Late Tuesday evening, a group of young adults travelling with a 70-year old diocesan priest from Australia walked from Mississippi into Alabama. Each of them were wearing t-shirts with two words written across the front, “PRO LIFE”. They are part of Crossroads, a summer-long walk across the country for the culture of life. This group of 11 began in Los Angeles, CA on May 22. At the same time, groups also started from San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA. Each group will arrive in Washington, DC on August 14.
The southern walkers, those that started in Los Angeles, entered into Tuscaloosa County on Culver Rd/US-11. Two of our Knights joined the team at Tuscaloosa Fire Station #1 (Greensboro Ave & 15th Street) for the 3.2 mile walk to Holy Spirit Church. The team was invited to dinner at the Knights Hall. A hot meal, fresh fruit, cold drinks (including two pitchers of sweat tea), and ice cream sundaes (or Dr. Pepper floats) awaited the walkers. The team shared with us their backgrounds and stories about their travels. As the evening was winding down, we were invited to pray evening prayers with them. After visiting for a few hours, the team traded their sandals for tennis shoes and resumed walking toward Washington, DC into the night.
By around 7:00am this morning, the team had walked to Woodstock. They returned to Holy Spirit in their RV and minivan for Daily Mass and morning prayers in our chapel. By including a priest on each of Crossroads’ teams, the team members are able to include Mass in their daily routine. The group was served breakfast in the Knights Hall prior to loading back into their vehicles and returned to Woodstock. The walkers would resume walking East from Woodstock where they had left off.
Although the team’s visit was brief, the meals and fellowship were the least we could do to support and show our appreciation for their efforts. Please keep Allison, Anthony, Becca, Erica, Fr. Hillary, Leah, Patricia, Rebecca, Tim, Sean, Will and all of the Crossroads walkers in your prayers as they continue to walk for life.
