(THE ARLINGTON CATHOLIC HERALD) — Jeanne Mancini went from being a self-described “policy person” to one of the most unlikely, influential and visible leaders of the pro-life movement after becoming president of the March for Life in 2012.
But the way Mancini sees it, what happened 23 years earlier was even more important. She was in her junior year at West Potomac High School and an active member of the youth group at Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria. When she signed up to attend a Youth Encounter retreat, she had no idea her life was about to change forever.
“Even though I had a very good formation growing up with my mom and dad, that retreat had a massive impact and changed the trajectory of my whole life,” she said. ”When I had that conversion experience it wasn’t so much related to pro-life issues, it was more of my heart opening and understanding how important a personal relationship with God was and how God loves me uniquely. It wasn’t just rote prayers and doing the right thing and being virtuous, but that he loves me and has a plan for me. It was very powerful.”
Two weeks after announcing her resignation as the leader of the world’s largest annual human rights demonstration, Mancini reflected honestly on the soul-searching and at times, agonizing path that prepared her for the battles she would embrace during her 12-year presidency.
“After college I worked with children who had been victims of abuse or neglect and I really began to grapple more than I ever had before with the church’s teachings on life,” she said, “Thanks be to God I had good people around me, because even though I was philosophically grappling with some of those questions, I came out on the right side of this. My understanding was tested and I came out believing even more fully in the church’s teachings on the inherent dignity of the human person.”
She is still discerning her next role, but Mancini, who has a master’s degree in the theology of marriage and family from the John Paul II Institute in Washington, speaks with evangelistic fervor about why a hurting world needs what the Catholic Church teaches.
“Good theology, what the church really teaches, is healing,” she said. “The church is the expert on the human person. To understand healthy theological anthropology is what it means to live an ordered, happy and flourishing life.”
A true daughter of the diocese, Mancini’s path to prominence came as no surprise to her childhood friend Father Thomas P. Ferguson, pastor of Good Shepherd. “It has been a blessing for me to be able to call Jeanne a friend since the days when we were growing up together at Good Shepherd Parish,” said Father Ferguson. “Jeanne is a person of deep faith who has given me a great example of perseverance, charity and joy in promoting respect and love for the gift of life, especially the lives of the unborn.”
“I commend Jeannie Mancini for her creative, courageous, and faithful leadership at the March for Life Education and Defense Fund,” said Bishop Michael Burbidge. “Jeannie has transformed the March for Life by thoughtfully growing its annual Washington rally, expanding its reach to states and cities across our nation, and inspiring a new generation of pro-life advocates through peaceful and loving witness to the reality of the unborn child and the sacredness of all human life.”
Mancini’s conversation is filled with a joyful Catholic spirituality and optimism, despite significant setbacks and a relentless assault on life since the momentous Supreme Court decision that ended Roe v. Wade June 24, 2022.
“We’re living in this weird cultural reverberation of the overturning of Roe,” she said. “We see politicians distancing themselves from the issue and we’re not doing well, but that doesn’t mean it was a mistake to overturn Roe or that we’re on the wrong side of history. Mother Teresa would say that we are called to serve the poor, and the unborn are the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable. The other issues are important, but there is a preeminence to the protection of life.”
Mancini’s final March for Life as president will be Jan. 24, 2025, before Jennie Bradley Lichter assumes leadership Feb 1.
But Mancini will remain as a board member and chief encourager to the millions of pro-lifers who make the pilgrimage every year to stand for life. “My message is to come. We want to encourage people who are discouraged,” she said. “It’s hard to persevere when things look dark but that one little candle lit in a dark room has the power to make a difference. Whatever it is you’re called to do for the culture of life is absolutely making a difference. Sometimes things are darkest before the light comes. Persevere, persevere, persevere.”