Every year since Jan. 22, 1973, when the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion through the Roe vs. Wade decision, hundreds of thousands of people from across the country have participated in a “March for Life” in Washington, D.C.

Among them this year will be nearly 250 Catholic high school students from the Diocese of Peoria, who will be making their way by bus and by train in the coming days to give public witness in support of the right to life in the nation’s capital just days after the inauguration of a new American president.

“We’re looking forward to being there with our bishop,” said Father Bo Schmitt, chaplain of Schlarman High School in Danville, who will lead 28 students to D.C. They will be among a group of 82 students and adults from Marquette High School, Ottawa, and St. Bede Academy, Peru, who will travel together by train.

With Father Schmitt will be Marquette’s chaplain Father Chris Haake, St. Bede’s chaplain Father Ronald Margherio, OSB, and Father Patrick DeMeulemeester, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Granville, and St. Patrick’s Parish, Hennepin. They will leave Tuesday night, Jan. 20, and return Saturday.

Mrs. Marsha Krone, faculty moderator of Peoria Notre Dame High School’s pro-life group, “Teens for Life, and Father Ryan Bredemeyer, chaplain of Peoria Notre Dame, will lead a busload of 55 students and adult chaperones to Washington, D.C., accompanied by Father Geoff Horton, who teaches at Notre Dame.

A group of 47 students from Bloomington Central Catholic High School will depart by bus Tuesday night, according to Father Patrick Henehan, chaplain.

Another bus will depart about 5 a.m. Wednesday from The High School of Saint Thomas More in Champaign with 43 students and 13 adults, said Father Joseph Dondanville, chaplain.