Walk For Life West Coast Media Blog

My favorie 2012 Video: Sound Wave at the Walk for Life West Coast!

2012-02-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

So far, my 2012 favorite!

One of the really cool things at the 2012 Walk for Life West Coast was the sound wave the walkers created as they marched down Market Street. This video, by students who came from Thomas Aquinas College, gives a hint of what that was like. You could hear it about a mile away! They also got the real San Francisco experience--looking forever for parking!

Fr. Francisco Nahoe, OFM Conv.'s Walk for Life West Coast Homily

2012-02-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, January 21, Fr. Francisco Nahoe, joined by Fr. Matthew McNeely and Fr. Michael Stinson, of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, celebrated a special Tridentine High Mass at the Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco. From Fr. Francisco's homily:

"Whether or not you participated in the West Coast Walk for Life today, but especially if you did, you are doubtless aware that not everyone in America shares the conviction of Catholics that a human zygote or a human embryo or a human fetus is a human being. Consequently, not everyone recognizes that abortion is, in fact, violence against human life. Nonetheless, it is one thing to affirm this truth in the context of church preaching and quite another thing to announce it in the face of vitriolic and often irrational opposition on the streets.

In order to proclaim the truth fearlessly, with the faith and conviction, for example, of the centurion in tonight's Gospel, we must be deeply rooted in the One who, stretching forth His hand upon us, as once He reached out to the leper, wills that our lives be cleansed and transformed. To be rooted in Him, is, in this sense, to accept sanctuary in Christ, which is a comprehensive state characterized most prominently by total commitment to truth and goodness...."

Read the whole homily, which includes a lovely reflection on the place accorded to silence in the Traditional mass.

Full EWTN Coverage of Walk for Life West Coast!

2012-02-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

Check it out. Bless them!

L.A. "Tidings" Covers Thomas Aquinas Students at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-02-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

"Neither rain nor distance nor hard floors nor more-aggressive-than-in-the-past protestors could deter more than 200 Thomas Aquinas College students — more than half the student body — from joining more than 50,000 others in the eighth annual Walk for Life West Coast held Jan. 21 in San Francisco."

Read the whole thing.

Students for Life at the Walk for Life West Coast

2012-02-01T14:01:00.001-08:00

Bless them! Here are some from USF, and you can see some others here.

Reverend Childress at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-29T09:13:00.000-08:00

Our beloved Reverend Clenard Childress preaches it! God bless the man! He sends us on our way at the Walk for Life West Coast:

The video is by hp2heaven. To learn more about Reverend Childress's mission, visit the L.E.A.R.N. website, blackgenocide.org.

"The most dangerous place for an African-American is in the womb."

Video w/Nice Music by Drake From JP 2 University

2012-01-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

Militia Immaculata at walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

Nice video!

Nice Walk for Life West Coast Music Video

2012-01-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

The video is by biancalizet and the music is "Happy Birthday" by Flipsyde:

EWTN's 'Life on the Rock' at the Walk!

2012-01-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Here's Fr. Mark and Doug Barry's recap of the Walk for Life West Coast 2102. Check it out:

Thomas Aquinas College at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-26T18:20:00.000-08:00

These good videos never end! The great young people from TAC are here every year--a tribute to a REAL Catholic college!

Daughters of Charity (& More) at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

These nice, quick interviews at the Walk for Life West Coast are by Walk for Life Media Team member Darwin Sayo. Check them out!

The Daughters of Charity:

Annie Ryan of Birthchoice Health Clinics:

Susie Bowman from Santa Cruz:

Sharon Jeffrey from St. Joseph's Parish in Modesto, CA:

Joby Joseph, from UCLA:

Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, Pastor of St. Edward's in Newark, CA:

Immaculate Heart Radio Podcast of Walk For Life West Coast!

2012-01-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

Relive the Walk for Life! IHR has a podcast of the full event. It is great!

You can check it out and listen here.

Lori Hoye at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-25T13:21:00.001-08:00

Mrs. Hoye is introduced by Walk for Life co-founder Eva Muntean. Also by hp2heaven:

Video of Jacquie Stalnaker at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

Also by hp2heaven. Jacquie shares her searing story. She is introduced by Georgette Forney of Silent No More.

Video of Dr. Vansen Wong at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-25T12:38:00.000-08:00

"If you have taken the life of another human being, raise your hand."

Dr. Wong shares his very powerful story. Introduced by Walk co-founder Dolores Meehan. The video is by hp2heaven:

Great Walk for Life Video With Michael Poirier's New Song

2012-01-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

This video, by newbirth35, features Michael Poirier's lovely song written for the Walk:

Great Asian Participation at the Walk for Life West Coast!

2012-01-25T08:23:00.001-08:00

Once again, the Asian-American Community was well represented at the Walk. Thanks again to our dear friend Frank Lee of Asian-Americans Pro-Life. Frank could not make it this year, but he worked had to make sure many others could, and he made things happen!The walk was graced by the presence of the Rev. Tan Tieu, Executive Secretary of San Francisco Chinese Christian Union, and our leaders, too.

Here is a reproduction of a story in Sing Tao Daily, the best selling Chinese newspaper in the world about the Walk. You can read the full story here:

"I Love Life!" A Walk for Life Video from "Be the Straw"

2012-01-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

Very nice video of people walking and sharing thoughs and ideas. Contrasts well with the atrocious behavior of those who defend abortion, too.

Another Nice Walk For Life West Coast Video

2012-01-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

Nice photo montage with music. This one is posted by RMayer MC:

Dominican School at the Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-24T20:52:00.001-08:00

Berkeley's Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology was at the Walk. This photo is from their Facebook album of the Walk. You can see more here.

Silent No More Phoenix at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice photo montage of the journey of the Silent No More group, from Phoenix, Arizona.

Another Great Walk for Life west Coast 2012 Video!

2012-01-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

This one is by aleewonder, and has footage of the Reverend Clenard Childress's speech:

Fr. Jack Was With Us in Spirit at the Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

San Francisco's beloved Fr. Salvatore Giacomini, SDB ("Fr. Jack") passed away last Wednesday at age 88. He had suffered a fall and never regained conciousness. Fr. Jack was as pro-life as they come, and LOVED the Walk for Life West Coast. Here he is walking the whole way 2 years ago, at age 86:

When Dolores Meehan heard about Fr. Jack's passing she said "The Walk has a new intercessor in heaven!" That is surely true--he had something to do with the amazing break in the weather.

When Father Jack was on his journey many, many visitors came to pray for him in his hospital room, including Dolores and the Reverend Walter & Mrs. Lori Hoye, as well as other admirers from the Walk For Life.

We love you Fr. Jack, and we know you are fighting for the unborn in heaven just as you did on earth!

Couples For Christ at the Walk For Life West Coast

2012-01-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

This group comes from all over California, Bless them! Mauril Mariano tells us that participation this year was

"...over 600, inlcuding all Ministries: Couples for Christ, CFC-Singles for Christ, CFC-Youth for Christ, CFC-Kids for Christ, CFC-Handmaids of the Lord and CFC-Servants of the Lord. Over 200 members came from Southern California on 3 buses, vans and cars with those who participated from our Northern California are over 400."

Here are some of the photos of this great ministry:

Youth.

Adults.

And our wonderful elders!

Marching.

Couples for Christ has many ministries: "Couples for Christ and its Family Ministry is a movement committed to live in God's righteousness and holiness, evangalizing people through a life of love and service; we shall work for the renewal of families that will serve God and build generations of Christian leaders; and we shall pursue Total Christian Liberation through social justice, respect for life, and work with the poor." You can visit their website here.

Fr. Aris Metrakos and Orthodox Participation at the Walk

2012-01-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

The great Fr. Aris Metrakos of San Francisco's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church gave the invocation at the Walk for Life West Coast this year, and there were quite a number of other Orthodox priests and our Orthodox brothers and sisters there, too. Five Loaves has a post over at Catholic Answers about Orthodox participation, and here is a nice photo of Fr. Aris leading us in prayer:

Bless you, Father! and Thank you!

