On Saturday March 12, 2011, the city of Phoenix celebrated its 28th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown and, for the 20th consecutive year, “Clowns for Life” helped spread the word about the sanctity of life during this festive event.
This year one of our newest Associate groups, American Life League of Arizona, was asked to participate in the parade—which it did in a “really big way”—by carrying huge pictorial colored banners stating “Abortion is always the wrong choice” and “Respecting ALL life as a gift from God.” The ALL-AZ group received cheers, thumbs up and sustained clapping as the signs passed by. Rich Newhouse, president of ALL-AZ said, “We were also very pleased to see many pregnant women get to their feet and proudly point to their extended bellies with huge smiles on their faces, obviously pleased that they had made the right choice. We made a point of thanking them – and their husbands – for supporting life. We also got smiles from the other children they had with them.”
Rich’s sons, Danny and Matt, helped carry the sign, while his wife Pat was a “clown for life at large” promoting the joy of life to all—young and old. Other ALL-AZ members joined in the festivities and parade—all proclaiming the sanctity of life.
Clowns for Life was started more than twenty years ago by Susan and Chuck Vandegrift from the diocese of Phoenix, originally St. Joan of Arc. Their strategy was to do something that would joyfully get people’s attention as they spread the word of life to as many people as possible. Maria and Joe Mascorella from St. Joan of Arc parish make and donate all of the handmade clown costumes.
“Of course it didn’t hurt for God to give us absolutely gorgeous weather for the parade,” Rich said, “I am sure His Blessed Mother approved of the weather, message and the miles of smiles we received.”