“Voices for Life”
By Essay Contest Winner Sarah Fernandes

In a world where life is often undervalued, Pope St. John Paul II’s urgent message reminds us of the Culture of Life–an understanding that all human life has worth, from the unborn to the elderly. He calls us to reject the “Culture of Death.” If the pope were to send me on a mission to create a task force with my friends to promote the Culture of Life, l would take both big and small actions to protect and celebrate life, not just in my community but far beyond.

The first step would be to form the task force, gathering a diverse yet small group of around seven people my age who shared the same passion for the Culture of Life. Together, we would create a force called “Voices For Life.” We would divide our roles based on individual strengths, such as event planning, volunteering, and social media. Most importantly, we would create a mission statement that emphasizes human dignity and the values of what we stand for.

Second, “Voices for Life” would raise awareness about the Culture of Life. A key strategy would involve taking advantage of social media, and our group’s social media managers would manage accounts on many platforms that posted daily about human dignity and the Culture of Life. The “Pro-Life Event Planners” would organize local talks supporting the Culture of Life and rejecting the Culture of Death. We would teach children from all over Nebraska the importance of caring for all life from the moment of conception.

Third, some roles for “Voices For Life” would focus on charity and caring for older people. “Pro-Life Ambassadors” would visit retirement homes, nursing homes, and hospitals to

spread God’s love and hope. “Volunteers for Life” would volunteer at local charities, fundraise through events like “Sweets for Life” (a bake sale), and reject the Culture of Death in caring for the vulnerable–who are often overlooked.

A critical role for “Voices for Life” would be to keep it growing and thriving, recruiting new members. As one of the recruit managers, I would reach out to friends, family, schools, and sports teams across Nebraska to convince them to join our mission. Finally, we would mail out letters and gift packages across the country to raise awareness. about our group and our mission. “Through compassion and caring for the vulnerable, we strive to protect all life.”