School in Valley Cottage, and St. Gregory’s School.
The mass is held each year to coincide with the March for Life in Washington, D.C. The sacredness God’s gift of life is symbolized by the long-stemmed red roses, which the students bring to decorate the sanctuary.
The homily was delivered by Rev. Joseph P. Lamorte, pastor of St. Gregory’s. He told the eighth graders that they were the “prolife generation,” and he was full of hope that when they were adults, their efforts to overturn the legalization of abortion would be their great gift to society.
Fr. Lamorte concelebrated the mass with pastors Rev. Matthew Furey (Sacred Heart Church), Rev. Joseph Deponai (St. Anthony’s Church), Rev. Eric Raaser (St. Margaret’s Church) asst. pastor Roman Palecko (St. Paul and St. Ann Parish), and pastor Rev. William Cosgrove (St. Augustine’s Church in New City).
Music was provided by the Barbarigo Student Chorus, led by director David Christian Azarow.
Attending the mass were several adult prolife supporters from around the county who were unable to attend the March for Life in Washington.
Concelebrating the Rose Mass for Life were (left to right): Fr. Bill Cosgrove, Fr. Roman Palecko, Fr. Matthew Furey, Fr. Joseph LaMorte, Fr. Jerry Deponai, and Fr. Eric Raaser
We March to End Abortion. And We Will.
Jan. 19 — The marchers from Rockland County reach the end of the March for Life 2018 — the U.S. Supreme Court where the Roe v. Wade decision made abortion legal across America on Jan. 22, 1973. Thousands of marchers have been coming to Washington, D.C, for the March, held on or around that date for the past 45 years, to stand up for life.
We are filled with pride and gratitude for this year’s group from Rockland and the students from Albertus Magnus who have kept the faith and traveled to Washington to represent us all. We honor their commitment, their passion, and their unshakeable faith that one day the legal protection of the unborn will be restored.
(update 1/29/18) Two Rocklanders, Joanne Clemente and Carolyn Pappalardo, speak at length about the March in this Journal News article here.
The weather this year was glorious. And the speakers at the Rally for Life included Pres. Donald Trump, the first sitting president to deliver an address live to the March for Life. “Under my administration, we will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life,” Trump said, and he announced he had proposed new federal rules — and an enforcement office — to protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who object to performing abortions. Trump’s full speech is here.
Other speakers included V.P. Mike Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Sister of Life Bethany Madonna.
On this day the House of Representatives passed the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to protect babies who are born alive during failed abortions. The vote, went along party lines, but six prolife Democrats voted for this bill resulting in a 241-183 victory for the unborn. Unfortunately, Rockland’s representative in the House, Nita Lowey, voted against this humane and eminently sensible legislation.
More photos of Rocklanders at the March for Life appear below, and we hope to post more over the next few days. Please check back. The photos are by Francis Wong. Please click on a photo to enlarge it, and then scroll through the slide show.
TODAY IS THE MARCH FOR LIFE 2018
COUNTDOWN TO THE MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON ON FRIDAY, JAN 19
Update Jan. 18 — 1 DAY TO GO:
The Rockland bus to the March for Life will arrive at the parking lot of St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Nyack tomorrow at 5:45 am. Please be ready to board. The bus leaves for Washington at 6 am. God Speed All the Rockland Marchers and the wonderful group from Albertus Magnus!
Tomorrow morning the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act to strengthen the protections for children born during botched abortions. Take action on behalf of unborn children on the 45th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade. Click here and send an mail to your congressperson.
The White House announced yesterday that Pres. Trump will address the March for Life Rally via satellite from the Rose Garden. “The President is committed to protecting the life of the unborn and is proud to be part of this historic event,” said Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.
Update Jan. 17 — 2 DAYS TO GO: It’s still not too late to book your seat for the bus to Washington for the March for Life (see below), but if you’re not able to go . . .
There will be a special prolife mass at 10 am on Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church (21 Cinder Rd., Garnerville 10923). It’s the annual Rose Mass for the eighth graders in Rockland County Catholic schools, and the public is most welcome. The rose is the symbol of the beautiful but delicate life of the unborn child. It’s lovely mass and a great way to participate spiritually in the March for Life and to celebrate mass for the intention of restoring legal protected to unborn children. Click here for a photo and story about last year’s Rose Mass.
Update Jan. 16 — 3 DAYS TO GO: WEATHER REPORT– 47 degrees & sunny! Government shut-down on Friday?? Not to worry! Well, at least not as far as the March for Life is concerned. 🙂 Past government shutdown have closed national parks, like the National Mall where the March for Life assembles. But even if a shut-down can’t be avoided, it will begin at midnight, hours after the March for Life has come to an end.
Update Jan. 15 — 4 DAYS TO GO: 23 parish and Right to Life groups in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley counties will be sending buses to the March for Life.
Update Jan. 14 — 5 DAYS TO GO: Still time to make your reservations! Call 845-735-4379, 845-492-6709. or 845-425-1322 (para espanol). You can also email RocklandRTL@optonline.net. $30 adult; $15 student.
Update Jan. 13 — 6 DAYS TO GO: WEATHER STILL GOOD FOR FRIDAY’S MARCH
WASHINGTON, DC– 47 degrees and sunny!
ROCKLAND — 36 degrees and “plenty of sunshine”!
Update Jan. 12 — 7 DAYS TO GO: Watch the “2018 Why We March for Life” video below. And here’s a wonderful surprise — this year we’ll be having our own professional prolife videographer on the bus with us, who will be filming the Rockland Right to Life trip for a video he’s producing of the March!
