Winter winds tug at the CDA Banner in Washington, DC, while board members brave the weather at the National Prolife Rally. Pictured here, left to right, are Janet Martineau (National Director of Sidney, Mont.), Susan More (National Director, Ariz.), Shirley Seyfried (National Regent, Minn.), Jeanette Kitsch (Board Member, Penn.), Margaret Site (National Legislative Chair, N. Dak.), and Mary Impellizeri (National Executive Secretary, New Y.).
By Janet Martineau, National Director
On January 21, 2016, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas National Board was represented at the March for Life in our nation’s capital. Our first event was the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. We arrived 6 hours prior to hold our pews in front. Over the afternoon buses unloaded thousands of students who had traveled from across the country for this annual event, which began in response to the Supreme Court Decision legalizing abortion. Soon the entire Basilica on all levels was overflowing. I was impressed with the respectful reverence of the young people. The procession of Deacons, Abbots, Priests, Bishops and Cardinals took 30 minutes. The Principal Celebrant His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York shared the story of a young mother who, unable to care for her child but confident of a parishes’ compassion, brought her young baby to the Cresch and laid him in the manager. We were encouraged to be such compassionate people in our own communities.
The next day wintery weather challenged our dedication as blustery winds tugged our CDA Banner and chilled our extremities. But the spirit was strong as we moved down Constitution Ave. to the Supreme Court. Our National Regent Shirley Seyfried and her husband Dave were able to see their grandsons at the Mass and March. Youth were everywhere as were seminarians and this confirmed that the prolife struggle is being carried by that generation.
Our third event as a board was an evening and day long presentation and Mass by Father Shenan J. Boquet from Human Life International (hli.org) which Margaret Sitte, our National Legislative Chair, had arranged. We learned of their efforts on an international scope to promote and protect life at all stages. Because of the blizzard our travels home were delayed, but we used the first sunny day to walk to the White House. Two groups of students from Lansing, Mich., and St. Louis Dioceses were at our hotel and joined us for Mass. It was refreshing to see their enthusiasm and spirituality. Those buses of prolife youth from Bismarck and Fargo, which were stranded on the highways returning home, caught the attention of the national media which usually ignores this gathering of thousands demonstrating their support for life at all stages. 
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