Last night, the gym kept warm and we all ended up getting a pretty good night's sleep, despite the amount of time we actually got to sleep. The Gonzaga baseball team took over the gym promptly at 6:30 a.m. so we packed up, put our gear away and left for breakfast. While sitting at Corner Bakery, we once again were able to use Union Station as a window to another world. Today, however, a couple of the other guys and I observed the commuting culture rather than the Inauguration culture. Coming from a city with poor public transportation and a huge metroplex, the idea of getting to work via train was an entirely new concept. We sat for a good hour and watched businesspeople, public workers and students passed us by.
We returned to Gonzaga in order to prepare for the Mass for Life happening in just an hour. In our efforts to give back to Gonzaga, we helped put on the mass: six in the choir and four as ushers. Mass began and Fr. Thomas Smolich, President of the Jesuit Conference, greeted all of us marchers. He also invited us to introduce ourselves group by group so that we could become aware of the other Jesuit institutions present. I am sorry to say that I was so intent on hearing all of the groups I completely forgot to take a count, but I do know that our numbers as Jesuit students were not lacking. During mass, I felt an unforeseen solidarity with all of my Jesuit brothers and sisters filling St. Aloysius Church. However, the length of the previous day did get to a certain (and purposefully excluded) number of the group during the homily. After mass, everyone posed outside for a group picture bound to be seen in or on the next Company magazine. We reassembled in our groups and purposefully walked to the mass.
Once there, our six pieces of PVC and rolled-up banner became a cause for us to collect ourselves under. A nearby stranger agreed to take our picture with the capital behind, then we met up with more Ignatian intuitions on the South-East corner of 4th and Madison. Waiting for the march to begin we mingled with Jesuits and non-Jesuits alike swapping stories as to what called us to meet at this very special moment. I was happy to catch up with S.J.'s I had met in previous trips to England, World Youth Day and last year's march. One among these was Fr. David Brown , S.J. now working at the Vatican Observatory outside of Rome whom I had meet while visiting Oxford two summers ago. He intrigued many of the guys in the group both because of his unique vocation in the Jesuits and his gold, form fitting, perfect circular glasses. Caught up in all of this talk, we almost forgot about the walk.That was until the crowd began to move and with a mighty 5-4-3-2-1 from our group leader, Mr. Tesvich S.J. we joined the ranks to make our voices heard and our presence known to all of those in Washington.
Our march on Constitution (street that is) provoked many different thoughts because of the extremely varied ways to proclaim 'Pro-Life'. Graphic images of aborted people invoked a sense of anger and disgust for those who perform abortions. Endless chants and hymns displayed the over bearing sense of community, enthusiasm and youthfulness also associated with the movement. Respectful clergy walked side by side with their parishioners or pupils keeping their peaceful demeanor. Climbing a hill, we looked back and saw the magnitude of our work, the magnitude of the cause and the magnitude of the movement.
Reaching the Supreme Court, we took our rest in a small, grassy area still engaged in the walk, but ready to plan our next meal. We found a great pizza place in Chinatown using the UrbanSpoon App on the iPhone with a personal endorsement of Zach Harris, one of our members who had been there before. What would a Jesuit student be without their handy gadgets paired with knowledge?
After our four large pizzas for each group of six, we were... content. Upon arrival back at Gonzaga, we re-set up our bedding and crossed the mosaic floor to the chapel. I just got back from that session and I have no words for you, my readers, to help you understand what insights and impressions came out of the session. I will just say that any Ignatian theology teacher would have been proud if present.
Yet again I meet my ultimate restraint, time. It is 10 o'clock. Usually, I am just getting started with homework but on this night this one is ready to pack it in and dream of the potential that has come from this day.
My pictures from the March for Life Mass and the March for Life can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesuitconference/sets/72157612829283389/
