Saint Louis University Students for Life is sponsoring Celebrate Life Week. The series of pro-life activities, which began on Friday, April 20, will conclude on Saturday, April 28.
The events-such as a speech by Dr. Gregory Beabout of the SLU philosophy department and a Planned Parenthood protest-are designed to help students reflect and act upon their beliefs.
One hundred and eighty babies die every hour by abortion, according to SLU Students for Life member Chad Koehnke. This is why SLU Students for Life placed 180 crosses in the Quad this week.
Beabout will give a speech titled Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood tonight, in the Busch Memorial Center, room 204, at 8 p.m.
“Beabout was chosen to give the speech because he is strongly supportive of the subject of life and willing to share his opinions. He is also a well-liked professor,” Koehnke said.
This topic was chosen to explore society’s concept of motherhood, since sometimes motherhood is not regarded with the same positive spirit it used to enjoy, said President of SLU Students for Life, Angela Chierek.
On Friday during Spring Fever, SLU Students for Life will sponsor a tie-dye booth, which will benefit events such as the March-for-Life and organizations such as Birthright. Individuals may bring their own items to tie-dye or buy T-shirts at the booth.
Students are invited to participate in a protest at Planned Parenthood on Saturday, April 28, at 9 a.m. with breakfast to follow. Students can meet behind Griesedieck Hall to carpool to Planned Parenthood for the peaceful protest.
Participants will pray the rosary and hold signs.
“The participation of young, active people is necessary because we don’t want everyone thinking abortion is OK. Even though its legal, that doesn’t make it right,” Chierek said.
“It’s a prayerful, nonviolent way to support life,” Koehnke said. At the breakfast students will be invited to share their experiences in the pro-life movement. This breakfast will conclude Celebrate Life Week.
Celebrate Life Week began on Friday, April 20, with a concert outside of Griesedieck yielding about $150 in donations for Birthright. The concert included a violin performance by SLU student Don Lassus and a vocal performance by Kristen Foht, pro-life singer on a coffee house circuit.
There weren’t many people there but passersby did give plenty of donations, said SLU Students for Life member Chris Lonergan.
Praise and Worship Holy Hour began with a talk about the dignity of life, on April 23, in Notre Dame Chapel, setting the stage for the rest of the reflection.
Students lit candles for their intentions and in thanks for their own life.
On April 25, students took part in a candlelight vigil at the clock tower. Prayers and Bible readings gave participants time to reflect upon issues raised by individuals such as Pope John Paul II.
“Celebrate Life Week is a way that we can put a positive spin on controversial life issues. We are stressing the celebration that is life,” said Koehnke.
For more information visit http://www.geocities.com/koehnkec/sflindex.html, home page of SLU Students for Life.