Good Shepherd Bishop del Riego Leads His Flock

2012-01-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

Once again, the Walk for Life West Coast was blessed by the presence of many Bishops. One of our regulars is the great Bishop Rutilio del Riego of the diocese of San Bernardino. The diocese has a great selection of photos on their website of the Mass and rally and walk, by Andres Rivera. Here is a sample.

His Excellency with his flock at San Francisco's St. Mary's Cathedral:

Good shot showing the size of the Walk:

With the youth after the Walk. Young people love having a chance to stand with their shepherds!

WFLWC: Most Exciting Pro-Life Event in America!

2012-01-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

Why do more and more people come back to the Walk for Life West Coast every year? To defend the defenceless, to stand with the littlest, and to end the atrocity of legal abortion. But also because they have a good time doing it! Check out a little fun and games after the Walk:

Even More Walk for Life Media Team Photos

2012-01-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

These are by Jong Arcega, newest member of the Walk for Life West Coast Media team. He is fantastic. Click on any image for a larger version. All images copyright. Jong also has some posted on the Pro-Life Photography Flickr page and on his website.

Before the rally.

Wow.

This young man knows what's going on...

Wow. My favorite. Loris Hoye, backed by the sisters of life.

More Faces: Walk for Life West Coast Media Team Photos

2012-01-23T18:08:00.000-08:00

Here are some images by Walk for Life West Coast Media Team member James McKenzie. James does an incredible job of capturing personality. Click on any image for a larger version, and if you use, please credit: James McKenzie.

What it's all about...

A dad leading his family.

Eager kids.

A beautiful mother with her children.

Another beautiful mom, with her girls.

Lori Hoye and the Sisters of Life.

Our great young people.

More great young people...

Why is the Walk so successful? People like this older gentleman, that's why.

Bless this pro-life lady!

Poor Doug. All he wanted was cup of coffee, now he's got a fan club!

Great Photo's From Sr. Lisa Marie's Blog

2012-01-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

Great photos of the Walk for Life West Coast from Sr. Lisa Marie's "Nunspeak" blog. Here's a sample, captions are in original:

"My new friend London."

"--and our very own Bella - Babies are Hipsters too!"

Bless you, Sister, and these wonderful young people!

Big D Rap Video: Life vs. Death

2012-01-23T09:00:00.001-08:00

Very nice! This is by a rapper named Big D, at the Walk for Life West Coast 2012. It's produced by Nico Flow:

Great Walk for Life West Coast 2012 Video

2012-01-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

Great video, by Nukecry, gives a sense of the ENORMOUS size and high spirits of this year's Walk for Life West Coast:

Marche Pour la Vie--Big Success in Paris

2012-01-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to our French comrades! The Marche pour la Vie was held today. That is our sister event, and we are always interested in how it goes--and it went great! Check it out:

You can learn more about the Marche here, and see lots of pictures here.

Bless them!

Protest Shooter Covers the Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

An anonymous photojournalist who goes by the name Protest Shooter has covered the Walk for the past couple of years. The photos are good and the captions are witty. Check them out:

"These are from Saturday, January 21st, 2012, in San Francisco, CA.

This is going to be a bit of a short report. I didn't take a lot of pictures of signs that were the same as last year. What I was primarily interested in was that the event got bumped from their usual location by a competing event - the West Coast Rally for Reproductive Justice who apparently got their permit application in earlier or something. This was just as well since the Walk for Life totally overflowed their location, and the new location in front of City Hall is much better. It's not only larger but also the walk was was right smack down the middle of Market Street instead of around the edge of the town.

First off, let's check out the West Coast Rally for Reproductive Justice:

I can't believe I get suckered by these people into showing up for these things. 80 people and a couple of tables with brochures. Let's see how the Walk for Life is going...

That's more like it."

Read the whole thing, and thanks for covering us, Protest Shooter! There is video at the site, too.

Your Photos at the Walk for LIfe West Coast: Happy Catholic

2012-01-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

The folks over at Happy Catholic have nice photos of the Walk Every Year. Here's one from this year, and you can see many more at their website.

Walk for Life 2012 Faces in the Crowd

2012-01-22T15:11:00.001-08:00

More from our Great Walk for Life West Coast Media Team. Click on any image for a larger version:

The great Reverend Walter Hoye. His face is a true indication of his soul. Pure kindness. He's on a plane right now to attend tomorrow's March for Life in Washington DC.

Frances Peterson, who gave a marvelous rendition of the National Anthem.

The great Fr. Frank Pavone, also on the way to Washington DC.

Eva Muntean takes a minute from her busy schedule to pose for a photograph with some very pro-life visitors.

Reverend Childress speaks truth to power.

That's right--Mr. Jobs mother allowed him to be adopted--and he certainly changed the world.

These good folks from Sacramento are at the Walk every year.

Bless you, Father, for leading the people!

Still More WFL Media Team Photos

2012-01-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

These are by Paul Ryan, another superstar Walk For Life Media Team photographer. Paul got some very nice shots of some of our speakers. Please credit Paul Ryan.

Here is Dr. Vansen Wong, who asked the crowd to "If you have taken the life of another human being, raise your hand." Dr. Wong's searing testimony of performing over a hundred abortions, and of his change of heart and mind, ended with the words "Abortion is intolerable, abortion is irrational and abortion has no place in civilized society."

Jacquie Stalnaker. Jacquie shared her heart-rending and terrifying story of being forced into an abortion at gunpoint, and what it did to her. Jacquie is flanked by Fr. Frank Pavone, and Gorgette Forney of Silent No More Awareness campaign. Jacquie is now a national coordinator for Silent No More.

Jacquie and Georgette, women who have shared similar experiences. Both now work to help other women in similar situations.

The great Reverend Clenard Childress send us on our way as only he can:

"You are the candle…you are the light…you are the salt of the earth. This is more than a pro-life movement. This is a holy spirit movement because the spirit addresses evil.”

More of Paul's work can be seen on the Flick Pro-Life Photography page.

Liturgical Dance I Can Agree With

2012-01-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

This little girl got restless at the Walk for Life West Coast Mass at the Cathedral:

God bless her! 2,600 people filled the Cathedral at 9:30AM yesterday, and about 10 bishops concelebrated. Photo credit: Jose Luis Aguirre, Catholic San Francisco. For more photos of the Mass, go here.

More Walk For Life Media Team Photos

2012-01-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

The Walk for Life Media Team is the best in the business! These are by WFL team member Ray Dinkha. Please credit Ray if you use. Click on any image for a larger version:

The stage was right in front of SF City Hall:

Before the rally:

Pro-Life young women and girls leading the Walk for Life West Coast:

A family at the end of the Walk:

What a great dad!

You can see more of Ray's work on the Pro-Life Photography Flickr page.

Walk for Life West Coast in "Catholic San Francisco"

2012-01-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

Tens of thousands of peaceful pro-life activists mass in San Francisco
By Valerie Schmalz and Dana Perrigan

"Tens of thousands of pro-life activists massed in front of San Francisco’s City Hall and then filled the city’s main thoroughfare Jan. 21, walking about two miles down Market Street to the Embarcadero.

Banging drums, praying and chanting 'We are pro-life,' the enthusiastic throngs filled Market Street and stopped traffic for more than a mile in a peaceful walk that took about an hour. Abortion rights protesters briefly stopped the walk by pulling orange netting hung with coat hangers in front of the walk, led by a banner that said "Abortion hurts women." Police who rode bicycles and motorcycles in advance of the walk, pulled the abortion protesters out of the street.

Read the whole thing.

