On the evening of Tuesday, April 15, Gr. 11 student Isabella Arruda was guest speaker at a Catholic Women’s League meeting at St. Bonaventure’s Church in North York. As Hawthorn’s Character Education Representative on the Student Council, Isabella rose to the occasion of reaching out for support for her initiative to bring a group of Upper School students to the National March for Life and Youth Summit in Ottawa next month. Speaking on behalf of unborn babies, Isabella led the group in prayer for all women who hold the miracle of life in them. She invited the CWL to consider investing in Hawthorn’s young women who want to go against the current to protect life in Canada, and to say yes to funding our efforts toward the March for Life.
‘It is vital for Hawthorn, as a school of young women, who may be discerning what the Lord is asking of them, that they show other women that we do care about them, that if their unborn baby had a voice they would be asking their mom to choose life and to care about them… let’s be the start and fulfillment of civilization for our fellow women with: care, concern and compassion.’
Isabella’s eloquent and courageous presentation to the CWL was met with tears, encouragement, praise, and wholehearted applause. We are so proud to announce that, thanks to her efforts and gift of connection with others, the CWL has decided to put some financial support behind this important student initiative, a project in which Hawthorn’s young women are stepping forward to carry the torch of faith that life is good, and that every human being has value, no matter how young or small.
Thank you, Isabella, and every good wish on Hawthorn’s student trip to the National March for Life, May 7-9, 2025!
Isabella Arruda’s Speech to the Catholic Women’s League
Thank you for inviting me to speak to you this evening about my initiative to bring fellow students to the March for Life in Ottawa this coming May. Supposedly, I’m here on behalf of my school to give a proposal to you about why you should donate money to our cause, BUT, I’m really here on behalf of the unborn babies being intentionally killed who need people to fight for them.
For those of you who do not know Hawthorn School, it is a small, all-girls, Catholic-inspired, independent school that is just a few streets away from here. Almost everyday at 12 noon, we say a prayer that -over the years- has grown dear to my heart. Bear with me, as it relates to tonight’s talk.
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
There are women who have conceived but don’t know that they are being called by the Lord to do something great through the miracle of life he has placed in them. You are here tonight, coincidence? A coincidence is an occasion when God has chosen to remain silent. While you listen, in the silence of your hearts, I invite you to consider what the Lord might be asking of us.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord
Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.
I think often of Mary’s yes, of my mother’s yes, of a mother’s possible no. What would be the reason for a no? They think nobody cares about them, that nobody is there for them. Hawthorn being on Parliament Hill would mean that we care and we are there. It could mean one no becoming a yes.
And the Word was made flesh
And dwelt amongst us.
The Word was made flesh-this says to me that so precious is a baby that Jesus would choose this for himself. It also says to me that the voice came to life. Too often we hear it said that we have to give a voice to the voiceless. We have to speak up for life. This is what we at Hawthorn are called to do.
I believe that Hawthorn’s presence at the March for Life is vital-no pun intended. It is vital for Hawthorn, as a school of young women, who may be discerning what the Lord is asking of them, that they show other women that we do care about them, that if their unborn baby has a voice they would be asking their mom to choose life and to care about them. As Friar Paul so eloquently said at mass two Sundays ago, let’s be the start and fulfillment of civilization for our fellow women with care, concern and compassion.
I’ve done some research on the cost of attending the March for Life. We plan to arrive in Ottawa on May 7 to participate in the Candlelight Vigil. We would gather on Parliament Hill the next day, march along the streets of downtown Ottawa, hear testimonies, then attend the Rose Dinner and hear a pro-life speaker. The next day, we would participate in the youth summit and hear from inspirational speakers and engage in discussions with our fellow youth. After that, we would return to Toronto. To take the train, stay in a safe hotel for 2 nights, attend the Rose Dinner and Youth Summit, the cost would amount to around $400 per student. I don’t know how much funding the CWL can provide, but I would be happy if 40 Hawthorn students could attend the March for Life this year. Are you able to invest in 40 young women who want to go against the current to protect life in this country?
Please join Hawthorn by saying yes to funding our efforts toward the March for Life. Thank you.