Youth invigorated by speaking out for life of the unborn at March for Life

Youth of the Diocese of Baton Rouge returned home energized and profoundly changed through the friendships they made, heart-stirring encounters they experienced, and difficulties they offered up in prayer and sacrifice during their pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., for the 2024 March for Life on January 19.

“(The March) was a truly moving experience for me, as I was able to see and experience many things I never thought I'd get the opportunity to do,” said Baylie Patt, a senior at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge.

Inspired by the enthusiasm of the thousands of people marching at the nation’s capital to be a voice for the unborn, Patt said, “I realized that all of us were there for a purpose, and that by us speaking out against the injustice of abortion, we can make a change in the world.” First-time march participant

Maci Watson, who is in the youth group at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in St. Francisville, expected to see a lot of people protesting “like you see on TV.”

“I think it is a very eye-opening experience to help me understand why we support pro-life and that there are many kids just like me who are supporting and sacrificing to march for what we believe in,” Watson said.

She confirmed there many fun moments to help lighten up the serious mission of the pilgrimage such as when “John Luke and I won the dress up competition; also, when other groups of people joined our group on the march and started praying the rosary with us; or just flash mobbing in Buc-ees,” said Watson.

As the youth viewed the exhibits at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, they quickly saw the connection between the horrors of the Holocaust and the plight of the unborn today.


Top right photo: Youth braved wintry weather conditions to march for the protection of life of the unborn during March for Life. Photo provided by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Youth group.
Above photo:  Seminarians of the Diocese of Baton Rouge accompanied youth and helped celebrate Mass. Photo provided by St. Michael High School

“I was able to reflect upon the suffering of the Jewish people during WWII,” said Matthew Beall, a senior at St. Michael. “This made me think about the relationship between the Holocaust and the abortion crisis in the U.S. today, and the millions of unborn children lost to abortion in past generations since Roe v. Wade.”

Addison Bares, a member of the St. Mary of False River Church in New Roads youth group, reflected about ways she can strengthen her relationship with God as she spent time in adoration and prayed with her fellow pilgrims.

Bares found a prayer card for St. Dymphna at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Now each morning and night she prays the Prayer to St. Dymphna, the patroness of neurological and mental diseases.

“My little brother has been having seizures for a couple of years, and St. Dymphna is the saint that I chose as my saint for my confirmation,” stated Bares.


Daily Mass was part of the March for Life pilgrimage. Photo provided by St. Michael High School

She added, “I will be there for anyone that is on the brink of choosing an abortion. I will be there for that woman and that child to choose a better option other than abortion.”

Even the march’s difficulties resulted in life-changing conversions for the youth, including Mary Bollich, a member of the St. Mary youth group.

“Last March was not the easiest for those who were on bus 2 with me,” said Bollich. “Our bus went through many challenges, like being stuck (in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant) for five hours. Through these experiences I had to teach myself to find joy not in the things we were doing, like going to the monuments, but Christ working through the amazing people on the trip. We were talking and sharing with one another and in communion about the one thing that connects us all, Jesus Christ.

“I’m happy to say that the change of heart continued this year, just in a different way. I went on this trip already excited to talk to people and learn about their faith, but I was able to see something different when I talked to each person. Instead of looking at someone and wondering what I can get out of them to help me grow my faith, I was able to look at people and just appreciate and love them for who they are as brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Emma Duvall, a member of the St. Mary youth group, couldn’t wait to attend her first March for Life after seeing her brothers return with joy from each of the several March for Life pilgrimages they attended.

“For me the highlight of this pilgrimage was adoration with our Lord and daily Mass,” Duvall said. “We were able to experience both at the St. Cecilia Motherhouse, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and even at Camp Letts. It was amazing and I looked forward to it every day.

“Having the Mercedarian sisters, seminarians, and priests on the pilgrimage with us was a beautiful experience as well. It was so cool to get to know their personalities, what their favorite candy was, and that they could sing along to some of our favorite songs,” said Duvall.

The march participants conveyed their commitment to continue spreading the message of the sacredness of all life. “I loved how close everyone was by the time the march came,” said Emma Grace Rioux, a member of the youth group at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge.

“It was beautiful being able to sing and pray with so many amazing people who all wanted the same thing as me. Now that I’m home from the pilgrimage, I want to continue to pray more for the unborn babies and their families, but also pray for the families who have had the thought about having an abortion," she said.


Nightly worship was one of the favorite experiences of the march. Photo provided by St. Michael High School