The Power of Prayer and God’s Divine Mercy
January 26, 2016 • Diocese of St. Augustine

by Tonia Borsellino

In 20 minutes, three women from Catholic Gators at the University of Florida grabbed their bags, jumped in a car and drove to Jacksonville to board a bus to the 43rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Jonas – the oncoming blizzard – cancelled the Catholic Gators’ trip. The diocesan bus was however scheduled to leave Jacksonville in two hours and it would take about that long to drive between the two cities. The women trusted in God’s plan and started driving.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this!” Chelsea Parza, a third-year nursing student, exclaimed as she sat in the car. Next to her, Jasmine Qronfleh, a freshman at the University of Florida, was on the phone with her mother asking for permission to continue on with the trip. The girls began praying a Divine Mercy chaplet in the hopes that Qronfleh’s mother would say yes. Ten minutes later, her mother was on the phone giving her permission. Their prayers were answered and the women were relieved.

Jasmine Qronfleh, a freshman at the University of Florida poses as she gets ready to join over 300,000 pro-lifers for the 37th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Tonia Borsellino
Jasmine Qronfleh, a freshman at the University of Florida poses as she gets ready to join over 300,000 pro-lifers for the 43rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Tonia Borsellino

“People think the only answer to an unwanted pregnancy is abortion. I think it’s super important to be a part of this movement to show that we care about the unborn and to show that we [the movement] aren’t going anywhere,” Qronfleh said.

In Jacksonville, the women met up with more than 30 other young adults representing the Diocese of St. Augustine. In all, there were about 250 people from around the diocese who traveled to Washington, D.C. to march for life.

Arriving Jan. 21, the group attended an opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York was the principal celebrant and it was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Religious orders lined the pews, with more than 30 bishops concelebrating and people from all over the country sat side-by-side praying for life in preparation for the march the next day.

When morning broke, it was touch and go whether the pilgrims from the diocese would stay to march or pack their bus and head home. The blizzard was much more severe than forecasted.

The thought of missing the first ever Mass for Florida Pilgrims and the March for Life was something none of them wanted. So once again, the Catholic Gators women went to their room to pray a Divine Mercy chaplet and a rosary. Once again, they trusted in God’s plan.

In a turn of events, Mary Catherine Damon, coordinator of the diocesan respect life office and trip organizer, announced they had decided it was safer to stay in Washington than get caught in the storm while on the road. So the pilgrim group was able to march, another answered prayer.

Freshman, Chelsea Parza, poses during her recent trip to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Tonia Borsellino
University of Florida junior, Chelsea Parza, poses during her recent trip to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Tonia Borsellino

“The Lord has put us through a whirlwind of events …I just think that the grace of God and his divine mercy has just been so present throughout our trip. No matter what trials or storms – literally – have been put in our way, he overcomes all the time,” Chelsea Parza exclaimed.

Parza said this reoccurring theme of the trip, to trust in God, reflected how everyone in the culture of life must trust in God to win the battle. The pilgrims fought the blizzard and marched for life.

Unknowingly, Damon was also praying. “Ever since we were aware that a blizzard was a possibility for this pilgrimage, I felt peace about still going…I began asking Antonio Cuipa and the Martyrs of La Florida for their intercession,” she said. “They bore the winters of Florida with no heat, no electricity, and I was just asking him to pray for us for a safe trip and that it would be a really fruitful pilgrimage,” she continued.

While snowed-in at the hotel, Damon miraculously ran into Heather Jordan, a petitioner on the board for the Canonization of Antonio Cuipa and the Florida Martyrs. Jordan spent an hour telling stories to the entire pilgrim group about the faith lives these martyrs had.

“I just thought it was remarkable that we were with her. If the blizzard hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have been there Saturday night and we wouldn’t have run into her,” Damon said.

The blizzard kept the pilgrims in our nation’s capital until Sunday but it left them with the opportunity to pray, evangelize to those around them, grow in community, and ultimately grow closer to God.