Footprints for Life Cultivates Pro-Life Values in Children

Natasia Kissinger’s motherhood journey fueled her desire to change the “throwaway culture” mindset in which human lives are seen as disposable. This led her to create the Footprints for Life program.

Kissinger spoke about the program in a presentation sponsored by the Diocese of Baton Rouge Office of Life, Peace & Justice on Oct. 10 at the Catholic Life Center.

Kissinger and her husband, Ricky, have six children. When Kissinger gave birth to her third child, Kylie, 22 years ago, Kylie spent eight days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

“She was born at 37 weeks, which is full term, but she couldn’t inhale and eat at the same time, so she had to have a feeding tube,” said Kissinger.

“While I was sitting there one night worried about my other two kids at home and this one is in the NICU, I saw babies and all these doctors and nurses scrambling trying to help them and I thought -- right down the street is the largest abortion clinic in the state where they were killing babies these same ages. And the Holy Spirit touched me.”

Kissinger was raised Catholic but being pro-life wasn’t “a big thing” when she went to high school. 

“There wasn’t a pro-life life club or things like that. (I thought) I know I need to do something to help save these babies. I don’t know what I’m going to do … I’ve got one in the NICU right now, a 2-year-old boy I’m trying to potty train at home, and a five-year old little girl,” said Kissinger.

When Kissinger’s oldest daughter, Alexis, was in sixth grade she said, “Mom I want to start a pro-life club.” Kissinger and her daughter worked on establishing it together.

As Kissinger searched for information for the club, she said, “there wasn’t much out there.” 

“But I knew the three things that I wanted to form it on were the truth, the dignity of, and compassion for the human person,” stated Kissinger.

Her father owned a small car dealership and the two formed Auto Dealers for Life. The dealers donated monies, with the proceeds being given to various pregnancy centers or to a school for pregnant girls. When her father passed away ten years ago, Kissinger developed the “Footprints for Life” program.

Who is called to build this culture of life?’ We all are -- everyone, parents, older teenagers ...  – Natasia Kissinger

“The program is based on dignity, compassion and truth, and protecting life from conception until natural death. And then we ask, ‘Who is called to build this culture of life?’ We all are -- everyone, parents, older teenagers ...,” Kissinger said.

She added, “We are all called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our homes, in our classrooms, in our schools, and in our community.”

The program is important because according to polls, 60 percent of Catholics believe that abortion should be legal, Kissinger stated.

“Children need to learn the truth,” said Kissinger, who discovered a lot of children’s parents were not living pro-life values. Mothers were living with boyfriends, etc.

“They are not teaching their children to abstain from sex until they’re married, to respect the dignity of yourself and your personhood,” said Kissinger.

She knew two mothers of 16-year-old daughters who said they were putting their daughters “on the pill because they couldn’t handle a pregnancy.”

“It’s up to those of us who are able to reach out through a school or through a club of any kind as Catholics. I believe we are called to keep instilling the truth because you never know what might be the one thing that you say to this child or one thing that comes up in a classroom, or a conversation or something,” Kissinger said.

To underscore her point, Kissinger said a few years ago she spoke to middle school students in Metairie about abstinence. After the program, a seventh grader told her, “Thank you. I was going to have sex with my boyfriend this weekend, and you just changed my mind.”

“I touched this child, and I prayed for her,” Kissinger said.

One reason children abstain from sex, believe in themselves, and do better in school is that their parents believe in them, Kissinger pointed out.

Kissinger said, “Not every child has a parent who believes in them, so if you are involved with a child, you can be the wind beneath their wings and be the belief they are looking for.”

Footprints for Life has been successful in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Kissinger looks to expand it into the Baton Rouge diocese.

The program can be adapted for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, and lessons are age appropriate. 

Every lesson focuses on the United States Conference Bishops’ respect life issues and addresses a different topic – the elderly, people with disabilities, the homeless, the incarcerated. Lessons provide opportunities for prayers, PowerPoint presentations, discussions, and activities.

Jorge Lavastida, Coordinator of the Office of Life, Peace & Justice for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, highlighted the critical role Footprints for Life plays in affirming the dignity of youth and inspiring them to do the same for others.

“It is undeniable that the 50 years of Roe vs. Wade created an environment where many in our society feel more at home with at least some acceptance of abortion,” Lavastida said. 

 “This is also what our young people live with and absorb every day through social and other media. And this is why Natasia Kissinger’s Footprints for Life program is timely, inspired, and hopeful. Moving dignity of life education curriculums to the younger age groups is the next and needed step in our culture of life journey.”  

For more information about Footprints for Life and other pro-life resources, visit choosethechild.com.