High School Teens Encounter the Gospel of Life

Posted by Annie
This article is reprinted from the Archdiocese of Washington Department of Life Issues monthly e-newsletter; click here to subscribe.

This past July, over three hundred teens gave up a week of their summer for an annual service camp called “Encounter the Gospel of Life.” During the camp, teens were sent in small groups to various service sites throughout DC and Maryland. This year, a specifically pro-life service site called “Pro-Life Advocacy” was created to educate teens about pro-life issues, pray with them for those affected by abortion, and advocate to their politicians about the pro-life cause.

Coming into the week, most of the teens knew little about the issue of abortion; not even that crisis pregnancy centers exist. In fact, when they were told about volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, several of them interpreted this to mean watching women in a crisis labor! After volunteering at Northwest Pregnancy Center and Centro Tepeyac and learning about their work, the teens were amazed at the resources provided at life-affirming pregnancy centers.   Many, coming from public schools, had never been educated on the life-affirming choices that women can make. They were inspired by the work of these centers and resolved to learn more about being pro-life and educate their peers.

After learning more about the state of abortion in our country and Maryland specifically, the teens were fired up and ready to advocate for the unborn. Loretta Fleming from the National Committee for a Human Life Ammendment presented to the teens about how to petition on Capitol Hill and about current issues in abortion politics. The teens had an opportunity to meet with a staffer from Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s office on Capitol Hill. Three teens presented an oral statement asking Van Hollen to de-fund Planned Parenthood and support life-affirming pregnancy centers. They all wrote him letters and gave him signatures from other pro-life teens who attended “Encounter.” This was a wonderful opportunity for the young people to be involved in the political process, and to represent their pro-life generation.

St. Gianna, pray for us

Prayer, offered through the intercession of Saint Gianna Molla, was the cornerstone of the Pro-Life Advocacy site. Many of the teens noted that the horror of abortion became real to them when praying outside of the Germantown abortion clinic where Leroy Carhart performs late term abortions. On the last day of “Encounter” the teens witnessed first-hand the effect of prayer. When praying outside of the Planned Parenthood on 16^th Street, a clinic worker started watering the flowers around the teens’ feet. When that did not distract the prayerful teens, he turned on a sprinkler on them. Not to be dissuaded, the teens spread out among the gardens, and knelt on mulch and concrete and silently prayed - some of them where they would be sprayed by the sprinkler as a greater sacrifice. The police were called, and arrived to find the teens silently, peacefully, and legally kneeling. Clinic workers stepped outside and laughed and pointed at the teens while taking pictures of them.

The reactions of the Planned Parenthood workers did nothing but affirm for the teens the power of their prayer. It was a concrete example of prayer stirring the hearts of the clinic workers. At least two of the teens had a change of heart and became pro-life during this experience. The entire week of Encounter was a beautiful witness to the fact that through pro-life education, advocacy, and prayer, a few peaceful teens can have a great effect on the culture of death!

Photo:  baby Alekhya by Alicakes