Sacred Heart students join March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Sacred Heart students, sponsors and chaperones returned Sunday, January 25, from a wonderful trip to Washington, D.C., for the 42nd annual March for Life. While the group was in the nation’s capital for the pro-life demonstration, they also did many other things.
On Wednesday afternoon, the group headed to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to assist at the National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass. Cardinal Sean O’Malley (Archbishop of Boston) was the principal celebrant, and Father Brian Harrington concelebrated.
Before participating in the march, on Thursday morning, the group visited the Smithsonian Museums. Afterward, the group participated in the March for Life, where nearly 600,000 people voiced their opposition to abortion. It was awe-inspiring to see so many people gathered in defense of life. After the march, the group returned to the hotel and then headed for the Cheesecake Factory for a well-deserved meal. Later that evening, the group gathered with other schools from the Diocese of Lafayette to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Friday morning started with a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, followed by Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, including the Lourdes Grotto. Father Harrington celebrated Holy Mass at St. Mary’s Chapel on the Hill, also known as the Glass Chapel. The same afternoon, the group visited the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
On Saturday, the group headed for the Franciscan monastery. This unique monastery, built in the late 1800s, has replicas of shrines like those that one would find in the holy land. That same afternoon, the group visited the national monuments. After which it headed to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to assist at the Sunday Vigil Mass, at which Father Harrington concelebrated again.
Sacred Heart School offered thanks to all the people who helped students make this special trip. In particular, Sacred Heart School thanked the parent-chaperones and family members: Rebecca Ardoin, Jeanne Bordelon, Nicole Buller, Jennifer DeRouen, Jessica Douget, Jamie Fontenot, Karen Fontenot, Libby Guillory, Amy LaFleur, Sandra LaFleur, Chantel LaHaye, Carolyn Martin, Wendy McCoy, Sandy Morein and Cindy Pitre.
SHS also thanked Father Harrington for his priestly service on the trip; and Magnificat Travel’s Kelli Davis, who served as liaison. Sacred Heart School said the staff of Magnificat Travel, as usual, did a great job of organizing the trip, making sure that the experience was holy and memorable.