By Jay Sorgi • Posted June 12, 2025

Hundreds of pro-life Catholics and supporters gathered Saturday morning June 7 for Mass, a march through Center City Philadelphia, and a rally honoring the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. The event was organized by the Pro-Life Union of Philadelphia.

Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and director for the archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship, shared four words during his homily that gave attendees pause, encouraging reflection on how to approach their cause every day.

“Make Jesus the center. Let Jesus be the center of your movement, of your activity,” said Father Gill, quoting Pope Leo XIV.

“All of us know, especially when we’re active in a particular activity, we can lose sight of our focus. This is the simple advice that Pope Leo (XIV) gave.”

The march marked Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the 2022 United States Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade,  granting states the authority to decide on abortion legality.

“We march to commemorate defense of the unborn, and also to as a testament to the mothers and the families that are destroyed by abortion,” said Christopher Pushaw, President of the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia.

Father Dennis, citing the day’s reading from St. Paul, encouraged the faithful to “bear the chains” and “teach (others) the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“We can do that in so many profound ways — rarely by what we say- – almost always by what we do,” he said.

Their second step of “doing” that day came in the sometimes-rainy 1.3-mile march down Race Street, past Broad Street and Chinatown, south on Seventh Street, and ultimately reaching Independence Mall between the National Constitution Center and Independence Hall.

The marchers, who spanned about three-fourths of a city block as they prayed rosaries and held signs, encountered a smaller group of pro-choice advocates at the Philadelphia Women’s Center, an abortion clinic on Seventh Street.  The pro-choice demonstrators followed the marchers to their destination and engaged in peaceful  yet vocal disagreement during the hour-long rally.

Some of Father Dennis’ words during the homily seemed to prepare the marchers for this encounter.

“We can’t be concerned about the hardships and difficulties that come our way,” he said. “What is most important is that we’re here, we’re doing our part, and we hear the Lord Jesus say to us, ‘You follow Me.’”

“Everything really crystallizes around that center (as) participation in the mission of Christ and everything’s at stake actually in this pro-life movement,” said Daniel Drain, director of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Life and Family.

“I think it’s both a needed reminder every day and a balm against the typical sort of invective.”

Many participants also reflected on how their witness to life goes beyond a few annual pro-life marches, and extends to everyday acts of affirmation.

Some carried signs and wore t-shirts that promulgated a lifestyle that directly and holistically “bears the chains” of hardships that mothers face as they consider abortion — ways to put  Jesus at the center.

For some, advocacy begins with simple awareness efforts.

“Volunteers go door-to-door, letting their neighbors know about the local pregnancy help center. In our first year of the campaign, we surveyed our neighbors (to see) if they knew about the pregnancy help center — 73% (didn’t) know what we were talking about,” said Michele Venditto, the director of strategic initiatives for Students for Life of America.

“We did a whole year’s worth of ministry in these towns, and we resurveyed. At minimum, we moved the needle 10%. More people were aware of the pregnancy help center.”

Philadelphia pro-life leaders shared that one of the most impactful ways to keep Jesus at the center, is through local, everyday involvement in the lives of mothers whose children are or may become at risk.

This can include sidewalk ministry outside abortion clinics, volunteering at  crisis pregnancy centers, or personally supporting expectant and new mothers experiencing poverty and other societal challenges

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic Charities of Philadelphia plays a vital role in supporting mothers and children in need through material assistance, housing support, parenting resources, and counseling services. In collaboration with the Pro-Life Union of Philadelphia, they work on initiatives that provide life-affirming care, ensuring expectant and new mothers have the support they need to choose life for their children.

“A lot of it has to do with the grassroots focus on each individual heart, each individual mind, meeting people where they are, meeting women who are in crisis who need alternatives and need not just physical comfort and options to bring their baby into the world, but really that spiritual comfort and consolation to know that we are here for them,” said Pushaw.

“If your parish is close to a place that does good work, that’s where you could serve,” added Pushaw

“It’s that simple, knowing that there’s a pregnancy support center 10 minutes from you, and you have half an hour on a Saturday. You can carry boxes upstairs for them. It’s those ways to help what’s local.”

For many pro-life advocates, these everyday acts of service are the way to keep Christ at the center — day in and day out.