• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Young people and other guests gather for Life Fest at the D.C. Armory in Washington Jan. 19, 2024, ahead of the annual March for Life. The event was organized and co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Sisters of Life. (OSV News photo/Jeffrey Bruno, Knights of Columbus)

Young people from Archdiocese of Baltimore among thousands at ‘Life Fest’ rally

January 19, 2024
By Adriana Montes
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, concelebrates Mass with other prelates, including Boston Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, to the left of Archbishop Lori, and more than 70 priests, during Life Fest at the D.C. Armory in Washington Jan. 19, 2024, ahead of the annual March for Life. The event was organized and co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Sisters of Life. (OSV News photo/Jeffrey Bruno, Knights of Columbus)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – When a winter snowstorm forced Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville to cancel its transportation services for students attending Life Fest and the March for Life in Washington Jan. 19, Sydney Andrus was undeterred.

Braving cold and snow, the 18-year-old Mount de Sales student and parishioner of Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville was dropped off by family at the second annual gathering of more than 6,000 young Catholics and pro-life supporters from across the country.

Andrus’ presence at what has become a spirited precursor to the March for Life – complete with Christian rock music, testimonies, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a special Mass – was a tangible sign of her support for the sanctity of all human life. 

“I think it’s so cool that there’s so many different parishes, so many different colleges, like everyone’s here to worship the Lord, but also to educate themselves too in the pro-life movement,” Andrus said.

Before participating in the 51st annual March for Life with many thousands of others, Andrus said she drew inspiration from Life Fest’s message of hope. 

“If we’re patient and we trust the Lord, hope will come,” she said. “Hope is here now amongst us. We must choose life.”

Sister Charity and Sister Cora Caeli of the Sisters of Life welcome pro-life advocates for Life Fest at the D.C. Armory in Washington Jan. 19, 2024, ahead of the annual March for Life. (OSV News photo/Jeffrey Bruno, Knights of Columbus)

Life Fest, held at the D.C. Armory, was sponsored by the Sisters for Life and the Knights of Columbus. Speakers included identical twin Sisters of Life, Sisters Pia Jude and Luca Benedict, who shared how they entered religious life from careers in law and medicine; and Monsignor James Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, Knights of Columbus supreme chaplain, celebrated the Life Fest Mass, with Boston Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley preaching the homily. Several seminarians from the Archdiocese of Baltimore were among those present at the Mass and the March for Life.

In his homily, Cardinal O’Malley said dismantling “unjust laws” serves as just the initial phase. 

“We still have the arduous task of creating a pro-life culture,” he said, “of changing people’s minds and hearts.”

Jordan Damewood and David Stein, seminarians for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, participate in the Jan. 19, 2024 March for Life in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of Tammy Stein)

The cardinal noted that if proponents of the pro-life movement come across as judgmental or self-righteous, they will not be heard. 

“People will believe us only when they are convinced that we care about them,” he said. “People will believe us only when they are convinced that we love them. Our task is not to judge others, but to try and bring healing.”

The cardinal added that it’s “naive to think abortion doesn’t desensitize our nation.”

Sister Giovana of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, a member of the Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ based at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, joined several other members of her religious community in braving the cold to attend Life Fest and the march.

Originating from Brazil, where the pro-life movement is less prevalent, Sister Giovana values the diversity within the movement in the United States, urging others to embrace faith and courage in the fight for life.

“I think it’s extremely important for women and men to know that they are not alone, that there is a community that is here to stand up with them and for them,” Sister Giovana said.

Life Fest this year marked the second such event since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling by the Supreme Court that overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, which had legalized abortion. The Dobbs decision essentially sent the abortion issue back to the states.  

Members of the St. Agnes Cathedral group from New York hold signs in support of the pro-life generation as they gear up for the March for Life on Jan. 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Adriana Montes/CR Staff)

Chris Powers, Maryland state deputy for the Knights of Columbus and a parishioner of Our Lady’s Church at Medley’s Neck in Leonardtown, said the Dobbs decision is an “excellent first start in Maryland.”

Former Maryland State Deputy Vince Grauso joined Powers in expressing strong support for the pro-life cause and highlighting the significance of the Life Fest and March for Life in shaping societal perspectives on the sanctity of life.

“It’s just so exciting to see the young people come, wanting to learn more about their faith, wanting to demonstrate their Catholicity and how they live their faith,” Grauso said.

Gracing the stage at this year’s Life Fest was the musical group, Damascus Worship.  

Raisa, a mother who shared her testimony at Life Fest, smiles at one of her daughters in the arms of a member of the Sisters of Life during Life Fest at the D.C. Armory in Washington Jan. 19, 2024, ahead of the annual March for Life. Raisa was pursuing a music career when she learned she was pregnant with twins and turned to the Sisters of Life for help. She also performed a song she wrote called “Madre” at Life Fest. (OSV News photo/Paul Haring, Knights of Columbus)

Life Fest attendees had the chance to venerate the relics of the recently beatified Ulma family from Poland – a Polish couple named Jozef and Wiktoria, along with their seven children, including an unborn baby. They were martyred by Nazis for sheltering Jews and were beatified in September in their native Poland.

At the conclusion of the Life Fest Mass, Archbishop Lori led attendees in making a consecration  to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn. Participants also pledged to defend human life from conception to natural death.

Email Adriana Montes at amontes@CatholicReview.org

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 10:21 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2024 to correct Sydney Andrus’ home parish and her means of transportation to Life Fest. The Catholic Review regrets the errors.

Also see

Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue

House GOP budget proposal includes cuts to Medicaid, groups that perform abortions

Planned Parenthood annual report shows abortions, public funding up after Dobbs

Report: Some House GOP members object to removing Planned Parenthood funds from Trump bill

Knights of Columbus honored for pro-life support

Called to foster: Families welcome children with love

Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Adriana Montes

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Who are the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV’s order?

  • 10 things to know about Pope Leo XIV

  • New interim Hispanic, Urban delegates ready to serve Archdiocese of Baltimore

  • Catholic school academic honorees return to lead alma maters at Bishop Walsh, Archbishop Curley

  • At St. Mary’s School in Hagerstown, vision takes shape to save a school

| Latest Local News |

Western Maryland parishes hit by devastating floodwaters

Sister of St. Francis Valerie Jarzembowski dies at 89

Schools Superintendent Hargens honored for emphasizing academics, faith

New interim Hispanic, Urban delegates ready to serve Archdiocese of Baltimore

Father Patrick Carrion offers blessing before Preakness

| Latest World News |

Pilgrimage launch coincides with papal inauguration, marks young Catholic’s ‘radical yes’

Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue

U.S. pilgrims to Havana recall Francis’ impact in Cuba 10 years after visit

Homeland Security vetting reality show idea where immigrants compete for citizenship

Senate protest over USAID closure snares Vatican ambassador pick

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pilgrimage launch coincides with papal inauguration, marks young Catholic’s ‘radical yes’
  • Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue
  • U.S. pilgrims to Havana recall Francis’ impact in Cuba 10 years after visit
  • The pope is speaking my language
  • Homeland Security vetting reality show idea where immigrants compete for citizenship
  • Senate protest over USAID closure snares Vatican ambassador pick
  • As Trump returns from Middle East with massive arm deals, patriarch says ‘no’ to weapons
  • Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass: A new beginning rooted in tradition
  • A new documentary, ‘The Inner Sea,’ tells a story of adoption, music and love

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED