By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Hays residents lined Vine Street Sunday in silent prayer, holding signs united by a single message: choose life.
The 2025 National Life Chain opened with a prayer service at St. Joseph Cemetery. Fr. Nick Parker of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church led the service, reading scripture and highlighting God’s intimate creation of each person.
"It's a wonderful witness that we have today, where we are able to show our love for the born, the unborn, the young, the old, and let people know that they are truly children of God," he said.
The annual event is a peaceful, hour-long demonstration held on the first Sunday of October, where church members and congregations gather to express their stance on abortion publicly.
Parker encouraged attendees to demonstrate compassion and peace rather than anger or judgment, emphasizing the importance of love for all people.
Alicia Knight, an organizer, described the Life Chain as a public expression of faith meant to connect with others and encourage support for the movement.
"There is a large community that is pro-life that believes in the right to life. From natural conception to natural death," she said. "It should also encourage those who have chosen abortion, for them to feel mercy and love for any decision that they made, and that they are welcomed here too."
Knight said anyone who has had an abortion or is pregnant and seeking support can reach out to Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas or Rachel's Vineyard, which its website describes as a place to “renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion.”
Chase and Julie Berg said they believe it is important to raise awareness about what they consider the "tragedy of abortion."
"If we can't protect our citizens at the most vulnerable state of life, then why does anybody think they're going to be protected in the U.S.?" Chase said.
"The opposing side can be very loud. It's important to show that we're here, respectful, and we want to show up with love and kindness," Julie said.
Chase and Julie attended the demonstration with their baby and said they have four children. They added they hope to see more young people take part in next year’s Life Chain.
"Be pro-life or there won't be a next generation," Chase said. "It's not a young person's issue, it's an everybody's issue."
