St. Mary’s parish in Washingtonville made history at this year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Father Jeffrey J. Maurer, the pastor, said this was the first time the parish chartered a bus to the nation’s capital to commemorate, and demonstrate against, the Jan. 22, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion.

“It’s the first time we’re bringing our own bus,” Father Maurer said during the afternoon march Jan. 23. “First year, one bus; next year, two buses.”

The occupants aboard St. Mary’s bus ranged from “seniors in high school to senior citizens,” Father Maurer said.

To naysayers who ask, “What does marching do?” Father Maurer replies, “What it does is, it gives the folks who are on the pro-life side that added boost to know they’re not alone. All these kids are public high school kids. They probably think they’re the only pro-lifer in the class. When you come around here and you see that this is a young movement, you know you’re not alone.”

With an umbrella in his hands and pride in his heart, the pastor commended his parishioners for sacrificing their time and patiently tolerating any physical discomfort caused by the inclement weather conditions─primarily rain and the blustery cold temperatures─as they marched along the National Mall with tens of thousands of like-minded, pro-life advocates from across the country to pray for an overturn of the 39-year-old ruling of Roe v. Wade.

“When you’re marching for life, you don’t let rain get in the way,” Father Maurer said. “Who’s got it better than me? St. Mary’s rocks, and this is evidence of it.”