The Papist has some information about the upcoming March for Life.
The 2009 March for Life is only a couple weeks away. I’m beginning to plan out which events I’ll be attending/covering. My coverage last year was well received and I look forward to do it again this year (the 36th anniversary) with some experience behind me.
Some helpful links to get us started:
- A PDF file with some official events listed by the March for Life Education & Defense Fund
- More events listed over at the Priests for Life website
- Details on the MFL Convention will be published here on January 7th
- Rock for Life will be hosting a training and activism week
- Bryan Kemper is doing great work over at Stand True (and they have the best t-shirts)
- American Life League is working tirelessly around the year for pro-life causes
- LifeSiteNews has an article covering the preparations for this year’s March. A sample: "Gray told LSN that this year’s focus would be the equal right to life of both mother and child – precluding the widespread acceptance of abortion in case of a threat to the health of the mother. Pro-lifers must remember, said Gray, "that abortion is both about the baby and the mother, and that they have an equal right to life." Therefore, "The life principles mean equal care with no exception."
Loading ...
A crosspost of my AmPa comment.
Bryan Kemper is amazing. His witness to life, his personal conversion, and the incredible lifesaving outreach are just mind-blowing.
If we had 5 more guys like Bryan Kemper, and gave them a fraction of the funding that other groups get, they could absolutely transform this nation.
I’ll be there. Pray to end abortion…
I love the “Social Justice Begins In The Womb” shirt!
There is also a plan for a traditional consecration of the capital
Don’t forget us on the Left Coast! Jan 24th March for Life!
I plan to be there again. I sure would like to meet up with other Fr Z fans…if not Fr Z hisself!!
It would almost seem necessary that an event be held also to pray for those bishops and priests who up to now have proven very weak and “reticent” (to use the bishop of Scranton’s own word) to boldly defend the cause of the killing of the unborn. Since the fiasco involving Cardinal McCarrick (and the apparent misrepresentation of then-Cardinal Ratzinger’s letter about Communion to Pro-choice politicians), more and more of us have carried “NO COMMUNION FOR PROCHOICE POLITICIANS” signs, and have respectfully held them up for our bishops and cardinals to see. I’m glad that Cardinal Rigali will again be the homilist for the Vigil Mass for Life at the National Shrine – but the bold and outspoken courage of Cardinals O’Connor, Hickey, and Bevilacqua are sorely missed.
I was hoping to bring my twelve- and eleven-year-olds to this year’s march, but planning for it became a casualty of a very busy Advent and Christmas. Most of the organized bus trips are now booked. Do any of you locals or past participants have advice for three potential last-minute marchers?
I’m either going to drive myself down, jump on a neighboring parish’s bus with my parish or hop on my friends’ parish’s bus. We’re in NJ (Newark and Hawthorne) so if any one from the area needs a ride I believe there is room on the bus from Our Lady of Good Counsel/Immaculate parishes in Newark.
As I said over on AP’s blog, Rock for Life’s training and activism weekend was awesome the last time I was at it. This year the funds are lacking so I won’t be attending it, but I will be at the March itself.
Bryan does an amazing amount of work both on the net and in the real world.
Could you post any information you have in regards to the celebration of the TLM at the National Shrine.
and the apparent misrepresentation of then-Cardinal Ratzinger’s letter about Communion to Pro-choice politicians
Except that then-Card. Ratzinger wrote a letter to the USCCB saying that their eventual decision on the matter was in accordance with the views he’d communicated to them.
I’ll be there with my 8- and 4-year-old children. We have a long bus ride and probably not enough sleep for little people, but we thought this was the year to go.
I agree with Thomas L – any TLM sightings at the National Shrine over the day? Or any information?
Tina – that’d be exciting…but speaking on my own experience, it’s near impossible to meet up with someone at the March. Though if you wanted to hold a humongous sign with Fr. Z’s picture and a “Say the Black, Do the Red” banner, I’d make a beeline for you ;-)
The March for Life is a great event and it seems most come away with even more determination to defend the lives of the unborn and their mothers.
I’m glad that Ms Gray will be giving a talk on the wrong idea that it’s acceptable to be pro-life/anti-abortion “except if the mother’s health is at risk”. It’s good Ms Gray is addressing this right now particularly because Sarah Palin stated this erroneous mantra over and over again and surely this caused some to think that her view is in accord with being pro-life – it’s not.
I’ll be there for the first time! I convinced my boss to let out for the afternoon! I’m very excited to be going in person rather than watching on EWTN! Good Catholic men…its time to man the barricades of life!
How will this be co ordinated with the Inauguration of Death?
Just curious?
Jim Dorchak
It would be nice if there was a way for Catholic bloggers to converge somewhere during this event. I’m here in DC, and am open to helping make that happen, but not alone.
manwithblackhat at yahoo dot com. Y’all know where to find me.
There has been a regular TLM celebrated at noon on Wednesdays in the Lourdes chapel at the Shrine, but this is a very unofficial, unpublicized custom. Whether it will resume this semester remains to be seen. Likewise, I am unaware of what special masses might be celebrated for the March.
Does anyone know of any TLMs that might be offered in the greater metro area during this time for those Catholics that desire something extraordinary
Last year there were TLMs at St Mary’s downtown and Holy Rosary also downtown on the morning of the March for Life. I also remember there being either 1 or 2 at the National Shrine last year.
Remember there will be a lot of tourists in town
for the inaugural. If you must take the metro travel
early and forget about driving.
I live in NJ also (Linden, Arch. Newark) and our parish’s bus is woefully empty!!!! So if you need a ride, call St. John the Apostle Church. It’s $10 to reserve your seat, but you’ll get it back on the bus. My husband and our 3 kids (8, 5, and 2) are going. It’s so important to demonstrate on this day to show the new president and the Congress what the will of the people really is.
We’re no longer in DC, but in the midwest. $150 bus trip, I’ve read. My 2 kids are also under age requirement for the ride. It would be grueling 16 hours each way. A 3 day excursion in all I think. I will put out a sign in my lawn from the Marches I attended in the past and have some message in my car window, too, as I go about that day. Mass, prayer, adoration if possible are good ideas too.
Any midwest marches? STL, MO area?
If MO has a right to life organization, they’re probably planning a rally in your state capital. I know that NJ Right to Life is. Your Archdiocesan Respect Life Office should also know.
I will be there with over 300 other Nebraskans, all traveling by bus…sigh..but a good penance to offer up for the lost souls of abortion. Pray for our safe travel.
Could a request be made for a TLM in the crypt of the shrine at the same time the big NO mass is going on upstairs?
Megan – you are right about planning around the March! This would take a plan…and a man…perchance the Man In Black to render an idea.
With the changes in Washington, be careful you’re not all hit with the fire hoses.