On the third Monday of each month, the Effingham Right to Life group meets at a different parish in the deanery. Members pray the rosary, celebrate Mass and have a business meeting afterward to discuss current life issues. One of the issues discussed at the March meeting was lack of attendance.
“Every parish we travel to, we see the same faithful, dedicated pro-lifers, but never many new faces,” said group member Judy Repking. “It was mentioned that years ago, the RTL group had a float in the summer parades. Since people don’t make time to come to us, we should bring our message to them. This summer all the political candidates will be in the parades getting their name and message out to voters. We should do the same.”
After lots of prayer and planning the dream became a reality. The most prominent feature of the float is an eight-foot high shrine. The front side of the shrine depicts the Divine Mercy Jesus with the chaplet phrase “Have mercy on us and on the whole world.” The back side of the shrine depicts Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Unborn and the Americas.
“Summer parades are usually very patriotic in nature and it is only fitting that Mary has her place too,” Repking said. “Our mobile shrine is a sight to behold coming down the street.”
The float’s first parade was the Teutopolis Knights of Columbus parade on June 13. Before the parade Father Austin Albers, OFM, from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Teutopolis blessed the float.
“With God by our side, we hit the streets to spread our pro-life message: ‘Pray for Life, Protect all Life and Vote Pro-Life in November,’” Repking said.
In addition to Teutopolis, the float has been to parades in the Effingham, Neoga, Dieterich, Mattoon and Altamont communities. This fall it will be headed to Charleston and Newton.
“By the November election we will have handed out thousands of pro-life prayer cards,” Repking said. “Each person who reads that card will be praying for life and God willing they will come to understand the pro-life message that all life is precious.
“At each parade we utilize the youth of the community,” she said. “We have young children riding on the float symbolizing the beauty of life. They hold red roses, which symbolizes those who have been martyred through abortion. We have teenagers walking along side the float passing out pro-life prayer cards to the adults and Lifesaver® candy to the children. Others walk behind carrying a beautiful handmade rosary and pro-life signs. We hope that by including these teenagers we ignite a passion for pro-life in their hearts. As they mature into adults we hope and pray that they will be our future pro-life leaders.”
Repking says their group is grateful to “all the wonderful teenagers and adults who have come forth to work the parades.”
“The summer parades have been hot and tiring. It is indeed a labor of love working for those who have no voice but ours,” she said.