Delicate snowflakes falling down in Northwest Washington D.C., near Dupont Circle, created thick layers of snow covering cars and sidewalks. Despite the weather advisory, which caused local schools to close, a little more than 100 people gathered at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Jan. 19 for singing, praying the rosary, and the annual Youth Mass of Celebration and Thanksgiving before heading to the March for Life. 

While Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrated the Mass, Father Joseph Cwik, a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Potomac, Maryland, gave the homily. He began by telling attendees not to let the weather get them down. He then gave a comparison between people and spiders, who both rely on a web to survive.

“People are like that. Not reliant on a silk web but rather on relationships. The variety of relationships are like a web connecting you to friends, siblings, parents, neighbors, classmates, priests, and coaches just to name a few,” Father Cwik said. 

According to Father Cwik, God never leaves his followers “‘web-less,” and those people attending the Mass were proof of the webs of support in their own lives.

“Today we gather to celebrate the gift of life, to be grateful to God first for our own lives and then to go in search of those who are in need, to ensure that every child born and in (the) womb is respected, loved and belongs,” Father Cwik said.

He then said that the greatest “of all gifts” is eternal life in Heaven, and in death, the ultimate community will be experienced – “a state where we will love and experience love perfectly. Where the deepest longing of the human heart – to love and be loved – is fulfilled, in the perfect community of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” 

The priest encouraged people to challenge the “culture of death” that he said is visible in many different aspects of today’s world, including social media.

“Lord, help us to experience the gift of life that forms us as missionaries of change and missionaries of life, disciples who stand up against the culture of death. For ourselves, ask God for the grace to put to death the sins that are too commonly found and available today: harassing others on social media, degrading people to objects of desire with a few clicks online, destroying the gift of a child in-womb, making no room for the hurt and afflicted, leaving them isolated and lifeless in a tomb, turning the gift of sexuality into selfishness rather than self-gift,” Father Cwik said. 

He also encouraged those at the Mass to address and treat anyone they meet as Christ would, and to respect what they have to offer.

“When we encounter the person of the street, the elderly, the young mother, the single mother, the unexpected pregnancy, the broken father, when we encounter the beginning of human life with all its joy , excitements and wonders when we encounter the end of life with its anticipations for eternal life, when we encounter anyone, see as Christ sees… see them with all their gifts, talents, and personalities perfectly bestowed by God’s loving wisdom and creative care,” Father Cwik said.

Among those attending the Mass was Maggie Dressman, a senior at The Catholic University of America in Washington, who will be graduating with a degree in psychology. Dressman, who attended St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel, Maryland and Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Maryland, participated in Catholic Youth Organization sports, playing basketball, soccer, and T-ball. She also was a member of the archdiocese’s Youth Leadership Team. At Catholic University, she is a member of Cardinals for Life, a club focused on anti-abortion efforts.

This year marks Dressman’s fifth March for Life, and she greeted those who made the event with a testimonial on what the cause means to her and how it has evolved over time.

“I talked about why I was pro-life. In high school, I didn’t really have an answer to that.I just came to the march because everyone else was and because I was quote, unquote, supposed to be pro-life because I’m Catholic. I don’t have any life changing pro-life moments or anything, but coming to the march for years and helping out…with the rally, (the Youth Leadership Team) had us make a video on why we’re pro-life, and that got me thinking about it,” Dressman said.

Being pro-life, to Dressman, goes beyond just the issue of abortion. She also believes in advocating for life in many facets.

“I really believe in being pro-life, not just anti-abortion, but supporting the elderly, those with special needs, and advocating for life across all years of life. I think that’s really important and can go forgotten a lot of times,” Dressman said. 

According to Dressman, these issues can be embraced by the movement in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized abortion on demand. 

“I think that can be a criticism of the pro-life movement, that some people can only be focused on anti-abortion, which is still something huge,” Dressman said. “…The national march could focus, still advocating against abortion, but also for an end to euthanasia and the death penalty and just supporting mothers and supporting the elderly.”

Also attending the Mass was high school senior Addison Ferry, who was visiting from the Diocese of Victoria in Texas. She attends Sacred Heart Catholic School in Hallettsville, Texas. This was her first time attending the March for Life and visiting Washington, D.C.

Ferry said she was going to attend the march, regardless of weather.

“How I think of it is through everything Jesus went through for us, it doesn’t matter if we’re in pain or if we’re hurting, it’s not about us at this moment. It’s about making a change for the world and doing what he has called us to do. If he can hang on a cross for us, we can walk through some snow to save his children,” Ferry said.

Ferry said she had a poem of hers published about abortion called “Mama Why?” She shared what she hopes for the march.

“Hopefully seeing all of these youth and youthful kids will change people’s perspective,” Ferry said. “Hopefully people are open to hearing what we have to say...” 

Ferry said her plans following graduation will include studying physical therapy at college next year and “sticking to her faith.” 

“Sticking to my faith, growing that faith so strong, yes, we are human, we are going to fall, but always knowing God’s hand is there to reach and grasp and be there for you no matter what. As long as you have him on your side, you will not fail,” Ferry said.