Diocesan Seminarians and Other Locals Participate in National March for Life
January 20, 2022 • Diocese of St. Augustine

On Friday, Jan. 21, St. Vincent de Paul Seminary will participate in the 2022 March for Life taking place at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Several faculty members will lead 18 seminarians, including three from the Diocese of St. Augustine, on a pilgrimage to join the thousands of other Christians who will march on the Capitol in celebration of each life and to foster a world where every life is celebrated, valued, and protected.

(From left) Will Strassberger, Cristian Vergara and Charles Bemis at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Seminarians Will Strassberger, Cristian Vergara and Charles Bemis from the Diocese of St. Augustine will make the pilgrimage, which will include a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a visit to the headquarters of the US Conference of Catholic bishops and visits to other local religious sites and national monuments to foster a deeper understanding for the Church in America.  In a sign of Christian charity and fellowship, St. Philip’s local parish in Falls Church, Va. has graciously offered to host the group during their stay.

“I’m here at the March for Life to be a living witness to restore the value of life in our society, something that’s been lost the past half-century. Each and every life is deemed equal in the eyes of the Lord from the moment of conception until natural death,” explained Bemis. “As Catholics, we are called to live out the real virtues of family life. We can begin to respect life more once we realize how valuable marriage is and how it is meant to lead to procreation. Too often that notion has been lost and deemed insufficient in our culture, so much so that defending the sanctity of life is now considered counter-cultural. Being here provides a pivotal witness against the evils in our culture and prayerfully change hearts through conversion and compassion.”

In addition to seminarians from the diocese, students from the University of Florida, University of North Florida, Flagler College and Holy Family Parish young adults will travel to D.C. to fight for the right to life.