First 'March for Jesus' held in Columbia
St. John Neumann School (SJN) has been a Columbia staple for nearly 40 years. The school has seen many changes over time, including a steadily growing population. SJN teaches the principles of Catholic social teaching to mirror the Church’s emphasis on Christian justice, and the school offers opportunities for students to participate in justice efforts.
St. John Neumann School (SJN) has been a Columbia staple for nearly 40 years. The school has seen many changes over time, including a steadily growing population. SJN teaches the principles of Catholic social teaching to mirror the Church’s emphasis on Christian justice, and the school offers opportunities for students to participate in justice efforts.
One pillar of Catholic teaching is solidarity, that all people are part of one, human family, called to actively participate in the pursuit of just society. Teachers worked with older students during the previous academic year on ways to promote Christian justice. The sixth-grade classes and their academic team brainstormed how to make positive change at a grass-roots level.
Through research, students learned of the March for Jesus, a movement for public prayer that serves as a unifying platform for Christians of all denominations to worship the Lord. SJN students and staff took this opportunity to foster unity in the Columbia community and promote solidarity locally.
The March for Jesus began in the 1980s in England and made its ways to the United States by 1989. Since then, over 50 million Christians worldwide have participated in the annual processions. Many cities have welcomed thousands of individuals to join the marches, and in one Brazilian city, over a million worshippers participated in a single event.
The movement is not a form of protest or politically motivated. Instead, it is a joyful procession and prayer service organized by Christians of different ages, races, denominations and affiliations to exalt the name of Jesus with love. Christ remains the center of the events.
Leaders from SJN planned, researched and contacted churches in the Columbia area. Staff and students wore purple March for Jesus t-shirts to spread awareness and brainstormed additional ways to get the word out. Father C. Alexander McDonald, pastor St. John, helped spearhead the initiative by contacting local Christian leaders.
In May, more than 100 people participated in the inaugural march in Columbia at SJN school. The event brought participants from 17 different churches with people attending from South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, Kansas and Texas. After the march, Father McDonald led a prayer service along with Rev. Anthony McCallum of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Marie Henry from Fort Jackson, plus SJN sixth-grade students and staff.
SJN now looks ahead to expand the reach and impact of the march. The goal is to invite more faith communities and move the event downtown so that Christians march together in the capital city’s streets to demonstrate the common love of Jesus Christ.
