Mags GarganDonal Walsh’s message #LiveLife was used by the Church for Day for Life Sunday
The mother of courageous teenager Donal Walsh, who lost his battle with terminal cancer last year, has spoken of her pride that her son’s message #LiveLife was used by the Church for Day for Life Sunday.
“Coming into the church on Sunday and seeing something about your son was a very humbling experience,” said Elma Walsh, who with her husband Fionnbar set up the Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation in memory of their son and his message to choose life.
Mrs Walsh told The Irish Catholic that they were “very honoured and very proud” to be approached by Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick for permission to use the #LiveLife slogan as part of the theme of the bishops’ pastoral message for Day for Life Sunday – ‘Protect and Cherish Life #Livelife’.
“It is phenomenal and we are amazed at how far his message has travelled, because at the end of the day he’s only our 16-year-old son,” she said, “but every day we receive letters from people describing the impact he has made on their lives.”
Speaking at a Day for Life celebration Mass in Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin described Donal Walsh as “an extraordinary young man from Kerry who taught us how to value every second of life.”
“His powerful personal testimony on television and other media encouraged us never to take life for granted,” he said.
“Donal embraced life to promote his anti-suicide message. Using the #LiveLife Twitter handle, he urged his fellow teenagers to ‘appreciate what you have, know that there are always other options and help is always there’.
His #LiveLife message has touched many hearts and changed lives.”
When Mrs Walsh posted on Twitter that she was proud to see Donal’s message being used in churches on Sunday, Archbishop Eamon responded to her “and so you should be proud! Donal’s witness lives on”.