Wichita Diocese organizes buses for Marches for Life events in Washington D.C., Topeka

Nearly 400 people from the Catholic Diocese of Wichita are preparing to travel by bus to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life on January 23. The group will continue a tradition that has been coordinated by Bonnie Toombs, director of the diocese’s Office of Respect Life and Social Justice, since 2011.

“My first time coordinating the march was in 2011, so yeah, it’s been a few years,” Toombs said.

Along with the national event in Washington, many participants from Kansas will also attend the Ignite for Life rally and March to the Capitol in Topeka on January 28. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish is organizing transportation for those wishing to join this event, which includes speeches from legislators and a Mass celebrated by Kansas bishops at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

Toombs also noted a newer initiative: an April Rally for Life in Topeka. “It was in the month of April when abortion was deemed a right under our state constitution by the Kansas Supreme court, so last April we had our first rally for life,” she said. “The rally focuses on how we can change hearts and minds to make abortion unthinkable. Bishop Kemme will celebrate Mass, several speakers will help us understand where we are today with abortion in Kansas, and how we are all called to help women of all ages who are in unexpected pregnancies.”

Toombs explained that these events serve multiple purposes: bringing together youth from across the diocese, strengthening pro-life beliefs among participants, and providing public witness about their views on human life.

“Every year, the Holy Spirit shows me why I’m there,” Toombs said. “When people open their hearts, they have the same experience. I hear that over and over, not only from the students, but even the adult chaperones and bus captains. Every year, someone says, ‘This is why God brought me here.’”

She added that this year’s pilgrimage offers young people opportunities to interact with Bishop Carl Kemme and twelve priests outside of church services during their journey to Washington.

“That’s an opportunity for our youth to see the priests in a different light, outside of Mass, and interact with them,” she said.

Participants will also attend a Mass led by Bishop Kemme at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception near Catholic University of America. “We are one of only two dioceses that are able to celebrate Mass in the shrine that day,” Toombs said.

Recalling previous trips—including one extended by a blizzard—Toombs described how these experiences foster connections among travelers from different parts of south-central Kansas. She noted that although high schools like Bishop Carroll and Kapaun Mt. Carmel once organized separate trips for students https://www.bcchs.org/ , https://kapaun.org/ , now everyone travels together as one diocesan group.

“It took a few years, but now we go as one diocese,” she said. “It’s not only kids from Carroll and Kapaun, but also students from all over our diocese. In fact, non-Catholic students make up the larger percentage of the student pilgrims on our trip.”

She observed that these interactions extend beyond Wichita as groups nationwide meet at events like those held at Washington’s National Mall.

“Groups from across the country stand together at the National Mall. Some of our kids will…trade a Diocese of Wichita hat with someone from Alabama or somewhere else…they all talk about why they’re there…”

The Ignite for Life event begins at 9 a.m., followed by Mass at TPAC; after marching to Kansas State Capitol at noon there will be additional activities including meeting legislators and touring government buildings https://www.tpacwichita.com/ . Transportation organized by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish departs early morning with capped costs thanks to support from Knights of Columbus https://www.kofc.org/en/index.html .

After Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022 https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf , focus shifted toward advocacy both nationally and within state capitals such as Topeka—a point emphasized by Toombs: “We need to be both places…We certainly need to be at state level…but there are still national fights too.”

She further stressed efforts aimed beyond legislation: “It’s about making abortion unthinkable…and helping people see alternatives…it’s about helping people understand we can do better than this…”

According to recent statistics released by Kansas Department of Health & Environment https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/ , abortions have reached record highs within Kansas—many involving out-of-state residents due partly to differences between state laws.

“It’s also about helping our adult population understand where we’re at,” Toombs said…“People should look at many abortions done here on women coming from other states…”

Despite setbacks such as defeat of Value Them Both amendment proposal in 2022 https://valuethemboth.com/about-the-amendment/ , Toombs sees renewed engagement locally through sidewalk advocacy efforts intended both for education and direct assistance: “…now we have saves on sidewalk probably every week…the bigger piece is for every adult…to know where direct someone struggling with unplanned pregnancy.”

Registration is closed for this year’s Washington trip but interested individuals may contact Bonnie Toombs regarding possible openings or information about upcoming rallies.