Here is the 2011 Crossroads Canada team:
Ashton Hatchen
24 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I was not going to come on Crossroads, because I thought it wasn’t for me. Then I went to the March for Life in Washington, DC. I saw so many people fighting for the lives of the unborn and it made me rethink Crossroads. Towards the end of the school year, I decided to see where Crossroads would take me.
Christine Schnurr
20 years old
University of Guelph
I joined Crossroads because it is a wonderful opportunity to witness to the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. Defending life, a most precious gift from God, is the best way I can spend my summer. Canada needs to hear the pro-life message, and Crossroads proclaims it in a great way. I am excited to be part of the team this summer and I look forward to allowing God to work through me to help change hearts and save lives.
Jacinta Fox
18 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
The reason I am on Crossroads is because I want to witness to pro-life in the modern world today. I truly believe that this team can and will make a difference. I am here to save babies and to walk across Canada while doing it!
Jessica Lamb
19 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I heard about crossroads through Mike Hayden when I first came to OLSWA. I thought it sounded incredible and I have always wanted to be more active in pro-life work. Being raised in a large family, surrounded by other large families, I have had the pleasure of experiencing the joy and love that comes with every new born baby. I was attracted to Crossroads especially, because of its focus on prayer and sacrifice. With the hope of changing hearts, one must prayer and offer sacrifice. I am looking forward to this experience and the fruits that will come from it.
John D’Agostino
19 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I first heard about Crossroads through Michael Hayden, a fellow American who participated in Crossroads Canada last year and is walking again this year as our walk leader. The stories he told me about walking across Canada were incredible, and Crossroads sounded like an opportunity of a lifetime. Something kept telling me that I should do the walk in Canada this summer. However, the thought of spending my whole summer walking did not sound appealing to me. It was not until Christmas that I decided I should join this walk for life. When my sister-in-law announced on Christmas day that she was going to have a baby, due right around the time I would finish the walk, I realized that God was calling me to do this walk. I want to participate in this walk not only for my unborn niece, but for all the unborn. I want to show people that life is precious, and that the gift of life is the greatest gift God can give us.
John Paul Meenan
Professor at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
In the midst of our end of year marking, and preparing for graduation at the end of May, I was offered a ride in the Crossroads RV with six other guys (all of them my students) across the U.S. of A. Well, I thought, I always wanted to see the northern U.S., so I hopped in. The trip leader, Mike Hayden, also invited me to do part of the walk across Canada once we reached Vancouver, and, I thought again, why not? More public witness to abortion is needed: Since the Supreme Court decision of 1988, Canada is the only western nation with no laws governing abortion. As a grave crime against God and man (particularly the little men and women in the womb), we need to keep abortion in the public eye, at least so people consider the implications of allowing our unborn children to be killed. The quiet yet visible, joyous yet sacrificial, mission of Crossroads appeals to me, and seems in line with John Paul II's call for us to witness to the Gospel of Life. Daily Mass, prayer, rosaries, good discussions, lots of exercise, fresh air, all for the greatest of causes; who would not want to join the walk at some point? For every little inconvenience, every minute of lost sleep, every tired muscle, every yell of disapproval, we need just recall Our Lord's promise: "What you do for the lease of these little ones, you do for me."
In the midst of our end of year marking, and preparing for graduation at the end of May, I was offered a ride in the Crossroads RV with six other guys (all of them my students) across the U.S. of A. Well, I thought, I always wanted to see the northern U.S., so I hopped in. The trip leader, Mike Hayden, also invited me to do part of the walk across Canada once we reached Vancouver, and, I thought again, why not? More public witness to abortion is needed: Since the Supreme Court decision of 1988, Canada is the only western nation with no laws governing abortion. As a grave crime against God and man (particularly the little men and women in the womb), we need to keep abortion in the public eye, at least so people consider the implications of allowing our unborn children to be killed. The quiet yet visible, joyous yet sacrificial, mission of Crossroads appeals to me, and seems in line with John Paul II's call for us to witness to the Gospel of Life. Daily Mass, prayer, rosaries, good discussions, lots of exercise, fresh air, all for the greatest of causes; who would not want to join the walk at some point? For every little inconvenience, every minute of lost sleep, every tired muscle, every yell of disapproval, we need just recall Our Lord's promise: "What you do for the lease of these little ones, you do for me."
