On Real Presence Live, hosts Lynn Devitt and Bob Noel welcome Susan Ciancio.
Ciancio discusses ALL’s programs, including Celebrate Life magazine, the Marian Blue Wave rosary initiative, the Charity Watchlist, and the Culture of Life Studies Program, which provides PreK through 12th grade lessons teaching respect for human life. She highlights the success of the annual pro-life essay contest during Respect Life Month. This year, entries nearly tripled from 175 to almost 500. This years entries include 3rd-4th graders alongside middle and high school students. Essays came from schools nationwide, with many classes submitting large batches.
Ciancio personally reads all entries, narrowing them to top choices judged by a team for completeness, compassion, and understanding of pro-life values. Prompts varied by age: elementary focused on human dignity via Bible verses or fetal development; middle school emphasized moral courage; high school explored mercy toward pre-born babies with disabilities.
Winning essays, now posted at prolifeessay.com, showcase students’ deep compassion, creativity (e.g., comparing abortion to destroying a Lego creation), and insights tying pro-life beliefs to Sacred Scripture and real-life examples. Ciancio also promotes ALL’s affordable Advent family reflection booklets and encourages parents to use the Culture of Life Studies Program to build moral courage and respect for life from an early age.