Located at the east end of Pittsburgh is abortion facility Allegheny Reproductive Health Center. Through the Abortion Outreach Ministry, students gather every Saturday as a peaceful presence. Prayerful students can be seen on one sidewalk while pro-abortion clinic escorts can be seen on the other. 

Meeting at the Rosary Circle, a typical second-shift ministry, as there are three on Saturday mornings, begins with 8am Mass at St. Peter’s in Steubenville. The prayer continues as the leads guide students in morning prayer and a Gospel reflection during the fifty-minute car-ride to the facility. Before every ministry, students are reminded to maintain a gentle presence and are asked not to look at women going in but to focus on prayer.  

Once students are set up on the opposite sidewalk, holding a banner promoting East Liberty Women’s Care Center (only two blocks away from the facility), the spiritual battle begins. Prayers consist of the twenty-decade Rosary, the Litany of Loreto, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Students also kneel, singing the Salve Regina the end of the shift.

Two or more trained sidewalk advocates remained stationed near the facility, attempting to counsel women coming in for abortions. This is often made difficult, with pro-abortion escorts blocking advocates from even speaking to the women. Advocates also make an effort to speak to the men who drive the women to the center.

Sidewalk advocates also hand out “blessing bags” to any women who accepts them. These include baby socks, an information sheet for the Women’s Care Center (in English and Spanish), a figure of a 12-week-old baby, lip balm, and some candy. 

Once their shift has ended, students gather for more prayer and to hear advocates share their experience from that day. Leads offer their support, acknowledging the difficulty of the ministry. The group ends with a cleansing prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to wash them with the blood of Christ from any evil entanglements they may have come in contact with. The group ends with brunch at Antonian Hall.

When asked to share about his experience with sidewalk advocacy Freshmen student Damian Lotz replied: “Even [though] there may be difficult times, there’s a lot to think about  and a lot that goes through your head and your heart when you’re on either side of the sidewalk,  whether you’re praying or counseling. . .I can rest assured that God is able to work in ways we  can’t always see or understand. . .” 

When asked what he would say to someone who has never been on the ministry he  remarked: “It’s definitely worth going at least once. . .It’s good to see people like us [who] are  actually on the sidewalk. . .Even if you’re just praying, that’s still a powerful act. . .” 

Each side of the street creates a very real image of the spiritual battle pro-life Catholics are facing today. This battle is not fought with indifference or force, but with gentleness and faith.