St. Augustine’s 2022 Pro Life March Disturbed the Cruise Ship

by: Norman Fulkerson

It was a gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon in St. Augustine Florida and tourist were enjoying the sites. Suddenly there was something that disturbed their tranquility. It was the 2022 March for Life passing in their midst and what a sight it was. This year had and estimated 5000 participants.

The TFP statue of Our Lady of Fatima, carried by volunteers, made a grand entrance into an open field near the Shrine of Our Lady of Le Leche. The speeches were already in progress and the Statue parted the crowd like Moses and the Red Sea. Hushed voices could be heard whispering to those nearby, “Oh, look how beautiful she is.”

After placing her on a table for participants to venerate numerous people came up to thank TFP members for their work. They had seen some of the videos of TFP street campaigns and the violence perpetrated against us.

One lady introduced us to her husband who is a member of the Knights of Columbus in Orlando, Florida. “I promise I won’t throw any bottles at you,” he jokingly said, in a reference to the videos.

After the talks pro-lifers marched down the San Marcos Street until they reached the Old City Gate which marks the entrance to the historic downtown area. The passing of our Lady’s Statue through the stone pillars was like that of someone coming to conquer.   

As she processed through the downtown, one of the marchers noticed a couple looking for directions on a map. They were oblivious to what was coming their way. The wife’s jaw dropped when she looked up and saw the statue. She was left speechless and back handed her husband’s shoulder to get his attention at the heavenly sight that was passing.

“What do you want,” he said as he looked up. He too was taken by the sight of a statue surrounded be devotees praying the rosary. He slowly and reverently removed his hat as Our Lady passed. 

Similar scenes were witnessed throughout the parade route. People were visibly comforted by the religiosity of the event and the presence of such a beautiful representation of the Virgin of Fatima. It was as if they were concerned by the events in our country and looked upon her with prayerful confidence to help them in their needs.

These were in stark contrast to others who did not like what they saw. Especially the moment when marchers finished the Holy Rosary and Mr. Dave Coffee, with the Ocala, Florida Troopes of St. George, intoned the song “We Want God.”

The ensemble of singing marchers, statue and joyful pro-lifers seemed to be just too much for some to handle. One store owner was apoplectic. As she watched the procession pass she repeatedly screamed, “Pro Choice.” She was drowned out by the lyrics that proclaim “We want God who is our King, we want God our Father.”

The same euphemistic slogan was proclaimed by a lady with two toddlers. It seemed an odd statement coming from a person with children who were obviously given a chance rather than condemned by a “choice.” Then finally there was a couple sitting in a patio area who could not constrain themselves either. She kept yelling over and over again, “Separation of Church and State”. They to were drowned out by a song proclaiming “God is our King.”

One of the first time participants of the St. Augustine Pro-life March commented on the stark contrast between such a polarizing issue as abortion and the optimistic atmosphere of tourist enjoying an idyllic Saturday afternoon in one of America’s most historic cities. 

It truly was the clash of two mentalities. On the one side, which was far more numerous, was those who desire the “Return to Order,” so well explained in the book of the same title authored by Mr. John Horvat. On the other side were those whose “cruise ship” had been disturbed by an sticky issue they would prefer to hear about.

In this sense it was a very exhilarating event since it represented a great promise of assistance from Our Lady for our country…even if we disturbed some people’s “Cruise ship.”