Louise Waclawik
20 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I first heard about Crossroads through a couple of fellow students at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, who had done the walk the previous summer. Although I had for a long time felt a desire to be more active in the pro-life movement, my initial reaction to Crossroads was that it was great, but not for me. I have never been adventurous, and the thought of trekking across Canada, and perhaps even more so that of being right on the front line praying outside abortion clinics, scared me. However, in the weeks after I first hear of it, the thought of walking with Crossroads would not leave me alone. I found that the more I prayed about it, the more convinced I became that God was calling me to take part in this pro-life ministry. So finally, I made up my mind to do Crossroads; I believe I made the right choice. However unfit for this ministry I feel, I trust that God can do through me whatever works He wants.
Mark Pinto
22 years old
York University
I am a twenty-two year old student at York University majoring in Human Resources Management (Hon.). I worked in the offices of Campaign Life Coalition as a summer intern for the summer months of 2008 and 2009, and then worked for LifeSiteNews.Com last summer.
I felt doing the Crossroads walk this summer will enable me to put everything I learnt in the past few years into practice while walking across Canada.
I'm sure this summer will be an amazing experience for me and will also be a very formative experience as a Catholic and young person!
I felt doing the Crossroads walk this summer will enable me to put everything I learnt in the past few years into practice while walking across Canada.
I'm sure this summer will be an amazing experience for me and will also be a very formative experience as a Catholic and young person!
Matthew Hatchen
22 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I joined Crossroads for two reasons. First, because I wished to help the Church in a real and concrete way. Signing up to go to the frontlines of the pro-life movement seemed a very good beginning. This battle is, as I see it, a spiritual battle. Lives need to be saved and the only way to save lives is to save souls, for abortion is only the effects of a much greater battle. My hope is that while I walk I can help in God’s plan to save souls and to help my own soul.
Secondly, I am making a personal journey. I am dedication my year to spiritual growth and finding what order or diocese God may be calling me to. I see Crossroads as an exceptional way to prepare me for this long journey, a walk that will reach farther than the highways I will be travelling.
Michael Hayden
23 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I walked with Crossroads Canada in 2010 and it was an incredibly moving experience from which I grew in spirit and knowledge. I decided to do the walk again because I truly desire to see the movement continue and succeed in Canada. Crossroads has taken me so many wonderful places and to so many wonderful people. I look forward to experiencing it all again.
Nelson Morris
21 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I heard about Crossroads last year at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom from Michael Hayden and Jonathan Baker. I thought that it sounded like a cool idea, getting to see the whole country and promote the culture of life... great stuff. But I pushed the idea off, thinking I had things that I had to do this summer. When the Crossroads group came to Edmonton June 11 I was excited to see friends from school, but life would continue as normal after they left. When praying outside the abortuary on Saturday, seeing people go in and out, it suddenly became clear to me that our country is allowing the murder of innocent children. I had a desire to show Canadians that I am not willing to complacently live my life while our country kills children. On Monday I quit my job, bought a pair of shoes, packed by bag, and by Tuesday morning I was walking to Ottawa.
21 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
Paul Taylor
18 years old
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
I will be attending University of Toronto this coming academic year, double majoring in Christianity and Culture and History. I heard about Crossroads through Michael Hayden, who went on the walk last year, and instantly felt God calling me to take part in this beautiful witness. I have always been pro-life but have never done anything concrete for the movement. Crossroads presented the perfect opportunity for me, allowing me to publicly witness to my pro-life views. I am also using this time on the walk to discern a vocation to the priesthood.
