Evangelization Outreach / Brie Anne Varick

Youth rally and Mass for Life offer signs of hope in the pro-life movement

On Jan. 22, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis hosted the annual Indiana Youth Rally and Mass for Life at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. This year marked the ninth annual gathering that brought together Catholics from across the state for prayer, formation and public witness to the dignity of human life.

That day, we welcomed more than 1,500 youths from all five Indiana dioceses for the Youth Rally for Life, and nearly 2,000 youths and adults joined us for the Mass for Life that followed.

The Youth Rally for Life was created with a mission: to inspire, equip and empower young people to be missionary disciples of the “Gospel of Life.” The event offered dynamic speakers, inspiring music, opportunities for confession, and the chance to interact with pro‑life ministries that serve women, children and families throughout local communities.

The Mass for Life brought together people of all ages to pray for a culture in which every person is valued and the vulnerable are protected. The bishops of Indiana concelebrated the Mass with clergy from across the state. This year, we were blessed to have Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson serve as the principal celebrant. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend was the homilist, and Bishop Timothy L. Doherty of Lafayette offered a special blessing for those participating in the March for Life that followed.

As I prepared and prayed for this year’s events, my heart was especially drawn to the division and hostility present in our communities, our Church and our country.

I prayed for all our Catholic schools and parishes sending their youths, as well as those who were unable to join us.

During prayer, the Lord reminded me: “I am the face of the pro‑life movement.” I pondered this truth and was reminded of the passage in the Gospel of Matthew, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, you do unto me” (Mt 25:40). I was reminded that Jesus is the face of the vulnerable, the unborn, the disabled, the elderly, the dying, the immigrant and the poor.

Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, our keynote speaker at the rally, offered a powerful witness to this truth by sharing stories of her ministry to the vulnerable—stories of infants in a neonatal intensive care unit, children with short but joy-filled lives and elderly individuals suffering memory loss or illness. She reminded participants that every human person bears a unique dignity and has a purpose that not only reveals God’s love but reveals the face of Christ.

Jesus’ revelation to me in prayer as well as Mother Olga’s witness reaffirmed that the teachings of the Church cannot be separated from the person of Jesus Christ. Relationship leads to understanding, and understanding leads us deeper into relationship. The youth rally and the Mass together embodied this rhythm—encounter, formation and communion.

On Jan. 22, I witnessed the face of Christ in our youths, our adults, our families, our clergy and religious, and in the many volunteers who served at this event. The faith, joy and courage of our youth and families are signs of a Church alive and moving forward in hope.

My prayer is that all who attended not only encountered the face of Christ, but were reminded that we are all called to reveal his face to the world.
 

(Brie Anne Varick is the director of archdiocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity within the Secretariat for Evangelizing Catechesis. She can be reached at bvarick@archindy.org.) †