Hosted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the second annual march focuseds on all aspects of life, reaffirming the Church’s mission to love and help every person.
“OneLife LA is our vision for a new way of life,” Archbishop José H. Gomez told those gathered after the march in Grand Park. “A vision for society as God wants it to be.”
Archbishop Gomez stressed the need to care for the lives of the unborn, for unwed mothers, for refugees and for the sick, disabled and elderly. He asked those in attendance to reach out “into the darkest corners of our society, where there is so much suffering and pain.”
He added that no one should feel excluded.“No one should go unnoticed or unloved in our society.”
Bishop Gerald Barnes was scheduled to speak but did not attend the event due to illness. Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Rutilio del Riego, a consistent presence January Walk for Life events through the years, offered remarks in his place.
The event showcased many celebrity speakers, including Christian evangelist and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms or legs.
“God has a plan for you,” Vujicic told the crowd during his keynote address. “Don’t give up on God, because He he is not going to give up on you. He knows what you are going through: money, drugs, sex, alcohol, pornography.”
The Australian-born father of two spoke of the despair he felt before accepting his disability with the help of God’s grace. He once attempted suicide, he said, before he realized that he could inspire other people to live life to the fullest despite their disabilities. He began speaking publicly about his life and founded the nonprofit Life Without Limbs when he was 17.
Recently while preaching in Ventura, he met a young boy with his same condition. Vujicic has since become his “uncle,” going to the boy’s school and speaking to the students to ensure that his “nephew” wouldn’t be bullied. “And now he’s not only respected, he’s accepted,” Vujicic said.
He added, “God is better than any drug. God is better than any pleasure on this planet. And that’s what I’m living for—for Him, to love God,and then the Second Commandment: ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’”
He told the crowd to look to heaven in their struggles. “We are citizens of hHeaven passing through [this world],” he said, noting that while on earth we have to manifest God’s love to each person we meet.
“We are to be that love of God to all,” he added. “No matter who they are, we need to show that love.”
At the close of his address, he thanked the Catholic Church for its commitment to the pro life movement and for championing generosity throughout the world. Not without humor, Vujicic said before leaving, “Before they handcuff me, I’m going to get off[the stage].”
Ryan and Mary Mincer attended OneLife LA to hear Vujicic speak, but they also had a more personal reason. “For me, it’s very important to support life,” Ryan said, explaining that he suffers from cystic fibrosis, a terminal genetic disease.
If Ryan’s mother had access to today’s pre-natal screenings when she was expecting, she could have been encouraged to abort the pregnancy. “My mom could have aborted me if she wanted to,” he said.
The OneLife LA event was launched last year to give more Southern California residents an opportunity to participate in a major Walk for Life event on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Previously, the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco was the primary event in the west. Mary Huber, Associate Director of Pro Life Catholic Ministries for the Diocese of San Bernardino, said she believes as many as 800 people from the Diocese attended this year’s OneLife LA event, including 200 each from St. Mary Parish, Fontana and St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton, Ontario.
Huber said the event made strides this year in organization and with the roster of speakers. She also said it was fueled by the presence of young people.
“It’s a very good sign for the Church,” Huber said. “These young people understand the life and dignity of all people.”
This article is reprinted with the permission of The Tidings newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Inland Catholic BYTE contributed local content to this article.