Steubenville, OH —”Just as the Father is merciful to all of us, so we should be merciful to all life,” says Cami González, the coordinator of Franciscan University of Steubenville’s presence at this year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Drawing inspiration from the Year of Mercy, Franciscan University’s Students for Life club has lined up 8 buses to depart on January 22 for the 2016 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Franciscan University president Fr. Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, along with other Franciscan TOR priests, sisters, and brothers, will join the students on the all-night bus trip.

Hundreds more Franciscan students, faculty, staff, and alumni will travel by car to the nation’s capital, bringing to 800 the number of people affiliated with the University expected to march beneath Franciscan’s iconic green banner that reads, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you… Before you were born, I dedicated you…” (Jer. 1:5).

González, a sophomore humanities and Catholic culture and theology major from Virginia, said that on the 43rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, it is important for students to continue to march for life.

“[Unfortunately] human life won’t preserve itself. We still need to fight for what is right. We are already seeing a difference on the national scene,” said González, noting the gradual decrease in the number of abortions performed in recent years and the bill passed by both the United States Senate and House last December that, if signed into law, would stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

The students in busses will arrive at 7:30 a.m. for Mass at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The main celebrant and homilist will be Bishop David A. Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

From there, the students will converge on the National Mall with hundreds of other groups for the annual March for Life Rally and march, which will end at the U.S. Supreme Court building, five blocks from their starting position at the mall. During the march, you can see video clips of students on the Franciscan University Facebook page.