Editor's Desk: March for Life and Other Items

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 12/25/03)

As announced in last week’s issue, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has accepted an invitation from Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for diocesan Catholics to attend a Rally for Life and Mass at the MCI Center in Washington on Jan. 22, 2004, the morning of the March for Life. The MCI Rally and Mass will replace the usual Mass for Life celebrated by Bishop Loverde at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington on that date.

The rally begins at 9 a.m. and features Father Stan Fortuna, recording artist and composer Steve Angrisano and the dynamic "Who Do You Say I Am" Band. Diocesan parishes will be asked to travel directly to the MCI Center for the rally and then be picked up at their normal locations after the March. Admission to the MCI Center is free. Doors will open at 7 a.m.

For more information contact the Diocesan Family Life Office at 703/841-2550 or familylife@arlingtondiocese.org for more information.

World Day of Peace

The Peace and Justice Commission of the Arlington Diocese, led by Father Gerry Creedon, recently issued a resource packet to diocesan parishes to help promote the 2004 World Day of Peace. The packet contains a prayer of Pope John Paul II; a statement from Father Creedon; the text of the Holy Father’s World Peace Day Message ("An Ever Timely Commitment: Teaching Peace"; a recent statement from Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington and Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops; a list of January events and activities that promote anti-violence; and assorted educational resources.

January activities include National Migration Week (Jan. 4-10), Stand Against Violence Week (Jan. 11-17), the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25), the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Jan. 21), The March for Life (Jan. 22), and Catholic Advocacy Day at the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond (Jan. 26). To receive additional copies of this packet, contact Anne Murphy at 703-841-3831.

Wedding Photos

The HERALD once again is seeking local photographs for its two Catholic Marriage Issues in 2004. The first will be published Feb. 12, while the second is scheduled to appear Sept. 9. We are looking for photgraphs from weddings that took place during the 2003 calendar year in Arlington Diocesan churches. Please include the complete name of the couple, the photographer and the priest or deacon who officiated. If you want the photo returned, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, Jan. 29. Sorry, but we can't guarantee publication. Send your photo to: Marriage Issue, c/o Arlington Catholic HERALD, 200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 600, Arlington, Va. 22203.

Holiday Schedule

This is our last issue of 2003. The HERALD office will be closed from Dec. 24 through Dec. 28. The office will reopen on Monday, Dec. 29, and close again on New Year’s Day. There will be no issue on Jan. 1. Our first issue in 2004 will be Jan. 8. Editorial and advertising deadlines for that issue will be Wednesday, Dec. 31. We wish all our readers a blessed Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year.

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