Core Committee
Students
Caroline Dubois
President; 3rd Year, BA in Linguistics and Spanish
“In the defense of the sanctity of life”
I became involved in pro-life work at the Brandon University in the winter of 2010. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The pro-life situation at my home-town university was, and continues to be, a frustrating one, but despite little involvement and few resources we managed to pull together events and promote life issues. When I decided to transfer to the University of Manitoba to finish my degree, I was excited to continue with pro-life work there. I couldn’t believe it though, when I heard that the university did not have a pro-life presence on campus! But this blessing allowed me to grow in new and exciting ways through the opportunities for pro-life advancement that were presented.
Working in the pro-life battlefield the last academic year taught me so much through the struggles I faced in my position within the group, the obstacles we faced on campus, and the personal battles that we all called to overcome in sacrifice for the common good. These challenges, however, have only reinforced my determination, and I know now, more than ever, that the battle between the culture of life and the culture of death — the battle of this generation — is not one that we should win, but one we must win, and one we will win. I only hope that pro-life work continues to help shape me into the person I am, and that my actions will have a lasting effect in the promotion of the culture of life for all generations to come.
Cody Gabrielson
Campus Public Relations; 4th Year, BA in Philosophy
We must be a people of life to always make room for the stranger and the homeless, to care for the sick and the dying, to look after the aged and the abandoned, we must welcome the immigrant, defend innocent children waiting to be born. Our efforts must be consistent.
- Blessed Pope John Paul II
My journey to being involved with the pro-life movement has been an interesting one. I would say I have always been pro-life, however I had for a long time believed the lie that I had no right to say anything to those who were not pro-life even though I was no stranger to doing so with other issues having been involved with various social justice, environmental and anti-war groups. During that time I was in contact with many pro-choice people and slowly the inconsistency inherent in caring for the vulnerable but not the most vulnerable in society (that is the pre-born child and the elderly, not to mention the even more vulnerable if they are also physically or mentally disabled in some way) wore on me. At some point it became very clear to me the grave injustice surrounding abortion and euthanasia and just as I had been inclined to do with the other injustices I have seen, I started getting involved.
Years later when I ended up at the University of Manitoba and an opportunity came to get involved on campus, I did not hesitate to join. My hope is that others will see the consistency in the pro-life message, that there is no true dichotomy between “pro-life” and “social justice” as is evident in the quote above, and they too will be inspired to help bring about a Culture of Life.
Agnus-Mariae Lucas
Secretary-Treasurer; UofM Alumni of 2011, BSc in Microbiology; Continuing Education
It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.
- Mother Teresa
The urge to fight for life, from conception to natural death, runs in the family. Coming from a family of seven children, we’ve always looked forward to having another sibling, so the idea of wanting to kill a child — and similarly, end the life of a respected elder — is abhorrent to us. Being prolife is so instinctive to me, not joining a prolife group at the university would have been going against my nature.
It’s actually really nice to be involved in the Catholic community; eventually you get to know someone who knows someone else who you’ll get to work with later on. That’s how it was with most of the members of our group: I actually knew most of them already from class or through another group. When meeting even more people in the prolife community, you get to see how providential everything is. Everything connects and just fits together perfectly. You feel like you’re being used as an instrument in this big masterpiece, and it’s exhilarating to be used in a design by such a mighty Creator; you know for sure that what you offer will result in something so beautiful. The final product may not be complete, but the bits and pieces that is made with what is given — with what the prolife movement contributes — gives hope for the future of the life of every human being.
Erika Couto
Facilitator; 3rd Year, Masters in Physiology
No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.
- Edmund Burke
Even though all my life I have considered myself pro-life, it was not until I had this very close friend experiencing an abortion that I truly realized the great damage inflicted to women by it. I did some research and I found many lies surrounding this issue. This fact really offended me and I decided to do something to show the Truth behind all such lies. Since then I have done the little I can to educate myself and help others do the same. As a scientist, I think that we must always look for the Truth, even if we do not like what we find, and that it is only in that humble and sincere search that Humanity can really move forward.
Community
Francisco Javier Fernandez
Facilitator, Chief of the Department for Youth Development (Atlixco, Mexico; 2005 – 2008)
Whereas the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth.
- Preamble of Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959)
As someone belonging to this highly visual generation, it is not difficult to understand that the first appealing thing that got me interested in the pro-life movement were some pictures of actual abortions. I could not buy into the idea of this act being a right. Since then, the passion for defending the life of the unborn has been present in my path. My perspective, as a lawyer, is that laws must reflect the true dignity of the person, and I consider that the authentic understanding of Human Rights is fundamental to create such laws. Therefore, I would like to contribute to the discussion of Human Rights (and the legal consequences of those), and I think UMSCL will be a great channel to do it.
Alexandre Chartier
Community Public Relations; UofM Alumni of 2010, BA in Philosophy
Abortion is a terrible complex issue, to one with no principles.
- G.K. Chesterton
I have always been able to see the truth of the pro-life position, and I was never afraid to give an account of it whenever it came up in class or in discussion, but it was not until Craig McFarlane, one of the founders of the present group, asked me to help him start up a new pro-life group at the University of Manitoba that I became actively involved in the pro-life movement. And I have not regretted jumping on board. Working with this dedicated group of people has been a wonderful experience. From exciting debates, to uplifting training sessions, to road trips to far away lands; it has all been worth the effort and will be sure to bear much fruit. I am eagerly looking forward to what this year will bring.
Roxane Chartier
CUSB Representative
