PROVIDENCE — On Saturday, Sept. 24, pro-life activists gathered at St. Patrick’s Church in Providence for the Jericho Walk. The event took place in preparation for the 40 Days for Life, a yearly occurrence in which supporters of the pro-life movement, including the faithful, are called to take part in forms of prayer and activism for the end of abortion.
The yearly event is organized by the Diocese of Providence together with Rhode Island Right to Life.
Participants began their peaceful walk for life at 10:30 a.m. from the parking lot of St. Patrick’s Church, after some opening remarks.
“Certainly, no one was expecting the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” Barth Bracey, executive director of Rhode Island Right to Life, noted. “It has Divine fingerprints all over it.”
Lisa Cooley, coordinator of the diocesan Office of Life and Family Ministry, thanked the crowd of about 50 for taking the time to defend their faith.
“God, we thank you for bringing us here today,” Cooley prayed before the walk began. “We pray for our legislators. We pray that Rhode Island becomes a pro-life state.”
Those involved in the peaceful walk for life made their way from St. Patrick’s to the Statehouse, and from there proceeded to process around the center of state government. Participants held signs with pro-life slogans, and some involved led the prayerful procession in the recitation of the Rosary.
Also present were members of SS. John and James Parish in West Warwick who were members of the local parish chapter of Life Runners, a pro-life activist group that hosts sporting events, especially races, in order to raise awareness or funds for the pro-life cause. Some of those associated with Life Runners ran laps around the Statehouse.
