Tower Topics ~ Spring 2003

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March for Life: 'Long and tiring, but very good.'

Fifty-five hours crammed on a bus, stiff legs, numb fingers, and a diet of soda pop and convenience store food. That’s what seven seminarians and three members of the Conception Seminary College faculty endured for three days in January.

So why aren’t they grumbling?

“I think a difference is coming soon,” said junior Aaron Spexarth, of the Diocese of Wichita, on his return from the 30th Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. “(The trip) was long and tiring but very good.”

Conception Seminary College's representatives at the March for Life.

Spexarth was joined by fellow seminarians Jake Clayton and Jesse Clayton of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Nathan Gohlke of the Diocese of Joliet, James Hruby and Tim Martinson, of the Diocese of Cheyenne; Joe Thummel, of the Diocese of Tulsa; and faculty members Father Xavier Nacke, Father Daniel Petsche and Carol Madden. The group, which traveled to Washington with an ecumenical group from the Kansas City area, were among tens of thousands of marchers who remembered in prayer and protest the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision to legalize abortion.

Seminarian James Hruby and Father Xavier Nacke, seminary spiritual director, carry signs down Constitution Avenue. Jesse Clayton is behind them.

“It was awesome to see that many people gathered for one cause,” Spexarth said. Joe Thummel, said the emotion of the experience even overcame the cold of the arctic blast that was freezing Washington at the time.

“It was very cold out there, and walking down the street my face went numb, but when I saw the crowd, I didn’t even notice I was cold anymore.”

The streets, were so crowded during the march, it was difficult to move, participants said. Tens of thousands of marchers braved the freezing weather.

Besides their parade down Constitution Avenue, marchers also met with representatives from their respective states, and listened to a telephone call from President Bush.

“They all talked about an end to partial-birth abortion by the end of the year,” Spexarth said.

Spexarth and Thummel both grew up in youth groups that were active in the anti-abortion movement, but had drifted away from their efforts when they left for seminary. They saw this year’s march as a chance to get involved again.

“This was an opportunity to go and stand up for what I believe in,” Spexarth said. Thummel, who as a teen worked in a hospital where he witnessed all stages of life, said he was encouraged that the march’s message went beyond abortion.

“We weren’t just there for abortion, we were there on behalf of everyone from conception to natural death,” he said.

Both seminarians said they hope to raise awareness of life issues at Conception Seminary College, through education and special prayers for life.

“We need to share what we saw,” Spexarth said. “We shouldn't forget.

Editor's note: Father Daniel and Carol Madden were sponsored on the march by St. Peter parish in Stanberry, Mo.

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