YOU'RE INVITED: Teens Encouraged to Discover What It Really Means to be Pro-Life at Annual High School Symposium

The Nov. 8 symposium will offer teens a chance to deepen their faith, connect with peers and discover how to live pro-life values in daily life.

Last year's symposium brought together high schoolers from around the archdiocese in support of the pro-life cause. Attendees learned more about what the Church teaches and why, were encouraged in their outreach and sent out to continue witnessing for life. (Photo provided)

By Andrew Hagan Volunteer, Sidewalk Advocates for Life

2024 Symposium Attendee

I am pro-life. It is something that, as Catholics, most of us, if not all of us, would say. While we all might believe ourselves to be pro-life, what does it truly mean to be pro-life?

A simple textbook definition is that being pro-life means believing that all human beings, regardless of any circumstances, age or disabilities, have inherent value which ought to be upheld.

Now, of course, all of us believe in this, but it is often hard to know how to express human dignity and how to uphold it. It is not enough to just believe every human being has value and to say you are pro-life. St. James tells us in his letter that “faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead” (James 2:17). So if our faith in Jesus must result in action, our belief in Christ’s pro-life cause must also. So I encourage all of you to seek out more ways of being pro-life, most especially for those in high school, at the pro-life symposium.

On November 8, the third annual high school pro-life symposium will be held at St. Mary Parish in Littleton. This event is a very special opportunity for high schoolers to get involved with the pro-life movement, learn what the Church teaches and why, hear profound stories from people with firsthand experiences of the horrors of abortion, learn how to walk with women in crisis and connect with other pro-life teens.

The symposium will begin with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, followed by a Chick-fil-A breakfast. During the symposium, we will hear from many different ministries in the pro-life movement, including Bella Health + Wellness, Students for Life, College pro-life groups and many more. Dr. Catherine Wheeler, a former OB-GYN and abortion doctor who is now a leader of the pro-life movement, will speak on the culture of death, how to combat it and how to help women in crisis. One woman will also share her firsthand account of struggle and eventual healing from abortion.

Through each of these speakers and many more, attendees will be able to connect with other pro-life teens, be encouraged and inspired, and get connected with pro-life organizations so that they can begin to make a difference in the movement.

The culture that we live in makes being pro-life a very difficult thing to do. You are criticized for it, looked down upon and even hated for it. But Jesus is smiling down on you from Heaven, saying, "Whatever you do for these little ones you do for me."

So I encourage you, if you know anyone in high school or are in high school yourself, to check out the symposium and see how God wants to work through you.

Jesus asks us to be bold. If you — whether in high school or a bit older — feel called to make a difference, get connected. There are so many amazing organizations loving others and advocating for life, like pregnancy resource centers, sidewalk advocates and retreats for healing from past abortions. You can also help in other areas, helping with the elderly, those who are human trafficked, the poor and sick, and more. So please pray, hope and believe that God, through us, is making a difference in the world, saving lives and being truly pro-life.