Two miles in the rain, praying for life

Light rain and cold wind swept through Corpus Christi's Southside on the morning of Saturday, December 7, 2024. Despite this, about a dozen people followed Fr. Richard Gonzalez, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, up the sidewalk of Yorktown Blvd. The group walked about two miles total and came back down Yorktown after crossing at the Staples Street intersection.
 
Fr. Gonzalez lead the group in praying the Holy Rosary for the protection of all human life, especially those in danger of being aborted. Jenny and Sean Hurt of the pro-life apostolate Disciples 4 Life have organized the annual Pro-Life Walk for three years in a row. They participated that morning in the walk with their newborn baby and three older children in tow.
 
Sam and Amber Geise, a young couple who attend St. John the Baptist, shared why they decided to brave the weather and follow their pastor on this short pilgrimage. As one of six kids herself, Amber reflected, "My parents would take us to pray in front of Planned Parenthood in College Station. It was a beautiful witness to women going into the clinic to choose life! I am here to continue those prayers to end abortion." Her husband, Sam, shared, "It is a blessed opportunity to take a step back, to walk and pray for the unborn. It reminds me of how thankful we are to be here today and how important it is to protect life."
 
At the end of the walk, the group concluded their prayers in front of the church doors with the Marian hymn "Salve Regina." Jenny Hurt credited the event's success as an act of the Holy Spirit, as it all came together despite her family's welcoming of their new baby boy.