Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and other LIFE Runners from around the country were to have started off the day of the march at 8 a.m. in the Nellie Gray 5K run/walk in East Potomac Park. Later that morning Bishop Paprocki was to join members of his diocese at St. Peter Church in downtown Washington to celebrate Mass for them before the group headed over to the National Mall to participate in the March for Life.
Two bus caravans, one organized by Becky Bauerle of Vandalia, and another organized by Kyle Holtgrave, the diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry, were filled with youth, chaperones, deacons, priests and other Pro Life advocates who wanted to participate in the March for Life.
"Jerseyville alone filled one bus with 54 people," said Bauerle. Others in that caravan were from: Mother of Dolors, Vandalia; St. Francis DeSales, Moweaqua; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Assumption; St. Louis, Nokomis; St. Mary, Taylorville, and Ss. Peter and Paul, Collinsville.
Father Dan Willenborg, pastor of St. Louis Parish, Nokomis, traveled with the Bauerle group. In addition, a number of Vandalia-area college students who attend Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., returned home to go with the group to the March for Life.
Father Hyland Smith from Our Saviour, Jacksonville, flew out to join the group.
Holtgrave's group included most of the Springfield Blessed Sacrament eighth-grade class, some from Christ the King, a group from St. Joseph Parish, and a member of St. John Lutheran's Church. Others in that caravan are from: Resurrection, Illiopolis; St. Anthony of Padua, Effingham; St. Cecelia, Glen Carbon; some from the Archdiocese of St. Louis; Quincy University; St. Peter, Quincy; Our Saviour, Jacksonville, and St. Maurice, Morrisonville.
"Father Brian Alford is traveling with us, as are Deacons Dave Erdman, Jerry Cato and Patrick O'Toole," said Holtgrave.
Another charter bus, carrying 30 of the 49 students at Father McGivney High School in Maryville, was organized by Jason Schreder, McGivney's faith formation director and girls basketball coach.
"Considering our team has 11 members, and nine of them are going to the March, we didn't plan any games during this time," Schreder said.