More Nice Walk for Life Photos

2012-01-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple more nice photos of the Walk for Life West Coast, from Darwin Sayo of the Walk for Life West Coast Media Team. Here we are leaving Civic Center Plaza:

And here is the Walk as it reaches the foot of Market Street. As you can see, the Walk for Life stretches back as far as the eye can see--what our local media refers to as "several thousand" ;-) This is the point at which the Walkers were videotaped solidly, steadily passing for one hour and 10 minutes:

Walk for Life: Incident on Market Street

2012-01-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

It would not be Walk for Life West Coast without some pro-abortion demonstrators attempting to disrupt the event. Darwin Sayo, of the Walk for Life West Coast Media Team was in the thick of it, and got these shots. Click on any image for a larger version. All photo credits: Darwin Sayo.

The tiny numbers of opposition:

They had one of those orange plastic fences, festooned with coat hangers, that they attempted to string across Market Street:

It may have tripped up the police officers on bicycles:

In any case, the good SFPD quickly took charge, and the curtain was history:

Police removing those trying to obstruct the Walk:

Pro-lifers patiently watch and wait. Organizer Dolores Meehan instructed Walk for Lifers to stop their chanting while the police restored order--it makes it easier for them, and gives them one less thing to worry about. We love our SFPD!

After order was restored the Walk for Life West Coast peacefully continued:

“A Mighty Wind” Walk for Life West Coast Roars into San Francisco

2012-01-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

By Gibbons J. Cooney

Throughout the week leading up to San Francisco’s 8th Annual Walk for Life West Coast, weather forecasters had predicted the arrival of first major storm of the season. The predictions seemed all too accurate as on Friday January 20 the storm roared into the bay area, bringing high winds, driving rain, and localized flooding. Severe weather alerts were in effect for all bay area counties. Rain continued to fall until nearly dawn on Saturday, January 21.

But as the Saturday sun rose, the winds drove the clouds out of San Francisco and the 8th Annual Walk for Life West Coast began under sunny, clear skies.

The 2012 Walk and Rally for Life began, for the first time, in the heart of San Francisco: the Civic Center Plaza. The new location, larger than the former rally site of Justin Herman Plaza, accommodates the Walk’s ever increasing numbers. The plaza also contains fenced-in playgrounds—a great convenience to the many parents who bring their children to the rally and walk. The playgrounds were being well used by the little ones.

Tens of thousands of dedicated pro-lifers, including bishops from all over the state of California, reverently listened to the invocation given by Greek Orthdox Fr. Aris Metrakos, protopresbyter of San Francisco’s Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, and a longtime champion of life.

Fr. Metrakos was followed by Mrs. Lori Hoye, the wife of pro-life hero the Reverend Walter Hoye, who shared her story, and her special concern for the devastation abortion has caused in the African-American community. Mrs. Hoye was joined on stage by the Sisters of Life.

Mrs. Hoye was followed by OB-GYN Dr. Vansen Wong. Dr. Wong, in his surgical scrubs, was joined on the stage by other pro-life doctors and health professionals. He opened by asking the crowd “If you have taken the life of another human being, raise your hand.” He then revealed that he had previously worked as abortionist, ending the lives of hundreds of unborn babies over a seven year span, but added “What changed is that God got a hold of me….I now regret the loss of every single precious life.” Dr. Wong described his current work as a pro-life physician, and closed by saying “Abortion is intolerable, irrational, and it has no place in civilized society.”

Dr. Wong was followed by Ms. Jacquie Stalnaker, a spokesperson and national coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign. Ms. Stalnaker, a former Miss West Virginia, related an horrific story of being forced by her then-boyfriend, at gunpoint, to an abortion clinic. There, she suffered an abortion while under the impression that she was merely undergoing an examination. To this day, she said, she remembers the abortionist and nurse starting by saying “You have a band-aid problem” and finishing by saying, as she was in terrible pain, “wait, just one more part…” As soon as the “procedure” was finished, Ms. Stalnaker was released, and collapsed in the streets. She was in a hospital for three days. She “survived” but described the 24 year-toll the experience caused. She now devotes her life to helping women in similar situations.

The rally closed with an exhortation by the Reverend Clenard Childress one of America’s great orators. “You are the candle…you are the light…you are the salt of the earth,” Childress told the crowd. “This is more than a pro-life movement. This is a holy spirit movement because the spirit addresses evil.”

Walkers then proceeded down Market Street. The new route, through the heart of San Francisco, provided far more exposure to the Walk, and had some unanticipated benefits. The tall buildings greatly magnified the volume of chants and singing of the walkers until the city’s financial district resounded with pro-life drums, chants, prayers and songs. The chants of the Walkers could be heard at a distance of at least half a mile away. Serious estimates vary from 40-55,000 attendees. Videotape made at the end of the Walk showed tightly packed marchers on Market Street passing for one hour and 10 minutes.

As always, the hallmark of the walk for Life West Coast was the presence of the young. From Thomas Aquinas College, John Paul the Great University, St. Mary’s High school in Phoenix, from the University of California at Santa Barbara, from Stanford University, from USF, and from other boschools and churches all over the western United States and beyond. Devany Anie, a freshman at John Paul the Great University, was there. This is the first time she has attended the Walk for Life West Coast, although she has attended a number of the Marches for Life in Washington DC. She offered a simple and clear explanation for her presence “I am passionate about the issue of abortion, and the dignity of life from conception to natural death. We must stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. We have to be here as a physical witness.”

As of Sunday morning, the cold rain and wind had returned. But the Eighth Annual Walk for Life West Coast was over.

Visit Our Facbook Page for Lots of Photos!

2012-01-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

The walk for life Westcoast Facebook page has lots of photos. Check it out!

SFBay.ca: "Anti-Abortion Rally Does What Occupy Couldn't"

2012-01-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

SF Bay. ca on the Walk for Life West Coast:

"Anti-Abortion Rally Does What Occupy Couldn't"

"Well, this is awkward.

One day after a rain-soaked, day-long Occupy extravaganza failed to draw more than a couple thousand protesters, Walk for Life goes and gathers up 40,000 pro-life supporters that march and shut down Market Street..."

SF Chronicle Photographs of Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-22T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Chronicle does not have a story on the Walk, but did send Michael Macor, one of their photographers to cover the event. Here is one of his photos, giving a good indication of the size of the crowd:

Photo Credit: Michael Macor, San Francisco Chronicle. You can see the rest of Mr. Macor's photos at the Chronicle's website, SFGate.

KTVU Says "Several Thousand" Attended Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

Seriously. But they contradict themselves--further in the article they say "more than 10,000." Check out this photo, courtesy Jose Aguirre, Catholic San Francisco. Click for a larger image--and this is before the rally has even started.

KTVU also reports there were "over 200" persons at the counter demonstration at Justin Herman Plaza. Please look at our photo from this morning--there are only count about 70 persons there, right before Mark Leno's speech.

San Jose Mercury News Says "50,000"

2012-01-21T21:20:00.001-08:00

The article has a nice slideshow, too.

Walk For Life West Coast: ABC TV Video

2012-01-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

Some of the footage on this video gives a good indication of the MANY tens of thousands of walkers today:

Opponents of the Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

Our opponents in Justin Herman Plaza at 11:19 AM on the day of the Walk for Life. Really, that's all they mustered for their Rally:

Walk for Life West Coast Infantry!

2012-01-21T08:29:00.001-08:00

These young people, getting ready for the Walk, after a night's rest on a cold, hard floor are from Thomas Aquinas College and John Paul the Great University:

Preparing for the Walk: 6:45 AM

2012-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

In the previous post, Lisa Hamrick spoke of the centrality of prayer to the success of the Walk for Life West Coast. Here is a picture taken this morning of Pedro Diaz-Rubin leading the "Unborn Jesus Holy Hour" at Saints Peter and Paul:

Walk for Life's Lisa Hamrick Interviewed on One News Now

2012-01-21T06:19:00.000-08:00

Walk for Life West Coast co-founder Lisa Hamrick was interviewed on One News Now:

"The pro-life representative was asked why when California is painted as a left leaning, pro-abortion state, it gets such tremendous numbers for the march.

'Really, just every kind of wonderful organization; religious, priests and nuns. You know, we've got a lot of problems in San Francisco and the West Coast but there's a lot of really, really dedicated, beautiful, holy people here,” comments Hamrick, 'and there's just been such a yearning since the majority of people couldn't get out to the March for Life in Washington, DC. It's just taken off like wildfire. It's just beautiful to watch.'

