On the bus from Benedictine

Students find lasting experiences, moments at the March for Life

Weighty questions met nearly 100 Benedictine College students at the sendoff Mass preceding their journey to the 2026 March for Life in Washington D.C.

“What is courage?” “What is saintly courage?”

“Is it indescribable holiness?” “Does it radiate from someone’s presence?”

“What makes it attractive?”

During the homily at Saint Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, students were reminded that courage is no easy feat. The homilist pointed to the virgin-martyr Saint Agnes and the biblical figure David as examples.

Saint Agnes stood firm in her faith when faced with unwanted advances and eventual martyrdom. David faced Goliath armed only with faith and a sling.

For some 35 years, Benedictine College and its pro-life club – Ravens Respect Life – have bussed students to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life. Many go hoping to participate in history, some hoping to change it.

Each year, new students find their own reasons to march.

“I’ve been looking forward to this trip since high school,” said Hannah DeAtley, a Benedictine freshman.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, some expected March for Life attendance to decline. Instead, participation has remained strong. About 100,000 people marched up Constitution Avenue in the latest March.

The 2026 trip, more than 1,000 miles one way, included a majority of freshmen. For some, the experience extended beyond the march itself.

Hope Muldoon, also a Benedictine freshman and Colorado native, was excited to experience a large city for the first time.

“Technically, I’m from Colorado Springs, but I live on the outskirts,” she said. “I basically live in the countryside. As a Benedictine student in a small town like Atchison, I’ve never really set foot in a big city.”

Students packed their luggage and hit the road, traveling through much of the Midwest and East Coast, passing through Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

DeAtley remembered when the distance truly set in.

“We were supposed to arrive in D.C. that afternoon,” she said. “I fell asleep in the middle of Ohio and woke up in the snowy Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania.”

With the one-way trip taking nearly 24 hours, students found many ways to stay occupied. Some studied. Others slept. Many prayed together, emulating the prayer rhythm of the monks at Saint Benedict’s Abbey.

“We prayed a rosary every few hours,” Muldoon said, “as well as Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. And sometimes we broke into hymns.”

After arriving in D.C., students had little time for sightseeing. A winter storm threatened to cut the trip short by a full day. They split into small groups to visit parts of the National Mall, including the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

“On the eve of the march, some friends and I took the subway to see the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,” DeAtley said of one of her favorite moments. “It was evening, so we couldn’t see inside. A security guard led us to a Marian prayer garden behind the Basilica.”

There, she encountered a statue of Our Lady holding the infant Jesus.

“That image reminded me of all the babies who were never able to be held by their mothers, either through abortion or miscarriage,” she said. “It reminded me why I chose to march, and I knew Mary would walk with me every step.”

The next morning, marchers attended the pro-life rally on the National Mall before taking to the streets. Speakers included Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“Our rights do not derive from the government,” Johnson said. “They derive from God.”

Afterward, marchers walked up Constitution Avenue toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

“It was an atmosphere of joy, generosity and prayer,” Muldoon said. “Our entire Benedictine group prayed a rosary while walking. Everywhere I looked, I saw banners, statues or relics of saints.”

Due to worsening weather, students canceled post-march plans and instead began the return trip to Kansas.

“Most of us slept on the way back,” DeAtley said, “but we still prayed together, especially rosaries in thanksgiving.”

Students returned to campus to several inches of snow and classmates waiting to welcome them. Within an hour, many were sledding throughout campus.

“I do think we did a courageous thing,” Muldoon and DeAtley said in agreement.

They also emphasized that not everyone can participate in national advocacy events due to financial or logistical barriers.

“Not every person can advocate for their beliefs on this scale. This is an experience we intend to continue throughout our time at Benedictine.”

Emma Bowman, from Oklahoma City, is freshman at Benedictine College in Kansas and a freelance writer for Sooner Catholic.
Photos Emma Bowman/Sooner Catholic.