From May 13th to 15th, sixteen Upper School Hawthorn students ventured out to the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa in response to the call ‘Follow me’ at the National March for Life and the Pro-Life Youth Summit. Thank you to participant Madeleine ’26, whose wonderful, detailed reflections appeared in the latest issue of our school newspaper, Veritas. A few of her inspiring words are copied here in italics.
Our visit began with a late-evening Candlelight Vigil at St Theresa Roman Catholic Church, at which a Catholic folk band played and personal testimonies were shared in the flickering light. It was a beautiful, melancholy event that prepared everyone’s hearts for what was to come. The next morning, we joined a hand-selected choir of over 60 singers for Mass celebrated by Archbishop Marcel Damphousse of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall at the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame. Canadian choral conductor, organist, and educator Jeffrey Moellman led the SATB choristers in an early-morning rehearsal in the crypt of the cathedral, and we were so very fortunate to have him lead us weeks earlier right here on campus at HGS as we prepared for this important, national, bilingual Mass.
We joined over 7,000 people on Parliament Hill for the official rally for the March for Life and then marched, shouted, prayed, talked, sang, laughed, and danced our way through downtown Ottawa. It was…. exhilarating. When truth is present in a cause, it makes it exceedingly nobler. After the march, HSG was welcomed into the heart of our nation’s capital for a private tour of our historical, vital, beautiful Parliament Buildings. Thank you to our guide, George! The evening’s Rose Dinner brought together hundreds of Canadian students to share a gala dinner, make new friendships, and hear famous speakers address the life-and-death subjects of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The next day’s Youth Summit at the Ottawa Conference and Events Centre began with a Catholic Mass, provided a wonderful breakfast and lunch, and highlighted insightful, inspiring talks, including ‘Caring for Seniors in a Changing World’, ‘Pro-Life 101’, ‘How to Reach Gen Z with Hope and Dignity’, and ‘Trusting God with Your Future’. Again, in Maddy’s words, We left feeling hopeful and encouraged to go out into the world and truly make a difference.
Special thanks to Ms Yu, Director of Admissions, and Ms Jurado, Director of Character Education, who accompanied us on our excursion and who walked with us every step of the way. We couldn’t have done it without you!