Hamrick believes one underlying reason for the success of the San Francisco Walk for Life is the abundance of prayer."

Bless her!

St. Mary's High School in Phoenix Attends Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-20T17:03:00.000-08:00

Here they are, stopping off for a visit at Saints Peter and Paul in San Francisco. They are being hosted at Star of the Sea, also in San Francisco. That's Father Robert Bolding and the Dominican Sisters with the kids & chaperones:

Traditional Latin Mass after WFL at the Shrine of St. Francis

2012-01-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

Wow! From FiveLoaves on Catholic Answers:

"On Saturday, January 21, 2012, after the San Francisco Walk for Life, we will have the celebration of the Mass of Pope St. Pius V according to the 1962 Missal of Blessed John XXIII ("The Extraordinary Form of the Mass") at 5 p.m. in the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi.

The celebrant will be Father Francisco Nahoe, O.F.M.Conv., rector of the Cathedral of St. Thomas Aquinas, Reno, Nevada, assisted by members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

The Mass texts will be sung by a Schola Cantorum from Palo Alto. All are invited."

You can find out about the Shrine of St. Francis, and read some of the great bulletin messages of their wonderful pastor, Fr. Greg Coiro, OFM here.

Walk for Life West Coast at Cafe Press!

2012-01-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

Check out our Walk for Life T-Shirts, tote bags, and more at Cafe Press!

Walk for Life West Coast": "Love Wins!"

2012-01-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

Michael John Poirier has made a great video of his new song "Love Wins."

Check it out:

Michael Poirier's Walk for Life Song!

2012-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Michael played this at the prayer service before last year's Walk for Life West Coast. Check it out:

And you can learn more about Michael here.

And if you have Walk for Life West Coast music you'd like to share, let us know through the comment option.

Youth Rally at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

From the Walk for Life Youth Rally blog:

Calling All Youth at Walk for Life
CALLING ALL YOUTH

Meet at the yellow balloons outside the Cathedral after mass for a youth rally procession to civic center plaza.

Join ranks at the front of the Walk for Life West Coast leading tens of thousands in the pro-life movement. After Mass meet Timmerie Millington in front of the Cathedral to process together to Civic Center Plaza. Once there we will lead you to the designated Youth Rally section to lead the Walk for Life.

Bless them! And you can learn more about Timmerie here.

SF Columnist Begs Citizens: Avoid Walk for Life

2012-01-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

SF Columnist Begs People not to Attend Walk For Life
Says No Minds Change--Walk Speakers Beg to Differ

On January 17, in an article titled “Better to ignore abortion protesters than join them,” San Francisco Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius virtually begged people not to come out in opposition to Saturday’s Walk for Life West Coast. Mr. Nevius argued that such opposition is useless: “When the walk concludes Saturday, you can bet that no one will have changed his or her position…”

That contention would seem to be wishful thinking on Mr. Nevius’ part. The pro-life movement in general, and the Walk for Life West Coast in particular, are filled with people, once deeply supportive of abortion, who have experienced a change of heart and mind. Examples include Ms. Abby Johnson, former abortion clinic director for Planned Parenthood and author of Unplanned. Ms. Johnson was the keynote speaker at the 2011 Walk for Life West Coast. She directly attributes her change of heart and mind to the presence of the 40 Days For Life vigil at the Bryan, TX abortion business where she worked. Perhaps an even more striking example is Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a co-founder of NARAL, who later stated regretfully, “I am one of those who helped usher in this barbaric age.” But Dr. Nathanson, too, experienced a change of heart and mind and became one of America’s most powerful pro-life advocates. And of course there is Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of Roe v. Wade, who is now an outspoken opponent of abortion.

This year one of the keynote speakers at the Walk for Life West Coast will be Dr. Vansen Wong. Dr. Wong’s credentials are impressive: Stanford University and the University of California at San Francisco’s Medical School. Like Dr. Nathanson, like Abby Johnson, Dr. Wong was an abortion provider. And, like the others he has had a change of heart and mind: “I believe that abortion has erased the value of human life,” said Dr. Wong. “We have created language, philosophy and institutions that legitimize ending the lives of unborn babies without reflection on what we are doing… Where will the killing stop?” Now he speaks at rallies for Berkeley Students For Life, speaks at rallies for 40 Days For Life, and, if Mr. Nevius has the courage to come out this Saturday, he will hear him speak at the rally for San Francisco’s Eighth Annual Walk for Life.

It cannot be denied, however, that Mr. Nevius is half-right: similar changes of heart and mind have not turned people from the pro-life side to the pro-abortion side. The exceptions, significantly enough, appear to be mainly among politicians, a group not noted for their fidelity to principle: Ted Kennedy and Jesse Jackson in the 1970’s, Al Gore in the 1980’s. As Fr. Aris Metrakos, who will give the invocation at the Walk, has said, legal abortion “…exposes the duplicity and opportunism of the majority of the political class."

So Mr. Nevius is probably right to warn abortion supporters away, just as abortion supporters are probably right to try and avoid looking at sonograms—because, when faced with the reality of abortion, changes of heart and mind go in only one direction.

EWTN Coverage of Walk For Life West Coast

2012-01-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

On Saturday January 21, from 1-3:30 p.m. EST, EWTN's Father Mark Mary and Mr. Doug Barry will host live coverage of the Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco. The program includes interviews, participant commentary and speeches from pro-life leaders. If you can't be with us, you can watch us live!

Here's Father Mark and Doug interviewing Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland and Bishop Jamie Soto of Sacramento during the 2010 Walk for Life West Coast. God Bless them!

Walk Speakers to Join Rev. Walter Hoye at Standing Up 4Life

2012-01-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

The Catholic News Agency reports that some of our Walk for Life West Coast speakers will be joining the great Reverend Walter Hoye at the Fifth Annual Standing Up 4Life Walk in Oakland on Friday, January 20. Standing Up 4Life begins at 12 noon in the Frank Ogawa Plaza, in front of Oakland's City Hall.

Pro-life ecumenism takes root in Oakland, Calif.

"Oakland, Calif., Jan 14, 2012 (CNA) - The Rev. Walter Hoye is preparing for his fifth annual Standing Up 4Life Walk in Oakland, Calif. The rally will begin at noon Jan. 20 in front of Oakland City Hall at 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.

'The speakers want to come to Oakland,' said the Rev. Hoye, who thanked West Coast Walk for Life founders Eva Muntean and Dolores Meehan for their assistance.

'Eva and Dolores work together to get communities of color involved,' he said.

The focus of the Oakland event is the impact of abortion on the minority community. The Rev. Hoye is one of the nation’s leaders in framing the abortion debate as a matter of genocide."

Read the whole thing.

The Reverend Clenard Childress, Dr. Vansen Wong, Mrs. Lori Hoye, and Abby Johnson will be joining Walter. Full details of the Standing Up 4Life Walk can be found here.

Our Sister March in Paris: 8th Annual Marche Pour le Respect de la Vie!

2012-01-14T22:17:00.000-08:00

The very year the Walk for Life West Coast started, 2005, our brothers and sisters in Paris started the Marche Pour le Respect de la Vie. San Francisco and Paris are now "Villes Jumelles Pour la Vie" (pro-life sister cities) and in 2010 Dolores Meehan spoke at the Marche in Paris and Paul Genoux-Defermont, one of the founders of the Marche came to San Francisco and spoke at the Walk!

Just like us, every year the Marche has grown! Last year, they drew between 40-50,000 prolifers from all over France! Bless them! This year, the Paris Marche will be on January 22. Here's their video from last year:

Walk for Life West Coast Co-Founder on KSFO Radio Today!

2012-01-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

KSFO's Barbara Simpson hosted Walk for Life West Coast co-founder Eva Muntean on her "Babe in the Bunker" show tonight!

You can listen here.

