The March that no one knew about, but 10 thousand showed up for anyway
FIELD NOTES 09/27/2021 — Harrisburg, PA
I didn’t know what to do.
I had just wrapped up coverage of the 1st Annual March for Martyrs in Washington, DC, when a fellow photographer asked me. “Are you covering the March for Life in Harrisburg on Monday?” To which, in my characteristically debonair style, I replied, “Wait, what?”
I hadn’t heard a peep about any March for Life in Harrisburg, or any place else for that matter. Well, that’s tragically par for the course with too many events. More on that later.
After a brief wrestling match with my conscience, I made the necessary arrangements and set my GPS for Harrisburg, PA.
In all honesty, I had no great expectations. But it was the 1st Annual March for Life in Pennsylvania’s history, and that was enough to warrant a trip.
Events need media coverage. They also need social media coverage. That’s how we know they happened. That’s how the message gets heard.
[You can read my article on Aleteia.org HERE]
Early that morning, I walked through the quiet city streets to the opening Mass and arrived to a packed Cathedral.
A film crew from Spirit Juice Studios was on location, which meant that the Knights of Columbus had a hand in this. And shout out to the Knights; if it weren’t for their generous support and dedication, these events would be a shadow of what they are.
As the Mass concluded, the faithful spilled onto the street to make their journey to the rally point.
I went and got a cup of coffee. And then I went to the rally point. Priorities.
Okay. So this is the point where I get to tell you much of a fool I am, and gladly so. When I walked to the rear of the stage (from the back) and gazed at the assembled masses sporting their messages of life and faith and just plain ‘ol love. I literally burst into joyful laughter! There were SO MANY PEOPLE!!!
I probably expected a few hundred, which would be fine, but this, this, THIS. No. Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined this.
There’s a moral to this.
And it’s funny. It’s something that I keep telling people, and yet apparently, I still have to learn it myself.
Good people are doing amazing things in every corner of the world. There are selfless acts of Love, heroic acts of faith, and bountiful acts of charity.
They’re EVERYWHERE.
Just because you don’t see it on the news…well, let’s just forget that right off the bat.
Just because you haven’t heard…nope, strike that.
Let’s try it this way.
Christ’s Love continues to bring life, hope, and healing to the world as it has since time and memorial.
He continues to work through those He’s called and those who cooperate with His Grace.
We live in a fallen world, and that seems to be the thing everybody likes to focus on.
But there’s more good than bad, more hope than despair, and more Love than hate.
Do your part. Be the change you wish to see in the world.
And smile. Because life’s a gift. And you’ve received it. And please pray for and support all those facing an unplanned pregnancy, that one day their child can celebrate this gift too.
