Archbishop Samuel Aquila will participate in events during the Jan. 22 March for Life in Washington D.C., along with many pilgrims from Colorado, who will head to the nation’s Capitol to publicly and prayerfully witness against the evil of abortion.
At 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 Archbishop Aquila will concelebrate the opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at 400 Michigan Ave. N.E. in Washington, D.C. The all-night prayer vigil is held on the eve of the March for Life each January since 1979. More than 20,000 pilgrims from across the country will pray through the night for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life.
The main celebrant and homilist for the opening Mass will be Cardinal Sean O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. It will be broadcast on EWTN. Visit www.ewtn.com for details.
Archbishop Aquila will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m. Jan 22, prior to the march, which begins with a rally at noon, at St. Patrick Church at 619 10th St. N.W. The Mass was requested by the students and teachers from Denver’s Bishop Machebeuf High School who are also traveling to the district.
The March for Life is held yearly on or around the Jan. 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion in 1973. Since that ruling 41 years ago, it is estimated 56.9 million babies have died nationwide through abortion. The march draws hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers, who stand up for the unborn.
Prior to the march, there will be events in Denver to memorialize lives lost and witness publicly.
At 12:10 p.m. Jan. 18, Archbishop Aquila will celebrate an annual Mass of Remembrance at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at 1530 Logan St. in Denver. At 3 p.m. that day, he will preside over a gathering at Lighthouse Women’s Center at 3894 Olive St. in Denver, a block from Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. The remembrance will begin with song and prayer, followed by words from the archbishop, who will then bless the pilgrims heading to Washington, D.C. The event will end with a procession to Planned Parenthood. There, participants will place flowers along the fence that surrounds the facility and pray for children who lost their lives at that location. Attendees are asked to bring flowers.
For more information on the March for Life in Washington, D.C., visit www.marchforlife.org.
