SAN DIEGO — About 2,500 people are expected to attend the 14th annual San Diego Walk for Life.
Among them will be Bishop Michael Pham, who will be delivering a message to the crowd, and Auxiliary Bishops Ramón Bejarano and Felipe Pulido.
The largest local pro-life gathering, the San Diego Walk for Life will return to Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego, where it will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 24.
But while the event has traditionally been held on the northwestern corner of the park, near the intersection of Harbor Drive and West Grape Street, it is relocating this year to the southwestern edge, near the intersection of Harbor Drive and West Ash Street.
This year’s theme will be “Known, Created, and Loved in the Womb.” It was inspired by Jeremiah 1:5, in which God tells the eponymous prophet: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I dedicated you; a prophet to the nations, I appointed you.”
God’s words to Jeremiah can be applied to every human being, said Maria Valencia, who oversees culture of life ministry in the diocesan Office for Life, Peace and Justice, and serves as coordinator of the San Diego Walk for Life.
“Since God formed individuals in the womb, we all have a mission,” she said, “and that mission is not going to happen if people terminate pregnancies through abortion.”
The San Diego Walk for Life includes an approximately half-mile walk, with participants holding pro-life signs and banners; speeches and testimonials; about 50 pro-life exhibitor booths; and live entertainment.
The keynote speaker will be Kairy Marquez, a worship leader and Catholic singer-songwriter, who was born in the Dominican Republic but now lives outside Atlanta.
In addition to her talk, Valencia said, Marquez will also entertain the crowd with a live performance of her original music.
Other scheduled speakers include Bishop Pham; Deacon Bobby Ehnow, who will share his personal story of being adopted; and Carol Kope, of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, through which women share their pain and regret over choosing abortion.
Exhibitors will include many pregnancy resource centers, as well as other organizations, like the post-abortion healing ministry Rachel’s Hope/Esperanza Raquel, the Knights of Columbus, culture of life coordinators from local parishes, and representatives from various diocesan pastoral offices.
Valencia said that, as in past years, she is requesting help with what she calls the “three P’s”: participation, promotion and prayer. She said volunteers are needed, and members of the clergy are especially encouraged to attend.
“When they are there,” she said of clergy, “people feel like they are accompanying us in this mission.”
A Novena for Life will begin on Friday, Jan. 16. Each of the first eight days of the novena will be hosted by a different parish in San Diego or Imperial County. The last day will take place immediately prior to the walk, around 7:45 a.m., at Waterfront Park.
For information, visit sandiegowalkforlife.org or contact Maria Valencia at (858) 490-8323 or mvalencia@sdcatholic.org.
