Celebrate Life dinner acknowledges those with ‘commitment to life’

Marc Tuttle, president of Right to Life of Indianapolis, left, poses on Sept. 30 with Sally Williams and Marcellus Martin of Solid Word Bible Church after presenting them with the Charles E. Stimming, Sr. Pro-Life Award that the church received. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)

By Natalie Hoefer

One of the main highlights of the Right to Life of Indianapolis annual Celebrate Life dinner is the recognition of winners of the organization’s high school contests, and the awarding of two pro-life awards to groups or individuals providing outstanding efforts to the cause.

In addition to acknowledging the organization’s high school art and essay contest winners during the Sept. 30 dinner at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Marc Tuttle, president of Right to Life of Indianapolis, called to the podium Rynelle Castellino.

Rynelle delivered a speech that earlier this year won her first place in city- and statewide contests, and placed her among the top 10 students at the national level of the Right to Life speech contest.

Rynelle, a junior at Cathedral High School and member of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, both in Indianapolis, is a native of India. She moved to the United States with her family two and a half years ago.

“Pro-life is something I’m really passionate about,” she said in an interview with The Criterion. “I heard about this contest, and I really wanted to take part in it.

“When I came here from India, I realized how prevalent [abortion] was. In India, you don’t really talk about it much, but over here you hear about the pro-life and pro-choice movements. I joined the Cathedral Life Savers club, and that’s when I became really involved.”

Rynelle won the same speech contest last year at the state level, but was unable to compete as a sophomore at the national level.

Tuttle then presented the Right to Life of Indianapolis Charles E. Stimming, Sr. Pro-Life Award, which “honors the noteworthy achievements of outstanding pro-life advocates of Indianapolis.”

The award was presented to the members of the Solid Word Bible Church for their 10 years of serving as “the only church in the Indianapolis African-American community that leads the fight to help stop abortion and raise awareness on abstinence, end-of-life concerns and sexually transmitted diseases” at the Indiana Black Expo, according to the Celebrate Life program.

The last award given during the event was presented by Gov. Mike Pence. He presented the Respect for Life Award to Mike Fichter, president and CEO of Indiana Right to Life and pro-life author, for his “profound impact on the pro-life movement” over the course of nearly three decades.

Governor Pence recognized all present for their commitment to the pro-life cause, a movement he himself promotes.

“Because of your commitment to life,” he said, “compassion is overcoming convenience, life is defeating despair, and forgiveness is vanquishing a lifetime of regret.” †

 

Related: Winning pro-life statistics