Update Jan. 11 — 8 DAYS TO GO: Speakers at the Rally for life that precedes the March include House Speaker Paul Ryan, N.J. Sen. Chris Smith, chair of the Congressional Prolife Caucus, and SISTER BETHANY MADONNA of the SISTERS OF LIFE. Last year, on the day of the March for Life, Sr. Bethany was here in Suffern addressing the county Catholic schools’ eighth graders at their annual Rose Mass at Sacred Heart Church. This year she’ll be addressing the Nation!! (1/27/17 Annual Rose Mass Gives Thanks for the Gift of Life)
Update Jan. 10 — 9 DAYS TO GO: Going to the March in Washington? interested? Click here for info: Schedule, Rally speakers, March route maps (printable and interactive), link for the free 2018 March for Life app.
Update Jan. 9 — 10 DAYS TO GO: The weather is looking good! AccuWeather’s extended forecast for Washington, DC, predicts sunny and 52 degrees for the March. 
While extended forecasts can’t predict the weather with total accuracy, they’re good enough to make odds pretty low that there will be a blizzard that day or temperatures like last week — so cold that we’d all be sticking to the sidewalks! As a matter of fact, the four days preceding and following the March look dry and fairly mild for this time of year — in the 40s. Please call for your reservations now. You’ll find the numbers further down in this article.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19
at OUR NATION’S CAPITAL, WASHINGTON, DC
RALLY AT THE NATIONAL MALL
The Musical Opening to the Rally begins at 11:45 am on the grounds of the Washington Monument.
THE MARCH FOR LIFE
The March for Life steps off at 1 pm and proceeds along Constitution Ave. to the Supreme Court.
The Rockland bus will depart from St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Nyack at 6 am for this one-day trip.
$30 Adults
$15 Students
For Reservations and information call 845-735-4379, 845-492-6709. or 845-425-1322 (para espanol). You can also email RocklandRTL@optonline.net
Unless we get a really early surge of reservations, THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE BUS THIS YEAR. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. If necessary, we will try to charter a second bus, but, unfortunately, we can’t guarantee it. We will be posting updates on the trip throughout the month on this website.
“Love Saves Lives” is the theme of the 2018 March for Life.
As March for Life President Jean Mancini put it “Choosing life is not always easy, but it is the loving, empowering, self-sacrificial option. Love is what we all strive for because deep down we are all drawn to give of ourselves in this way. Love saves lives in countless ways.”
You don’t have to be around the prolife movement very long to see love saving lives in action: the volunteers at pregnancy crisis centers and maternity homes, generous adoptive parents, sidewalk counselors, those who pray outside clinics, the educators, the fundraisers and donors who keep the charitable prolife organizations afloat, anyone who has ever reached out to a friend with an unexpected pregnancy and told her she’s not alone, that you’d be there for her.
And also among those whose love saves lives are the Marchers for Life, individuals whose passion to defend the most vulnerable among us — the unborn — draws them to Washington, D.C., each year in the largest prolife demonstration in the world. There together they become the great voice that cries “Choose Life, everyone matters! Together we can build a culture of life and a civilization of love!”
If you’d like to join other Rocklanders in the annual bus trip to the March for Life, we invite you to make a reservation today. The date is Friday, Jan. 19. The bus will leave at 6 am from the parking lot of St. Francis of Assisi Church (128 Parrott Road, West Nyack 10994). You can safely leave your car there.
It’s about a five hour drive to D.C., but the buses are comfortable coaches with lavatories. We’ll stop at a rest stop on the way down and back where you can stretch your legs and pick up something to eat.
Once we reach Washington and debark you’ll be outdoors and on your feet for the rest of the afternoon. Be sure to dress warm, in layers. We’ll let you know what sort of footwear would be best — sometimes the grounds of the National Mall, where everyone gathers for the rally, can get a little muddy. The March itself is along city streets. The group will walk together, led by experienced marchers.
At the end of the March, we’ll go to the beautiful Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, traveling together by taxi or subway. There you’ll be able to warm up, grab something to eat in the cafeteria, and attend mass if you like. Our bus will pick us up here. We’ll leave D.C. around 6 pm, and should be home by 11.
If you have any questions, please call one of the phone numbers listed above.
On this website, RocklandRTL.org, search for “March for Life” to see photos of previous marches.
Guest Artists Perform at Good Counsel’s Concert for Life
The 12-minute video you are about to watch was filmed during the Concert for Life and features three performances by the guest artists, as well as remarks by Good Counsel’s Chris Bell and Liz O’Brien, Chair of the Rockland Right to Life Committee. The voiceover is by WRCR’s Steve Possell. The video was produced by Terence Lynch of Studio Eleven Productions in West Nyack, NY.
The eighth annual Concert for Life to benefit the moms and babies at Good Counsel Homes was held on Dec. 9 at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point. The performers this year were soprano Megan Weston, a frequent guest artist at Carnegie Hall, and pianist Michael Fennelly, who has played with the Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic, and The Mueller Family Schola. Steve Possell of WRCR radio returned for his eighth year as master of ceremonies. The show was produced by Eileen Peterson.
The honoree was Liz O’Brien, Chair of the Rockland Right to Life Committee, who received an award from Good Counsel’s Executive Director Chris Bell
for her more than 45 years of work for the prolife movement.
The show ended with a Christmas carol sing-along led by Ms. Weston and the Mueller Family, accompanied by Mr. Fennelly, after which the artists and attendees gathered for a reception in the beautiful new R.Y.C. Center at the Marian Shrine.
“It was a absolutely wonderful concert,” said Liz. “You felt the magic of the coming together of the beautiful music, the most gracious artists, and love of the good people in the audience who came to support Good Counsel. All on the eve of the Second Sunday of Advent, with the snow falling gently and peacefully — a little preview of Heaven, perhaps!”