Eva's segment (that's her, left, with co-founder Dolores Meehan) starts at about 18:15 into the show.

"Gospel Herald" Covers Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-13T16:53:00.000-08:00

One of the great things at the Walk for Life in the past few years has been the incredible support and participation of the Asian-American pro-life community!

And just today, the Gospel Herald's US edition has a story about the Walk for Life West Coast. Because the paper is mainly targeted at Asian people, the story is written in Chinese characters, but it is nice to see it even if you cannot read the characters. Please click on the screenshot below to see the article:

Now, many non-Chinese or non-Asian people might not know this, but the Gospel Herald has an enormous readership worldwide. It is "the most comprehensive source of news for Chinese Christians in the world," and has editions in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Taiwan, plus the United States! That's a LOT of Christians!

Just something to remember when our local SF media gives zero coverage to the Walk ;-).

And a special thanks to Frank Lee, coordinator of Asian-Americans Pro-Life, who works so hard for the Walk every year--a true pro-life hero!

"Common cause" at Walk for Life West Coast

2012-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

From today's California Catholic Daily:

"A dozen Catholic bishops join Greek Orthodox priest and Baptist minister -- among others -- at this year’s Walk for Life West Coast"

San Francisco’s 8th Annual Walk for Life West Coast on Jan. 21 should be the largest yet. It has certainly attracted the largest number of Catholic bishops ever.

Preceding the rally and Walk, 12 Catholic bishops will concelebrate the 9:30 a.m. Mass at San Francisco’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. Joining Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco on the altar will be Bishops William Justice, Robert McElroy, and Ignatius Wang of San Francisco; Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland, Robert Vasa of Santa Rosa, Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Rutilio del Riego of San Bernardino, Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Thomas Daly of San Jose, Daniel Walsh (emeritus) of Santa Rosa, and Tod Brown of Orange.

Speakers for the 2012 Walk include Dr. Lori Hoye of the Issues4Life Foundation (wife of pro-life hero Pastor Walter Hoye); pro-life OB-GYN Dr. Vansen Wong; abortion survivor Jacqui Stalnaker; and one of America’s great orators, the Rev. Clenard Childress.

Underscoring the ecumenical nature of the Walk for Life, this year’s invocation will be given by Fr. Aris P. Metrakos, proto-presbyter of San Francisco’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. "I was greatly humbled and honored to receive this invitation,” he said. “I have the greatest admiration and respect for all those who have been on the front lines of this life-or-death struggle to turn our culture away from its indiscriminate march toward moral oblivion. I regard this prayer as not some sort of a perfunctory beginning to a civic gathering, but a recognition that this unimaginable evil can only be overcome by the grace of God."

Fr. Metrakos argues that the destruction caused by the legalization of abortion has now penetrated every part of society: "Abortion-on-demand has shredded the moral fabric of our society by encouraging promiscuity, obliterating the notion of personal responsibility and accountability, and making selfishness a legal right. It tears asunder literally the bodies of the unborn and metaphorically the hearts and souls of the women who submit themselves to this heinous barbarism. It makes a mockery of men's honor and the medical profession's nobility, while exposing the duplicity and opportunism of the majority of the political class."

“The Walk for Life is the greatest pro-life event there is,” said Mrs. Hoye. “I am blessed to be a part of it and especially blessed to be a speaker. What I want to convey is that no matter how bad you think it is, no matter how much you are hurting, God will find a way.”

“I believe that abortion has erased the value of human life,” said Dr. Wong. “We have created language, philosophy and institutions that legitimize ending the lives of unborn babies without reflection on what we are doing… Where will the killing stop? We have an assault on babies with birth defects, whose lives are not valued and ended indiscriminately. Will this affect people who have been born who have any type of condition considered a disability? Will the next group targeted be those at the other end of the spectrum of life, those with any form of dementia? When we do not value life in the womb, it is logical to anticipate that we, as a society will not value life outside of the womb.”

Ms. Stalnaker of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and the victim of a coerced abortion, said: “I want to deliver the message of hope and healing to those who grieve the loss of parenthood, to be a voice for the voiceless. So many believe the pro-life movement is only about saving babies... women and men of lost parenthood often walk around for 20 years wounded from the trauma of abortion -- they need to know their is hope, forgiveness and healing!”

“Abortion has victimized women and decimated the African American community,” said Rev. Childress, a Baptist minister and regular at the Walk for Life West Coast. “All other travesties pale in comparison. It has corrupted the conscience of the country and diminished the value of life in this present generation.

The Walk for Life West Coast is truly the most invigorating event for me… from the beginning Eva (Muntean) and Dolores (Meehan) depicted an earnest desire to testify in the public square on the behalf of those whose voices are silenced before birth. Their desire has connected with other like-hearted individuals who see the need to join them, and their message is spreading.”

New Walk for Life Radio Ad!

2012-01-12T21:09:00.000-08:00

The new Walk for Life West Coast radio ad, for the most exciting pro-life event in the United States, is now on the air!

It will be on the air everyday until the Walk!

Listen here.

Greek Orthodox Fr. Aris Metrakos to Give Invocation at Walk for Life!

2012-01-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

This year, the Walk for Life West Coast is honored by the presence of Father Aris P. Metrakos. Fr. Metrakos, the proto-presbyter of San Francisco’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, will give the invocation. He said:

"I was greatly humbled and honored to receive this invitation. I have the greatest admiration and respect for all those who have been on the front lines of this life-or-death struggle to turn our culture away from its indiscriminate march toward moral oblivion. I regard this prayer as not some sort of a perfunctory beginning to a civic gathering, but a recognition that this unimaginable evil can only be overcome by the grace of God."

Fr. Metrakos argues that the destruction caused by the legalization of abortion has by now penetrated and corrupted our whole society:

"Abortion-on-demand has shredded the moral fabric of our society by encouraging promiscuity, obliterating the notion of personal responsibility and accountability, and making selfishness a legal right. It tears asunder literally the bodies of the unborn and metaphorically the hearts and souls of the women who submit themselves to this heinous barbarism. It makes a mockery of men's honor and the medical profession's nobility, while exposing the duplicity and opportunism of the majority of the political class."

Wow!

Archbishop Niederauer: “I believe the walk is inspired by the Holy Spirit...I urge all people of faith and good will to join us..."

2012-01-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

Our shepherd leads us! His Excellency, left, with His Excellency Bishop Ignatius Wang at the 2008 Walk for Life. Bless them both!

From the January 13 issue of Catholic San Francisco:

"San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer will join pro-life supporters to rally at Civic Center and then walk down Market Street to the Ferry Building for the 8th annual Walk for Life West Coast Jan. 21.

“I will walk with fellow believers in the right to life for all people on Jan. 21, as the Walk for Life West Coast gives us an opportunity to publicly witness this God-given right to life,” said Archbishop Niederauer. “I believe the walk is inspired by the Holy Spirit, who accomplishes it through women and men who listen to his call. I urge all people of faith and good will to join us in this peaceful and prayerful witness.”

The walk follows a rally beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Civic Center, in a change from all previous walks, which began at the Embarcadero.

“Market Street and the Ferry Building are iconic symbols of San Francisco, and the 8th Walk for Life West Coast is a chance for us to witness again for life in our beautiful city,” organizer Eva Muntean said.

The Walk for Life Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. An information fair at Civic Center will open at 11 a.m., and the rally will begin at 12:30 p.m. The evening before the walk, the 25th Annual Interfaith Service for Life will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the cathedral, with a reception following."

(Don't forget Eucharistic Adoration at Saints Peter and Paul from 8PM Friday the 20th to 7AM Saturday the 21st! or the Novus Ordo in Latin at the Shrine of St. Francis folllowing the Walk at 5PM on the 21st!)

"Other bishops who plan to join the walk are San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Robert W. McElroy, San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice, Santa Rosa Bishop Emeritus Daniel Walsh, retired San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Wang, Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, Santa Rosa Bishop Robert Vasa, Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto, Stockton Bishop Stephen Blaire, Orange Bishop Tod Brown, San Jose Auxiliary Bishop Tom Daly and San Bernardino Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego."

