March for Life Victoria 2023

3 adults, 3 young people and 3 seniors participated in the 2023 March for Life in Victoria on May 11^th, 2023.

We left from Immaculate Conception parking lot, in two vehicles, at 8:15 AM for Sacred Heart church in Ladner, BC where we attended Holy Mass celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop J. Michael Miller at 9:15AM. Many people from other parishes in the Lower Mainland were also in attendance.

Immediately after Mass we boarded 3 school buses to take us to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen, for the 11:00AM ferry to Schwartz Bay (Victoria). We walked on; walked off at the other end and boarded similar buses to take us to the March for Life.

The March for Life started at about 1:45PM from Centennial Square in Victoria, and there were a lot of people, especially young people and students from various schools. Lots of Pro-Life signs could be seen and we had our own custom made signs, as well as a banner with our parish name on it. Be sure to look at the pictures of this event, taken by one or two of us, and posted on the parish web-site at icdelta.ca. You will find them in a photo album under Ministries/Pro-Life Group.

The March proceeded right down the middle of one of Victoria’s main thoroughfares, Government Street, to the BC Legislature building. There were an estimated 1000 Pro-Lifers of all ages in attendance and as is usual, the police had closed off all the cross streets on the route, and stopped all traffic. It was really something to see. All the bystanders on the sidewalk could not miss our message – life is precious, life is sacred, each human being - especially the un-born – has the right to life, abortion is wrong precisely because of that; first because it is against the laws of God and second, because an innocent baby in the womb has her or his life taken away. Some bystanders gave us nods of approval but we also had some hecklers, as we always do. Part of the code of conduct for the March is not to get into discussions or arguments with bystanders – which is what we did. Just kept on marching – and smiling. Some prayed the Rosary and some were singing popular hymns. It was really great to be a part of this.

The weather was perfect – mostly sunny, temperatures in the low 20°s and with a slight breeze.

At the Legislature Building there was a mini-grandstand set up on the side, from which the speakers for the event spoke. Usually this is done from the steps of the Legislature, but this year the whole front of the Legislature was closed off with construction fences because of some work that was being done to the building. There were three or four speakers who spoke eloquently and received much applause – and around 3:15PM it was time to catch our buses to head back to the ferry. Again, we walked on to the ferry; walked off at the other end, where we boarded the same buses that brought us to the ferry, for the trip back to Sacred Heart. Then we drove back to Immaculate Conception arriving around 7:30PM, after a wonderful, if a little tiring, day. BUT ALL IN A VERY GOOD CAUSE.

Mark your calendars – next year the March for Life will be on Thursday 9^th May 2024.                                                                Why don’t you join us?