Franciscans Participate in Washington, D.C.'s March for Life

Friar Michael Lorentsen (left) and Friar Matt Foley (right)

Last month, the 37th annual March for Life took place in Washington, D.C. An estimated 400,000 people participated in the event. Franciscan friars and postulants who live in nearby Forestville, Maryland were involved in the event. The march also attracted a lot of young people from amongst others the Catholic University of America (in Washington, D.C.), St. Francis High School (in Athol Springs, New York), and Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, Maryland). Franciscan friars staff all of these institutions.

In the high schools, the Franciscan presence has been particularly strong. Archbishop Curley - the Baltimore-based high school - the friars entered in 1961, the year the school opened. They have been there ever since. In Athol Springs – at St. Francis High –Franciscan Friar Justin Figas led the effort to create the school. Students began taking classes at St. Francis High in 1926. Much like at Baltimore’s Archbishop Curley School, the friars are still active members of the St. Francis High community.

(Source of all related images on webapge and homepage: Conventual Franciscans.)