Walk for Life West Coast Supporter Fr. Cornelius Buckley Interviewed in California Catholic Daily

2012-01-09T20:17:00.000-08:00

Last week California Catholic Daily interviewed the great Fr. Cornelius Buckley, chaplain of Thomas Aquinas College. The beloved priest has been a supporter of the Walk for Life right from the beginning:

They sleep on the floor at churches and schools
TAC chaplain inspires students to attend Walk for Life West Coast

On Jan. 22, 2005, 6,000 peaceful pro-lifers faced a tidal wave of opposition in San Francisco. The occasion was the first Walk for Life West Coast. Pro-abortion demonstrators, egged on by the political establishment of San Francisco, behaved in such an obnoxious manner that even the liberal San Francisco Chronicle was compelled to notice the “taunts, jeers, and insults” hurled at the pro-lifers. Within six years, by 2011, the crowd of 6,000 had grown into a crowd of 50,000 pro-lifers, according to KTVU TV.

The 2012 Walk, to be held Jan. 21 at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, may be the largest yet. The success of the Walk for Life West Coast indicates that it answers a deeply felt need within pro-lifers, especially among the young. But it is also true that young people need guidance and assistance, perhaps even to make it to the event. One who has been quietly influential by his support and inspiration is Fr. Cornelius Buckley, SJ. For the past eight years, Fr. Buckley has served, says the school’s webpage, as the “beloved head chaplain” of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula.

CalCatholic had a chance to speak with Fr. Buckley about the Walk for Life. Here is a transcript of that interview:

Cal Catholic: Father, you’ve spent a lot of time serving in San Francisco. Are you surprised to see the nation’s second largest pro-life event held there?

No. Nothing surprises me about San Francisco! In fact, it is an ideal place for so much. You know, it has a bad reputation but people do not realize all the good that goes on there. Hardly anyone knows, for instance, that it is home to two separate orders of cloistered nuns. And look at Pat Daly, the president of Archbishop Riordan High School and his staff. They have opened their facilities so that over 100 of our students will have a place to sleep at this year’s Walk for Life. I don’t know what we would have done without him!

CalCatholic: TAC has been involved with the Walk for Life right from the beginning. Tell us about that.

I think our school’s participation is wonderful. Thomas Aquinas teaches about 350 students and more than 250 attend the Walk for Life each year. It’s a real pilgrimage for them -- they bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor in various churches and schools. They come in buses and they share cars. Many of them attend Eucharistic Adoration, which is always held the night before the Walk for Life at Saints Peter and Paul. And of course there is a chance for some fun and games as they experience the city following the Walk. I have noticed that when they return there is a real difference. They have a real understanding of life and the importance of the right to life. These young people are our ‘salvation.’ And it’s not just Thomas Aquinas College. Both Cal and Stanford have sent delegations to the Walk for Life. This year we have sort of partnered with a pro-life group of students from the University of California at Santa Barbara, led by Deacon Chris. He’s great. USF students have attended as well.

(Note: to see how great the TAC students are, and how well Fr. Buckley has taught them, check out this video of their response to the vile behavior of opponents at last year's Walk.)

CalCatholic: Will you be attending the 2012 Walk, Father? Of course! I have attended the Walk every year. I usually drive up with a couple of kids. I no longer sleep on the floor, though!

While Fr. Buckley did not mention it, CalCatholic has learned that July 31, 2012 will mark the 50th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The TAC website has a page devoted to Fr. Buckley’s anniversary. The text indicates the regard in which he is held: “The author of When Jesuits Were Giants, Fr. Buckley is himself a ‘giant’ to those who have had the privilege of knowing him during his five decades of service to Christ and the Church. Ordained as a Jesuit in 1962, he has spent most of his life with young Catholics as a teacher, administrator, chaplain, and friend. One can hear the echo of his footsteps in the halls of the University of Santa Clara, Gonzaga University, St. Ignatius High School, and the University of San Francisco. Having served at Thomas Aquinas College since 2004, he is an integral part of the lives of the students, offering them the sacraments, spiritual direction, and always a lively wit.” The college has also established the Fr. Buckley Scholarship Fund. The fund will support qualified students who wish to attend TAC, but who need financial assistance. Contributions to the fund will be distributed annually. “Fr. Buckley has touched so many lives and brought so many young people closer to Christ,” says Paul J. O’Reilly, vice president for development at Thomas Aquinas College. “His friends and family could think of no better way to celebrate his golden jubilee than to create a scholarship that will continue to bless the lives of young people for decades to come.”

To learn more about the 2012 Walk for Life West Coast, Click Here.

To support the Fr. Buckley Scholarship fund, Click Here.

New Location, Time and Route for Walk for Life 2012!

2011-12-19T20:11:00.000-08:00

The Eight Annual Walk for Life West Coast will be on January 21!

WALK FOR LIFE West Coast
New Location, Time and Route for Walk for Life 2012!
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:30 pm
CIVIC CENTER PLAZA(Polk Street across from City Hall)

Walk for Life West Coast is only 33 days away. The excitement is really growing as we anticipate even more participants and an impressive walk down Market Street! It will be spectacular! We can't wait to see you with us.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Please help us spread the word to everyone you know - this year the Walk for Life will be held at Civic Center Plaza in front of City Hall (not Justin Herman Plaza as in the past seven years). The schedule of events are as follows:
Info. Faire – 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Rally – 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Walk (down Market Street) – 1:30 p.m.
There are no scheduled events after the Walk which will end at Justin Herman Plaza at the Embarcadero. The Walk from Civic Center Plaza to Justin Herman Plaza (end of Market Street) is approximately 1.8 miles.

OTHER EVENTS
There will be a Catholic Mass at 9:30 am at St. Mary's Cathedral at 1111 Gough St., San Francisco. We are honored to have 13 Catholic Bishops join us for the Mass and Walk. It's a short walk from the Cathedral to Civic Center Plaza.

The 25th Annual Interfaith Service for Life, sponsored by the San Francisco Archdiocesan Interfaith Committee for Life, will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 20th at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco.

The Issues4Life Foundation will be hosting the 5th Annual Standing Up 4Life Walk in front of Oakland City Hall on Friday, January 20th at noon. Guest speakers include Abby Johnson, Rev. Clenard Childress, Lori Hoye and Dr. Vansen Wong.

For additional information about these and other events, please visit our website.

BUS REGISTRATIONS

We require that all buses be registered by January 12, 2012. This will greatly aid us in facilitating the movement of the buses as there are going to be 200+ buses registered from all over the West Coast.

INFO FAIRE
The Info Faire will be held prior to the Rally at Civic Center Plaza. This will give everyone the chance to visit the booths as they arrive at Civic Center Plaza. The Info Faire will be open from 11:00am – 1:30 p.m. For those who wish to participate as a vendor, please sign up using our registration form by January 5, 2012. Space is very limited, and will be on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of available spaces.

If you have a large 12 or 15 passenger van and would be willing to be part of the WFL Van Brigade that follows along behind everyone as we process down Market Street, we are looking for volunteer drivers. This is a very important service that is needed each year and is provided for those who are unable to walk the entire route due to medical conditions, being advanced in age, etc. Please contact us if you would like to volunteer your van at wflwc@live.com.

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
It is recommended (and convenient) to use public transit at this new location at Civic Center Plaza:

BART has stations at Civic Center and at the end at Embarcadero.

CalTrain will drop off at Townsend and 4th. Take MUNI KT (4th and King), then off at Metro Civic Center.

Parking: There is ample parking under the Civic Center plus 2-hour street parking.

MEDIA COVERAGE
We are blessed that the crew from EWTN will once again be providing live film coverage of the Walk for Life Rally as well as pre-rally interviews. As a special bonus, they will also provide live streaming video which will be available through our website during the event.
Immaculate Heart Radio will also be broadcasting live from the event. Check their website for your local station.

