By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

(Photos by Evan Strobel)

In the sub-zero, pre-dawn hours of Jan. 22, 35 years to the day that the Supreme Court legalized abortion, approximately 50 area youth and adult chaperones met in joint determination to rally in defense of life.

At sites from Garden City to Great Bend, yawning youth, the frigid temperatures biting at their faces, boarded buses for Topeka to take part in the rally.

Leading the charge was Father Wesley Schawe, parochial vicar of Prince of Peace Parish in Great Bend.

"I thought it was a really inspiring day," Father Schawe said. "The keynote speaker at the rally, Dr. Peggy Elliott, captured everyone’s attention when she talked about the healing and forgiveness available to anyone suffering after an abortion. That’s so important for our young people to hear."

Pam Vainer, one of the adult chaperones and a DRE at Prince of Peace, said that the speaker commented on the number of youth at the event.

"She said the pro-life movement was a movement supported by a new generation, compared to the older crowd gathered inside for the pro-choice rally."

The frigid temperatures made the turnout all the more impressive. After arriving in Topeka, the group marched to the capitol where they joined with other groups from across the state for the rally. Afterwards, the group attended Mass at nearby Assumption Church, and enjoyed lunch in the church basement.

"I’m always so impressed with our young people," Father Schawe said. "You can see how the wheels are turning as they make connections throughout the day about the dignity of the human person and the value of life even before conception. I was especially pleased by the large response from our Hispanic community in Dodge City, Garden City, and Great Bend. They are such a valuable part of our Church, and their commitment to life -- including the trip on Tuesday the 22nd -- is just a wonderful witness."

The event didn’t begin with the group’s arrival in Topeka, but instead it began after boarding the bus in the very early morning hours for the more than 10 hour round trip. The youth sang and prayed the Rosary, and Father Schawe took some time to speak to the youth about stem cell research and other pro-life issues.

On an earlier trip, Father Schawe told the youth that one baby is killed by an abortion in the United States every 22 seconds, which means that by the end of their five-and-a-half hour bus ride to Topeka, nearly 900 babies had been aborted.

After lunch, Father Schawe received a comment that exemplified the notion that the youth were a sign of hope in the fight for an end to abortion and other anti-life practices.

"It makes me proud to be from the Diocese of Dodge City when I hear things like what a group of people told me at the lunch after Mass across the street from the capitol building: ‘It’s great to see this group of kids -- bring them back next year!’"