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Archbishop Niederauer Urges Youth: WALK FOR LIFE!

As we prepare for the January 22, 2011 Walk for Life West Coast, excitement is building. From Catholic San Francisco:

Archbishop urges teens, young adults to attend Walk for Life

The thousands of teens and young adults who attend the Walk for Life West Coast will have their own party at the end of the 2 ½-mile trek along San Francisco’s waterfront.

This year, for the first time, the Walk for Life West Coast will feature an event tailored for high school and college students – a youth rally at Fort Mason Center, adjacent to Marina Green.

“The face of the pro-life movement seems to be getting younger every year,” wrote Archbishop George Niederauer in a Dec. 8 letter to high school administrators and parish and school religious education directors, urging them to facilitate teen attendance. “I have always been moved by the positive, non-confrontational attitude of the walkers – men, women and children of various races and religious traditions who come to take part in this testimony to the value of every human life.”

The Seventh Annual Walk for Life West Coast is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22, with a rally at 11 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza, followed by a walk along the Embarcadero ending at Marina Green. About 40,000 people are expected to participate, according to Vicki Evans, Respect Life coordinator for the Archdiocese. The 3 p.m. Youth Rally at Fort Mason Center will feature speakers, music and vendors. The rally is funded by the Knights of Columbus and co-sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns.

“The realization that so many young people are deeply and inherently pro-life led the Archdiocese of San Francisco to organize a rally that would bring together the young people of Walk for Life in an arena where they can participate in praise and worship, and more importantly networking with one another as the future pro-life leadership,” said Timmerie Millington, who is coordinating the event. “This is a great opportunity for the youth of America to come together in support of life where youth can network and be equipped with new ideas to promote the pro-life message.”

“I encourage the support and participation of our schools in the Walk for Life and the Youth Rally to instill in our students a deep respect for human life,” Archbishop Niederauer wrote.

Scheduled to speak at the Walk for Life are former Planned Parenthood clinic manager Abby Johnson; Mary Poirer of Prayerbreaks, who will speak of her experience with abortion; Denise and Brian Walker, founders of Everlasting Ministries; and Kathleen Eaton, founder of Birth Choice Health Clinics.

The California bishops planning to attend the Walk itself will include all four San Francisco bishops, Archbishop Niederauer, Auxiliary Bishop William Justice, Auxiliary Bishop Robert McElroy and retired Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Wang.

To learn more about the youth rally, go to youthrally.blogspot.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Walk-for-Life-Youth-Rally/138717492821290?ref=ts.

Timmerie Millington can also be reached at walk4lifeyouthrally@gmail.com.