EMAIL LIST AND FACEBOOK
We have a new Walk for Life West Coast Page on Facebook. Please “like” our new Page and ask your relatives and friends to join us there so that everyone can keep informed of all the important news and changes for this year's event.

To keep up-to-date and receive all of the latest news, please sign up for our email blasts.

All of us at Walk for Life wish you a very blessed and merry Christmas!

Walk for Life's Dolores Meehan on ABC TV

2011-03-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

She's discussing Planned Parenthood funding cuts on ABC San Francisco. ABC's "political expert" agrees with her. Some nice footgae of this year's rally, too.

A Deacon Shares His Experience at the Walk for Life

2011-02-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last month I drove one of three vanloads of teenagers from my daughter’s high school (St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School in Watsonville) to the Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco. (see http://www.walkforlifewc.com/ ) Over 50,000 of us gathered and walked the 5 miles along the waterfront from the Embarcadero to the Marina.

We started with a rally featuring wonderful speakers. I was especially impressed with Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director and 2008 Employee of the Year who was instantly converted in October 2009 when she witnessed an ultrasound guided abortion in her clinic. A few days later she ran over to the Coalition for Life office next to her clinic and asked for their help. They embraced her lovingly and gave her the support she needed to resign and become a powerful worker for life. I encourage everyone to get a copy of her book, Unplanned, read it and pass it along. It is the unique and powerful story of her journey from death into life. Once you start it, you may not sleep much until you’ve finished it!

The 50,000 who did the walk were a beautiful representation of the Church and of the human family, people of all ages, races, lay, priests, religious, including thousands of teenagers. We were praying, singing, smiling and feeling God’s love and peace and grace. The stream of people stretched along the San Francisco Bay waterfront was like a river of life and light shining in the darkness. And we did encounter several ugly pockets of darkness – small groups and individual counter-protesters, most of them bizarrely dressed and saying or chanting cruel, intolerant, vulgar and blasphemous things. We maintained a prayerful silence as we passed by, but I was distressed that our teenagers were exposed to their filthy talk – things I don’t even want to remember, much less repeat. I almost lost my cool when we passed by a particularly obnoxious group who were singing the tune of the Gloria from “Angels We Have Heard on High” with the most blasphemous words I have ever heard in my life – I mean truly blasphemous words against Jesus. But as I went back into prayer Jesus showed me that this was a sharing in his walk to Calvary when people mocked, cursed and blasphemed him. And he forgave them and died for their sins so that they could be with him in Paradise forever.

That’s the kind of love that we must have for those who are lost in darkness and sin, who hate us for what we believe and practice. If we hate them for what they believe and practice, then the saving grace of God cannot work through us. In churches all over the world today we heard Jesus commanding us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. If you ready Abby Johnson’s book, you’ll see what a beautiful and effective strategy this is!

But most of the march was a beautiful, peaceful experience. We felt the presence of God very powerfully. I’ve walked the streets of San Francisco for the past 18 years, but never in this way before. Being a part of this holy presence was truly a blessed experience. Fisherman’s Warf was packed on that beautiful, warm and sunny day and all the sidewalk tables were filled with tourists eating crab and chowder. I can only imagine how this miles-long stream of holiness passing in front of them has touched them forever. I felt like I was in church and they were all there with us.

The Gospel reading that weekend told of Jesus walking around Galilee and proclaiming, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” The Walk for Life in San Francisco was the Kingdom of Heaven at hand – right here, right now. Please visit its website, http://www.walkforlifewc.com/ for more impressions of that day.

Thank you for all your prayers, sacrifices and efforts to bring the light and love of God to the world and to the people right around you. None are ever in vain.

Your servant in Christ,

Deacon Patrick

Another Nice Walk for Life Video

2011-02-22T07:10:00.001-08:00

This one is courtesy of Hannah:

LIFE from Hannah Benjamin on Vimeo.

A Seminarian Reflects on the Walk for LIfe

2011-02-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

From "A Journey Through Seminarian Life":

"There have been so many blessings that have come my way in the last few weeks. I am ever grateful for each one. I will begin this journal session talking about last weekend’s trip to San Francisco for the Walk For Life. The fellowship amongst the 45 of us on the bus ride to and from was great. We watched some great movies, prayed together and also got to know each other a lot more. I mean 22 hours on a bus will bring anyone together! Once we got Saint Patrick’s Seminary, where they were gracious enough to open their doors for us, we hung out as a big family of about 80 seminarians strong."

More Photos from Around the Web

2011-02-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

Michael Franzwa has posted some nice pictures of the Walk for Life West Coast,
including this one of good Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento:

Judging from the other photos, looks like they are from St. Maria Goretti parish.

If anyone can identify the priest and lady with His Excellency, please post in the comments.

UPDATE: I guess that is Father Terry. The group posted a youtube video, too:

"Sitting on the Dock of the Bay"-- Ike Ndolo Prepares for the Walk for Life Youth Rally

2011-02-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

This year the Walk for Life was blessed by the presence of a number of young people who travelled all the way from Arizona.

Now, from the blog of Phoenix's "The Catholic Sun" newspaper comes this video of Ike Ndolo, assistant music director at
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Tempe, Arizona.
Mr. Ndolo is practicing before the beginning of the West Coast Walk for Life’s Youth Rally.

His website is here, and you can check out his first album "We Are Beggars," released in 2009.

St. Margaret Mary Parish at the Walk for Life

2011-02-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

Good Father Moreau, of the Institute of Christ the King, leads the flock from
St. Margaret Mary in Oakland at the Walk for Life.

They celebrate a beautiful Traditional Latin Mass at St. Margaret Mary.

Parish young people were there.

This gentleman is always at the Walk, singing, playing music, and radiating joy.
We have another picture of him somewhere on the media blog
but this one is even better. God bless him!

A group shot at Marina Green after the Walk.

Photos this post courtesy Veritatem facientes in caritate.

Sacrifice at the Walk for Life: "Their Goal was Humiliation"

2011-02-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

A new and interesting take from Louisa at Catholic Phoenix on her experience at this year's Walk for Life West Coast:

"You may know the expression 'looking evil in the face.' I never quite understood it . . . until I had people screaming in my face. 'Have you even read a science book before? Do you even BELIEVE in science? You believe the Bible is real? Have you ever read a book before? . . . that is why ALL CHRISTIANS ARE FASCISTS!'

Perhaps I’ve lived a sheltered life. Never before had I seen such anger, hatred and misery in the faces of others. At first, I couldn’t even pity them. I was livid. I was surrounded by posters and placards that had nothing to do with abortion. Their messages were anti-religion and anti-establishment. These people were looking for a fight, carrying posters making fun of the sex scandals involving Catholic priests and defiled images of our Holy Father, John Paul II. Instead of civil protest, they chose open contempt and mockery. A few mixed in with the pro-life marchers and screamed at us. They were two girls younger than me. Others taunted us with megaphones announcing a “poll of our ignorance”. There was a girl carrying a black cross, cross-dressers with “halos” and crosses painted on their faces, and the most creative group, the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.”

I was mad. I couldn’t respond to these people. They didn’t want to debate or recognize any common ground. Their goal was humiliation.

As I contemplated punching Mr. Megaphone Man in the face, I reminded myself of the whole point of the Walk – sacrifice.....

'Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.' I may not have suffered a gruesome death, yet I experienced a persecution. It was a blessing I did not immediately recognize.

So take that, second grade Louisa. You didn’t quit. You didn’t give in to your anger. You finished that Walk and you left feeling sorry for all the people who yelled at you. You stood up to those that hated you for Christ."

We repost a video of Thomas Aquinas College students
which complements Louisa's observations quite well:

YEAH BABIES!

2011-02-02T08:26:00.001-08:00

St. Mary's High School of Phoenix visits San Francisco and attends the Walk for Life.
The good Marianist Brothers at Riordan High School opened their doors to them.

Here's a nice video, with lots of good footage of the city, too:

Stanford Students for Life at the 2011 Walk for Life

2011-02-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

God bless them!

More Stanford pix at the Ruth Institute blog.

