The 11th annual March For Life will be held January 22nd, 2019 at noon at the Defiance Courthouse. The march is sponsored by Mother Teresa Respect For Life. The purpose of the March For Life is for participants to walk and stand up for unborn children who cannot speak for themselves. The local march will be held in conjunction with the March For Life event that is held January 16th in Washington D.C.
Father Stephen Stanberry from St. Peter Catholic Church, Archobld, will offer prayer at the start of the march. A police escort will lead participants from the Defiance County Courthouse to the Monument of the Unborn at the St. John Catholic Church property, located on Jackson Avenue. Jamie Blank will host the march and lead a prayer for life at the monument. From there the event moves to the basement of St. John’s where Bob Schoen, father of 6 children, 10 grandchildren, member of St. Vincent de Paul, where he is president of the conference of St. Catherine, will talk on the ministires of Prayer Warrior, Presence and Sidewalk Counseling and how they save lives and convert hearts. Divine Mercy Catholic School from Payne will present their winning essay from the school “What being pro-life means to you”.
Culture Project is a group of young people set out to restore culture through the experience of virtue and will talk about proclaiming the dignity of the human person inviting our culture to become fully alive.
Victor Pham, who works at VIP nail salon during the day and MMA with Jesus Saves and Heroin Kills at night, will speak of how the doctors told his mom to abort him to save her life because of complications and how God saved him before he was born.
Jim Zipfel will share his musical talent by singing ‘He’s got the Whole World in His hands’ and ‘God Bless America’. Father Stanberry will close the event with prayer and a blessing.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be celebrated by Father John Stites of Defiance. Throughout the day there will be exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament with Benediction at 4:45 p.m. with Deacon Nick Varano officiating.
Hot chocolate will be offered in the church basement.
