Little Rock, Ark., Jan 23, 2010 / 12:01 pm
Spring-like weather greeted the nearly 1,700 Catholics who arrived in downtown Little Rock from across the diocese Jan. 17 for the annual Mass for Life at the Statehouse Convention Center and the March for Life, which followed.
Couples and families were joined by Catholic youth participating in the annual Weekend Extravaganza at the Mass. Afterwards, they walked from the convention center to the starting point for the march only a block away from the Cathedral of St. Andrew. There they joined several thousand others from different faith groups.
"This is the second year we have participated," said Ignacio Alvarez, a member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock. "We brought all our children, four, so they can learn that we have to respect life. As Catholics we have the responsibility to tell others what life signifies and defend life."
Judy Timmerman, a member of St. Jude Church in Jacksonville, said she always attends the Mass for Life. She said before she joined the Catholic Church, she was pro-choice but then had a conversion experience.