The March for Life in D.C.

Jesuit High School's Pro-Life Club traveled to Washington D.C. for four days last week (Jan. 19-22) to participate in the annual March for Life. 

Led by school president Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J. and Pro-Life Club moderator Nathan Doerr, 51 students joined the tens of thousands who marched to the steps of the Supreme Court, demonstrating their support for the unborn's right to life.

This is the 13th time a contingent from Jesuit has represented their school at the March for Life, which was held for the 49th time since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion at the federal level. 

The Pro-Life Club members and their seven chaperones spent four chilly days on pilgrimage in the nation's capital (Wednesday, Jan. 19 – Saturday, Jan. 22). Shortly after their arrival on Wednesday afternoon, they visited a Planned Parenthood clinic and prayed the Rosary. That night, they toured the Basilica of the National Shrine at Catholic University, where they had the special experience of an evening Mass.

On Thursday, the students visited another Jesuit school, Georgetown Prep, in nearby North Bethesda, Md. There, they toured the campus and celebrated Mass in the beautiful Chapel of Our Lady.

Before heading to the March for Life on Friday (Jan. 21), the group attended Mass at St. Aloysius Church at Gonzaga College High School in D.C., which is also a Jesuit school. They were joined by students from Jesuit schools from across the country who also were in D.C. for the March for Life. 

By Noon, they were on the lawn of the National Mall, the starting point of the March and the location of the preceding Rally for the Unborn. From there, they marched in solidarity with tens of thousands of others to the steps of the Supreme Court, holding high their Jesuit Pro-Life banner.

Before their flight home on Saturday, the group visited Gettysburg National Military Park, where they toured the historic battlefield. They also celebrated Mass at the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md.

Chaperone Jonathan Barlaan '07 posted daily during the trip on the @TigerPilgrims Instagram account, and for more photos view the photo slideshow below. Below that is a list of Jesuit's participants in the March.

2022 March for Life participants: Gianluca Mammola '22, Adrian Cancio Rodriguez '22, Michael Beard '22, Trey George '22, Matt Bencivenga '22, Chase Minacci '22, Zach Wilson '22, Liam Conroy '22, Andrew Callahan '22, Ethan Crall '22, Bryce Myers '22, Xavier Aya-Ay '22, Matthew Justin '22, Jonah Tran '22, Nathanael Moore '22, Andrew Wilson '22, Caleb Williams '22, Max Jeffrey '22, Luis Kortright '22, Ashton Buchanan '22, Dakota Colangelo '22, Matthew Tran '22, Grayson Traber '22, Johnny Kilkelly '22, Hector Duarte '22, Jackson Graham '22, Nick Wolf '22, Justin Oates '22, Pickens Price '22, Ryan Denison '22, Sean Kenny '22, Carter Kreis '22, Franco Capitano '22, Dominic Cartaya '22, Cole Hampton '22, Joseph Commesso '23, Sasha Fiola '23, Matthew Griffith '23, Aidan Mahoney '23, John Consuegra '24, Chris Kelly '24, C.J. Kilkelly '24, Jake Killian '24, Lucas Lopez '24, Marvin Martirez '24, Diego Mejia Omana '24, Carlos Pasquotto '24, Dominic Rossi '24, James Slack '24, Aidan Agustines '25, and Carlos Lamoutte '25

2022 March for Life chaperones: Jonathan Barlaan '07, Denise Diaz, Nathan Doerr, Allison Doerr, Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J., Jennifer Prickel, and Mr. Connor Smith, S.J.