For pro-lifers across northwest Arkansas who are unable to travel to the annual March for Life in either Washington, D.C., or Little Rock, the Northwest Arkansas Catholic Respect Life Council will hold its first March for Life Jan. 22.
“We’ve thought about doing it for a couple of years, but we didn’t want to discourage people from going to Little Rock because they have a big march there,” said Sheila Pursell, executive director of the council. The Little Rock March for Life will be held Jan. 17.
“There are a lot of people who would like to go to Washington, D.C., or to Little Rock and are just not able to make the trip. So we thought we’d have one here.”
There are three clinics in Arkansas where surgical or chemical abortions occur, including one in Fayetteville. The march, which will take place on the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case which legalized abortion in the United States, will start with Mass at St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville at 8:15 a.m. For those who do not attend Mass, everyone will meet in the St. Joseph parking lot at 9 a.m. to start the 2.9-mile trek to the Planned Parenthood clinic.
“I’d like several hundred people to come to the first one, but I don’t know. We’ll just pray whoever is supposed to be there will be there,” Pursell said. “It’s a way for folks to publicly take a stand with other like-minded people in their belief in the sacredness of human life.”
In keeping with the Year of Mercy, Pursell said marchers will pray the Divine Mercy chaplet once they reach the clinic.
“It’s vital because the infinite divine mercy of Jesus Christ is for everyone,” she said. “A lot of times people will think that pro-lifers think only about the pre-born babies. But we’re there just as much with the mother who is struggling with an unplanned pregnancy, the abortion workers and the abortionist, those who have had an abortion — his mercy is for everyone. Throughout the country there have been hundreds of abortion clinic workers that have left their business. Deep down inside there’s the truth and everyone knows at some level it’s a baby … God’s mercy is there for us when we’ve made the wrong decision.”
There will be limited transportation back from Planned Parenthood, so marchers are encouraged to carpool, leaving a car near the clinic and at the church. Refreshments will be provided after the walk at St. Joseph, but marchers are also encouraged to bring a sack lunch as it will be a few hours, Pursell said.
Those unable to participate in walking to the clinic can pray at St. Joseph during adoration.
The respect life council is hopeful the march is a success, negating any reason to ever have to march again, Pursell said.
“I hope this is the last time we have it. We want the abortion center to be closed,” she said. “That’s my hope is that Arkansas will be a safe place for the pre-born and their mothers.”
For more information, search “NWA March for Life” on Facebook, call Pursell at (469) 231-1959 or e-mail nwarespectlifecouncil@gmail.com.
