Thurs. Jan. 22 at Byzantine Catholic Chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
The March for Life in Washington, D.C. is the East Coast pro-life event of the year, as several hundred thousand people attend the annual Pro-Life Rally sponsored by the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). The March for Life is held annually on January 22, the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court which legalized and protected abortion.
Throughout the years the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) have sanctioned the Prayer Vigil for Life held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in our nation’s capital. The vigil opens Wednesday, Jan. 21 with a Mass for Life at 6:30 p.m.; after the Mass, the Vigil moves to the Crypt Church, starting with Byzantine Catholic night prayer celebrated by Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Eparchy of Passaic and other clergy, and followed throughout the night by Holy Hours led by various seminaries.
On the morning of the March (Thursday, Jan. 22), tens of thousands of people will arrive in busloads for refreshment and to tour the Basilica. There are dozens of chapels therein, donated by various ethnicities including our own Byzantine Ruthenian Catholics. In past years, pilgrims would pass the Byzantine Catholic Chapel and often ask, “What time is Divine Liturgy?” This year we will have a positive answer.
It is in our beautiful Byzantine Catholic Chapel that a Divine Liturgy will be celebrated for the first time in many years at 9:30 a.m. for the pilgrims who are present. This post-vigil Liturgy will be celebrated by Very Reverend Bryan Eyman, pastor of St. Athanasius parish in Indianapolis, Ind. Deacon Paul Boboige, Coordinator of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Pro-Life Office will assist. Other clergy are invited to concelebrate and cantors are needed to lead the responses.
Most pilgrims come in buses and do not have control over the time schedule, but all who are near the Basilica at that time are warmly invited to attend and participate. Following the Divine Liturgy, participants may proceed to the National Mall for the Rally for Life via the Brookland/CUA Metro subway station.
Deacon Paul Boboige
Coordinator, Pro-Life Office
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
bobovich@verizon.net
For additional information, visit:
https://marchforlife.org/march-for-life-2015/rally-march-info/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFRF8rY_zes (or search YouTube for “March for Life 2011 Part II”)
