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November 16, 2004
College Students Pray for Life in Heart of Nation

Each Saturday, after attending 7am Mass on campus, a group of Christendom students under the title “Shield of Roses” travels to Washington, DC, to peacefully protest their opposition to abortion by praying outside an abortion mill. This tradition was established at Christendom in the early ‘80’s and continues up to this day.

The abortion mill, operated by Planned Parenthood, is located right in the middle of Washington, DC, on 16th St. and L.

According to Fred Gruber, the president of Shield of Roses, normally about 50-75 students give up their Saturday morning each week to defend life through their witness and prayer. On November 13, through the efforts of a number of enthusiastic students, over 120 students from Christendom participated in the prayerful efforts of the Shield of Roses.

Admissions Director Tom McFadden was present that day. “I spend my days informing interested students and their parents of the merits of Christendom College,” says McFadden. “When the students get excited about saving the lives of the unborn and encourage 30% of the student body to travel to DC to pray the four different mysteries of the Rosary in front of an abortuary, my job gets easier. Christendom students never cease to amaze me!”

Christendom’s motto, “To restore all things in Christ,” is more than just a motto for the students. It is their mission and their way of life. Through the vigorous moral and academic education that they receive at Christendom, the students are well prepared to enter society and the workforce as “Soldiers for Christ,” dedicated to the restoration of all of Christendom.
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