|
|
 |
UNC pro-life BEARfoot for Babies goes annual, with national speakers, audiocasting
By Anna Maria Basquez
Being a math wiz didn’t prepare University of Northern Colorado student Rachel Ritter for her first sight of the sheer number of crosses set out in tribute for the number of babies lost each day to abortion for last year’s BEARfoot for Babies pro-life event.
The statistic is 3,300, but the visual is what strikes her, she said.
“I’m a math major and we hear numbers and they go in one ear and out the other,” said Ritter, 21. “But when you’re able to look at the lawn and (the crosses) cover the entire lawn and each of them covers a life, it drives home the point that this is something that happens every day and this is not to be taken lightly.”
On each cross were inscribed messages from people like “Our prayers are with you,” “We’ll keep fighting for you” and “Please forgive me,” remembered Devin McDaniel, 20, UNC elementary education major. She said she was also overcome by the sight.
This year, Ritter, who is the president of Bear Catholic Ministry at UNC and McDaniel are among those helping set out the crosses for the upcoming BEARfoot for Babies during the second annual Life Week taking place Oct. 3-9. It’s a week during which students and others throughout the state are asked to go barefoot—or purchase BEARfoot for Babies socks—and have peaceful conversations about why they are doing so in tribute to those lost to abortion during Life Week.
The premise of going barefoot is a statement that there are babies that would never get to walk because of abortion.
This year’s notable speakers are coming from the nationwide scale of pro-life speakers. It’s an event that for the first time will be audiocast online at www.bearfootforbabies.org.
Speakers include Brian Gail, the author of this year’s best-selling Catholic book, “Fatherless”; renowned UCLA student Lila Rose, who has gone undercover to expose practices at Planned Parenthood Clinics, and former abortion clinic owner turned pro-life advocate Carol Everett.
Father Tad Pacholzyck will speak on the issue of stem-cell research and Rebecca Kiessling, conceived in rape, will also speak during that week at UNC.
“We’re in the process of making 400 rosaries for the outdoor rosary because there were so many people there last year that never even said a rosary,” said Sunny Longenbaugh, development director for Bear Catholic. “We had people at the healing Mass last year that weren’t Catholic. The archbishop (Charles Chaput) is saying Mass (Oct. 4) and we anticipate filling St. Peter’s (Church).”
While the students have reached out to other campus ministries at Colorado colleges, organizers said, anyone who wants to may attend, regardless of student status or religion. Those attending speaker presentations are required to reserve tickets, though entrance is free.
This year will be a first for the Pink and Blue Tie Affair dinner charity, where attendees can dine for $100-per-plate, or $150-per-couple, at a banquet with Rose, Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley and Father Pacholzyck at a meal blessed by Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. The proceeds will go toward the cost of speakers and other expenses for this year’s event.
McDaniel, who last year joined the many students helping set out crosses, is on the planning committee this year.
“It changed so many lives last year,” she said. “This year we will be able to make such a bigger impact so I wanted to be a part of it.”
All events take place in Greeley. The UNC University Center is at 2045 10th Ave.
Oct. 3
Greeley Life Chain, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
23rd Avenue from 29th to 37th streets
Oct. 4
11:30 a.m.: Presentation by Lila Rose, Founder, Live Action
Ballrooms, UNC University Center
5:30 p.m.: Mass with Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
St. Peter Church, 915 12th St.
7 p.m. Charity Banquet: Guests of Honor: Lila Rose, Archbishop Chaput, Father Tad Pacholcyzk, Bishop Conley
Ballrooms, UNC University Center
Oct. 5
6:30 p.m.: Presentation by Father Tad Pacholcyzk, Director of Education, National Catholic Bioethics Center
Ballrooms, UNC University Center
8 p.m.: Meet-and-Greet
Fireside, UNC University Center
Oct. 6
Display of 3,300 Memory Crosses
UNC University Center lawn
10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.: Screening of documentary “Blood Money”
Ballrooms, UNC University Center
6:30 p.m.: Presentation by Carol Everett, former Planned Parenthood abortion provider, star of “Blood Money”
Ballrooms, UNC University Center
8:30 p.m.: Dance for Life 50’s Sock Hop: A dance for the students of UNC
Location TBD
Oct. 7
8:30 p.m.: Outdoor Rosary
UNC's Turner Green
6:30 p.m.: Presentation by Rebecca Kiessling, pro-life speaker conceived in rape
Ballrooms, UNC University Center
7:30 p.m.: Meet-and-Greet with Rebecca Kiessling and Brian Gail
Fireside, UNC University Center
Oct. 8
8:30 a.m.: Presentation by Brian Gail, author of “Fatherless”
Ballrooms, UNC University Center; Fireside, UNC University Center
7:30 p.m.: Healing Mass, celebrated by Father Rocco Porter
St. Peter Church, 915 12th St.
Oct. 9
10 a.m.: 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil
Fort Collins Planned Parenthood, 825 S. Shield St.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||