Annual Pro-Life Vigil
Every year since 1974, SCRTL has organized a Candlelight Vigil on or near January 22. Hundreds of people gather at the court square in downtown Sidney for the event, which marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision of 1973 that legalized abortion in the United States. Beginning in the basement of the courthouse (east side entrance), the vigil commences with a prayer and a brief address by area clergy, followed by a candlelight procession around the courthouse. Following the vigil, buses depart for the National March for Life in Washington, DC.
2011 Vigil Participants Remember Roe
Nearly 300 local residents gathered at the courthouse Sunday, January 23, for Right to Life of Shelby County's annual candlelight vigil. The vigil is held to commemorate the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the United States.
The program began with an invocation by the Rev. Steven Shoup, pastor of St. Michael Catholic Church in Ft. Loramie and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Newport. President of Ron Meyer gave a brief presentation in which he said "the time is urgent for action" on behalf of the more than one million lives lost to abortion each year. The Knights of Columbus of St. Remy Catholic Church, Russia, led the group in a candlelight procession around the court square, carrying a casket containing 137 pairs of shoes as a memorial to the babies lost through abortion each hour in the United States.
Following the procession, Right to Life co-director Anne Schmiesing spoke about a new book, Unplanned, by Abby Johnson, which details the conversion of a former director of a Texas Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Johnson's experience of the peaceful and compassionate presence of people praying at the abortion clinic, Schmiesing explained, helped her to leave the abortion business and become an apostle for the pro-life cause.
Music for the event was provided by the music ministry of Sidney Apostolic Temple and refreshments followed, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus of Holy Angles Catholic Church, Sidney. Following the vigil, more than 100 youth and their chaperones boarded two buses for a trip to Washington, DC, to join more than 100,000 other Americans at the national March for Life on January 24.
300 Brave Rain for Candlelight Vigil
A light rain failed to dampen spirits at this year’s Pro-Life Candlelight Vigil, Thursday, January 21, 2010. President Ron Meyer emceed the evening’s event, reminding the more than 300 attendees of the importance of pro-life activism, which is having an effect on the health care reform debate in Congress.
Pastor George Gnade of First Baptist Church in Sidney offered an opening prayer. Co-director Kevin Schmiesing shared an excerpt from Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon’s acceptance speech for the Proudly Pro-Life Award, bestowed on her by National Right to Life in October, 2009. Calling the pro-life movement, “the greatest grassroots movement of our time,” Glendon declared that an increase in pro-life sentiment across the country indicates that “we are winning the battle for hearts and minds.”
With lighted candles, participants processed around the court square. Lehman students led by Stephanie Schoenfelt provided musical accompaniment. Father Frank Amberger of St. Remy Church offered a closing prayer and blessing for those attending the National March for Life in Washington. After availing themselves of the hot chocolate provide by the Knights of Columbus, some 150 local high school students and RTL members boarded buses for their trip to the National March.
Thank you to chairman Dan McSweeney, the Knights of Columbus, and all those who assisted with and attended the vigil. Despite the weather, it was a beautiful evening of prayer and remembrance for the tens of millions harmed by abortion in our nation.
Candlelight Vigil Again Draws Crowd
More than 300 area pro-lifers gathered at the courthouse Wednesday evening, January 21, 2009, in commemoration of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Right to Life of Shelby County and the Sidney Knights of Columbus sponsored the annual event, which aims to draw attention to the ongoing practice of abortion and to pray for all those affected by it.
The Reverend Kenneth Castor, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sidney offered an invocation. Sidney Council Member Steve Hamby presented to Right to Life Board President Ron Meyer a Proclamation in honor of Right to Life of Shelby County. By Proclamation of the Sidney City Council, January 22, 2009, was Right to Life Day. At its monthly meeting, January 12, the Council presented the Proclamation recognizing RTL's thirty-five years providing service and education to the community.
Thank you to Council Member Steve Hamby for initiating this recognition, to City Council, and to all our members and volunteers who share in this honor.
The Reverend Jason Bedel, parochial vicar at Holy Angels Church in Sidney closed the brief ceremony with a blessing. Participants then processed around the courthouse carrying candles, to the accompaniment of vocal music by Lehman Catholic senior Gretchen Weber.
Following the procession, more than two hundred area residents boarded four charter buses for the trip to the National March for Life in Washington, DC.
For more photos, see the Vigil photo gallery.
Top photo courtesy of the Sidney Daily News.