The March for Life is scheduled to take place VIRTUALLY on Friday, January 29th. It occurs every year near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade as a peaceful protest to the Supreme Court’s 1973 ruling, which mandated legal abortion nationwide.
This year, due to the pandemic, our Diocesan youth groups will not be attending. But there are many pro-life events that are available to us online, as well as being covered by EWTN.
They kick-off with The National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday evening, January 28th. (8-11PM EWTN). The program begins with the National Rosary for Life, followed by the Opening Mass at 8:30 PM. Archbishop Joseph Naumann – Chairman, USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities will be the celebrant, and at 10 PM there will be a Holy Hour for Life. Across town in Arlington, Virginia, the Life is Very Good Mass and Rally will be live streamed at 7:30 Pm. Free registration is available on their website.
Friday morning at 8 AM, another Mass will be offered at the Basilica by Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore (EWTN). Additionally, The Youth Rally and Mass for Life in downtown Washington that normally hosts over 20,000 young people, religious sisters, and seminarians will also be Virtual this year. The Rally (8:30AM) is certain to wake up our youth with very energetic praise and worship musicians and dynamic speakers! At 10 AM, a beautiful Mass for Life begins with Bishops, Cardinals, and the Papal Nuncio delivering an encouraging message from the Holy Father. These rallies perform a wonderful service encouraging our young people in their witnesses as disciples of Christ and promoters of the Gospel of Life. To register and find more information visit: youthrallyandmassforlife.org (May be broadcast by EWTN).
The March for Life organizers decided “for the protection of participants and the many law enforcement personnel who work tirelessly to ensure a safe and peaceful event, as well as being in the midst of the pandemic, and heightened pressures around the Capitol, for this year’s March, we look forward to being with you virtually.”
The livestream for The March for Life begins at 11AM Friday morning, 1/29. It begins with a performance by Christian singer and songwriter Matthew West. Around noon, national pro-life representatives will speak from the National Mall, immediately followed by this small group peacefully advocated for life by marching up Constitution Ave., passing by the Capital and continuing on to the U.S. Supreme Court. The March for Life can be watched live on EWTN (8AM-4PM), or on our computers and phones at https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/
This year, as so much continues to be challenging in many ways, let us join together in prayer, that we as a nation may stop wandering in the wilderness of the culture of death and enter into “life in abundance” (John 10:10) holding onto our Faith, that we have Jesus Christ on our side!
Fr. Brian Maxwell