Young People / Young Priests at the Walk for Life West Coast

2011-01-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

Another fun video from our talented young people. Great to see these young priests, too:

More Walk for Life Media Team Photos

2011-01-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

Walk for Life West Coast media team member Jim McKenzie
is a master at capturing faces in the crowd:

Six-Part Walk for Life West Coast Video

2011-01-27T23:09:00.000-08:00

A videographer with the handle "hptoheaven" has uploaded a six-part video of the walk on his youtube channel.

Check it out here.

Thanks, hptoheaven!

Jill Stanek: Wholesome vs. Creepy at the Walk for Life West Coast

2011-01-27T16:59:00.000-08:00

Pro-life heroine Jill Stanek offers this observation on the Walk for Life West Coast:

West Coast’s wholesome Walk for Life vs. creepy Walk for Death

"About the West Coast Walk for Life held last Saturday, January 22, on the anniversary of Roe v Wade, KTVU’s John Sasaki reported:

'San Francisco is known for its protests. But this is no anti-war demonstration. This is some 50,000 people fighting against abortion…. Abortion rights supporters were vastly outnumbered but still vocal…. Police confirmed to me this walk for life was the biggest one this city has seen...'

The SF Walk for Life goes a little differently than DC’s March for Life. Pro-aborts march right alongside pro-lifers. As KTVU reported, the counter protesters were unsurprisingly 'vocal' even though “vastly outnumbered.”

The difference in protesters could be no more starkly demonstrated than by contrasting these 2 photos, posted by ProtestShooter.com…

Wholesome vs. creepy, that pretty much sums up the differences."

Yes, it does. If you were not there, this video gives perhaps an even greater example of wholesome vs. creepy

Some Observations from Walkers

2011-01-27T08:26:00.000-08:00

So many people attended the Walk, and so many have interesting things to say, that we cannot publish them all. Here are three, the first from Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary:

"There were tons of people there aged 16 – 25, and they were full of energy for the cause. I wondered if that had anything to do with the fact that they all grew up in the age of ultrasounds, where we have a whole lot more information about what really goes on in the womb."

From a young woman named Allyson Rae Escobar, writing in Have Heart:

"Now I was a part of something greater, something beyond comprehension. Walk for Life was one of the coolest things i've ever been blessed to participate in, thank God. Walking with tens of thousands of other people, all for the same cause. For LIFE. It made me realize how precious life is, how forgiving God is, and how we owe it not only to Him but to ourselves to be a part of it, not just watching from the sidelines."

Here's another from T. S. Wood, writing in The Garden and the Zoo:

"Yesterday, for the first time, I participated in the Walk For Life West Coast, and it was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I have no proper word to describe it, and must settle for less than accurate. The closest is serenity. We were 40,000 strong. Where would you find 40,000 people marching peacefully with only one voice, one mind? When I reached close to the end of the beach walk, before the uphill left turn towards the greens of Fort Mason, I looked back, thinking I was somewhere near the end of the line. Was I wrong!
As far as the eye could see, the snaking water edge was lined with us, and the end was nowhere in sight!"

That last sentence sounds Biblical:

"As far as the eye could see, the snaking water edge was lined with us, and the end was nowhere in sight!"

To read more wonderful observations from those who attended, check out the links in the "2011 Blog Coverage" panel on the right sidebar.

More Walk Photos from "Couples for Christ"

2011-01-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

The "Couples" attended Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption before the Walk:

Then down to Justin Herman Plaza:

Trying to stay together!

The rally is over; the Walk begins!

God bless them!

Men....

Women....

and tons of young people!

After the Walk, a prayer of Thanksgiving at Marina Green.

Thanks, Couples for Christ! To see all the photos on the Walk for Life West Coast Media blog,
click the "2011 Walk Photos" label at the bottom of this post, and to see

the official Walk for Life West Coast Media Team photos, select one of the links at the top of the right sidebar.

Even More International Coverage this Year: China

2011-01-27T06:13:00.000-08:00

As the Walk for Life West Coast grows, it is being covered in many countries. The "Press Coverage" and "Blog Coverage" panels in the right sidebar link to stories from Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, and Spain. We are sure there are more, but are still finding them.

We especially thank the great friend of the Walk for Life, Mr. Frank Lee, for his work with Chinese-American pro-lifers, and the overseas Chinese community, too.

Here is a story on the Walk in Sina News, the most popular news website for Chinese speakers worldwide. It reaches hundreds of millions of people China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, U.S.A., Canada, Europe, etc.

Go here for a long story in the Chinese Gospel Herald about the Walk. Of course, you have to be able to read Chinese, but you can look at the pictures, too!

Thanks again, Frank!

"Shine a Light and Let the Whole World See"

2011-01-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

More nice work, a video montage, by some young people who visited the Walk. Great music.

Something New This Year at the Walk for Life West Coast...

2011-01-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

The Walk for Life West Coast Navy!

Our navy shadowed the march from the bay and took these photos:

On the Embarcadero.

In front of the Maritime Museum (great building!) at Aquatic Park.

A longer-range view of some of the Walkers at Aquatic Park.

At the foot of Van Ness Avenue.

Then heading up over the little hill into Fort Mason and the Marina Green.

Thanks to Captain Rod, and you can see more here.

More Walk for Life Media Team Photos

2011-01-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

These photos are by Paul Ryan, Walk for Life Media Team member.

Young people at the rally.

The Walk passes under the bridge at Pier 39. Wow!

Then down Jefferson Street. Click either crowd shot for a very large image.
You might find yourself in there!

At Marina Green after the Walk.
Wonderful how many Walkers bring their instruments to the event.

"Catholic San Francisco" Stories on the Walk

2011-01-25T18:59:00.000-08:00

This week's edition of "Catholic San Francisco," the newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco,
has a couple of good stories on the Walk.

This great shot, by CSF photographer Jose Luis Aguirre, is on the front page.

Photos from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

2011-01-25T12:20:00.001-08:00

The sons and daughters of St. Dominic, standing for life:

Sister converses with good Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento.

A beautiful end to a beautiful day. Praise God!

Photos courtesy Sr. Thomas Augustine, O.P.

To learn more about the sisters, go here.

EWTN's Full Coverage of the Walk for Life West Coast

2011-01-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

"I believe people are alive today because of this March."
--Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe, EWTN Chaplain.

Great Video: Life versus Death

2011-01-25T07:16:00.000-08:00

A must-see video. The contrast could scarcely be clearer. Thomas Aquinas College students confronted by those bound to the Culture of Death.

Video courtesy Chez VH:

Another Nice Walk for Life Video from YouTube

2011-01-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

Great shots, especially of the enormous crowd of pro-lifers as we moved down from Fort Mason onto Marina Green.

Walk Photos from "Couples for Christ"

2011-01-24T22:08:00.001-08:00

These photos were sent by Mauril Mariano of "Couples for Christ."

That is a great organization that annually send hundreds of people
to the Walk for Life West Coast.

You can learn more about them here.

Thanks for standing up for life, young man! God Bless you!

More Walk for Life Media Team Photos

2011-01-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

These are by Charlie Aczon, of the Walk for Life West Coast Media Team.
You can see more of Charlie's work at Visual 360 Photography.

Vicki Evans, Respect Life Coordinator of the Archdiocese of San Francisco,
introduces the St. Gianna Molla Award winners.

Walk for Life West Coast co-founder Penelope Boldrick, looking quite stylish.

David Bereit.

Abby Johnson, intense and powerful.

Kathleen Eaton of Birth Choice Health Clinics.

The Reverend Brian and Denise Walker of Everlasting Light Ministries.

Joy-filled young ladies.

As always at a Walk for Life, quite a mixed crowd united by the desire to defend the defenceless, give voice to the voiceless.

Overflowing Justin Herman Plaza

Pro-Lifers leave the plaza.

The Walk on the Embarcadero. Walk co-founder Eva Muntean in front.

Abby Johnson, front and center.

As always, San Francisco's Finest lived up to their name.