Thousands attend Poland's National March for Life and Family with the Motto "Children are the future of Poland" - VIDEO
18th National March for Life and Family in Poland with thousands of participants. Paweł Ozdoba: John Paul II "is the patron saint of the family precisely because he steadfastly proclaims the civilization of life... we still remember the teachings of the Polish Pope and consider them valuable and valid".
On Sunday, June 18, the National March for Life and Family took place in the Polish capital. The motto of the event was "Children are the future of Poland". Similar events were planned for that day in Kraków, Wrocław, Katowice, Poznań, Sieradz and Żary. Between April and September, pro-life marches will take place in several hundred Polish cities.
Paweł Ozdoba, President of the Center for Life and Family and organizer of the event, remarked: “We take to the streets to give public witness and demonstrate our commitment to true values to Poland, Europe and the world.” The marches bring families together and inspire others with their happiness. The march is an expression of support for marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Today's event is not only an opportunity to promote family, but also to show the validity of a certain cultural pattern. It is important to stand up for these values. The family is a unique social unit, a place where the miracle of birth occurs.”
Tysiące uczestników na tegorocznym @Marsz_info w Warszawie, w tym wielu gości z zagranicy.@CentrumZycia pic.twitter.com/HzQ5Gakv30
— ks. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik (@xRytel) June 18, 2023
This year's motto "Children are the future of Poland" refers to the beatification of the Ulma family, which is scheduled to take place in September this year. An unborn child is even beatified during the ceremony, an unprecedented event in Church history. Paweł Ozdoba emphasized that the march's motto expresses the need to recognize that unborn children are also the country's future: "We must constantly take care of them so that they have the right to life and so that nobody denies them this fundamental right ." The current march contained small references to the upcoming beatification.
The participants committed themselves to the spiritual adoption of a conceived child. They pray for nine months for an unborn child whose life is in danger. “This is our spiritual gift, which corresponds to the theme of the event. We also remembered the teaching of John Paul II on the right to life. “He is the patron saint of the family precisely because he steadfastly proclaims the civilization of life,” Paweł Ozdoba remarked, adding: “We want to be a clear sign that we still remember the Polish Pope's teachings and that we follow them classify as valuable and valid".
Paweł Ozdoba has been involved in pro-life activities for many years. He admitted: "For me, family is a priceless sanctuary of peace, full of joy and happiness, the foundation of my private life, something I can relate to, always a safe place that guarantees the full love of the whole family, not." only my wife and children, but also grandparents, siblings, etc.”.
A marcher stressed that despite the rain, many families attended the event. “Besides, it is an international march and we can hear different languages. The family is the most important place for the education of the young generation. We want to show that family means power, bonding and most importantly love,” noted another march participant.
The first March for Life and Family took place in Warsaw in 2006. Since then, more than 150 cities across Poland have hosted the event, which brings together parents with children, seniors, members of movements and associations, and public figures. In 2022, almost 10,000 people took part in the march in Warsaw alone.
The Warsaw March started at 11 am from Palace Square and was also attended by representatives of the pro-life movement from abroad. After its conclusion, Holy Mass was celebrated in the Holy Cross Basilica. To conclude, a concert entitled “For the City and the World” was planned in Warsaw, which brought about 100 young people to the stage who shared their faith experiences in their lives, a nod to the 40th anniversary of one of the pilgrimages of John Paul II to Poland. The march took place under the honorary patronage of the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki. This initiative was also supported by the bishops of two Warsaw dioceses: Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz and Bishop Romuald Kamiński.
The National March for Life and Family is one of many pro-life initiatives in Poland. More than 1,500 people took part in the 11th Congress of Large Families in Grodzisk Mazowiecki from June 16th to 18th. The aim of the event, which was held under the motto "The family creates a good atmosphere", was the integration and promotion of a good image of families with many children. The Congress is organized by the Union of Large Families “Three Plus”, which currently has over 10,000 members in more than a hundred branches across Poland.
From a Release of the Polish Catholic Bishops Conference
Tysiące uczestników na tegorocznym @Marsz_info w Warszawie, w tym wielu gości z zagranicy.@CentrumZycia pic.twitter.com/HzQ5Gakv30
— ks. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik (@xRytel) June 18, 2023
Comments