On Saturday, January 25, 2020 tens of thousands of people from all over the western United States and beyond will flood San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza and stand up for life at the 16th annual Walk for Life West Coast. Organizers are excited to announce an impressive line-up of speakers, who will share the Walk’s message that that every life is precious and that there are people ready, willing, and able to help mothers choose life!
The first speaker scarcely needs an introduction. Father Frank Pavone has dedicated his life to the pro-life movement. As the Director of Priests for Life, which was founded in 1990 right here in San Francisco, Father Frank has tirelessly spread the pro-life message to all 50 states as well as five continents. He has met with and advised leaders at the highest levels of the Church and government. Under his direction, Priests for Life has grown into a family of over a dozen ministries, all in service of the Culture of Life.
Also speaking this year will be Kathleen Folan. A wife and mother, Mrs. Folan holds a degree in philosophy from the University of San Francisco. Her inspirational story of faith, hope and a willingness to appreciate God’s blessings has been shared in the National Catholic Register. She currently serves as the Director of Family and Youth Ministry at St. Dominic’s Church in San Francisco.
Finally, walkers will be inspired by the soaring oratory of the Reverend Clenard Howard Childress, Jr., who has spoken at almost every Walk for Life West Coast. Senior Pastor at New Calvary Church in Montclair, NJ, and founder of blackgenocide.org, Rev. Childress has been a tireless advocate for the Right to Life for all Americans, with a special emphasis on eliminated the scourge of abortion from the African-American community. A respected pro-life hero, Rev. Childress has been profiled in many newspapers, magazines, and on PBS.
The 2020 Walk for Life West Coast begins with a rally at 12:30 PM in the city’s Civic Center Plaza. Following the rally, participants will walk peaceably down Market Street to Justin Herman Plaza.
Just to be clear … it was Fr. Lee Kaylor, Fr. Bob Cipriano, and a few other local priests in the San Francisco area who were the founders of Priests for Life in 1990.
I would like to add my name to Philip’s in making it clear that Fr. Pavone was not the founder of Priests for Life in San Francisco but rather three local priests: Fr. Lee Kaylor, Fr. Bob Cipriano and Fr. Bob Kiefer. I am always disappointed that Fr. Pavone never gives public attention to these founders who had already established a strong foundation when they handed over the direction of the group to Fr. Pavone because the local bishop would not give the founding priests full time freedom to develop and direct the group themselves.