WASHINGTON — Each year on the night before the annual March
for Life, at least 10,000 people have filled the Great Upper Church of the
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for
the National Prayer Vigil for Life.
This year, due to local restrictions on attendance sizes
because of the pandemic, the prayer vigil will be virtual.
Catholics across the country are instead being are
encouraged to take part in a nationwide prayer vigil from Jan. 28 through Jan.
29, marking the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade
and Doe v. Bolton decisions legalizing abortion.
The vigil will begin with a live broadcast at 8 p.m. EST on
Thursday, Jan. 28, from the basilica, starting with the praying of the rosary
followed by Mass. Bishops from across the country will leading Holy Hours
throughout the night in the livestreamed vigil.
The service can be viewed on EWTN or livestreams from the
basilica or from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The principal celebrant and homilist for the opening Mass
will be Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., USCCB's chairman of
the Committee on Pro-Life Activities. The vigil will end at 8 a.m. Jan. 29 in a
closing Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore.
"Now, more than ever, our nation is in need of prayer
for the protection of the unborn and the dignity of all human life,"
Archbishop Naumann said in a statement. "I am happy to be joined by
bishops in dioceses across the country who are hosting pro-life prayer events
including during the overnight hours of Eucharistic adoration. I invite all
Catholics to spend time with our Lord and join in this nationwide vigil for
life."
The National Prayer Vigil for Life is hosted by the USCCB's
Pro-Life Secretariat, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception, and The Catholic University of America in Washington’s Office of
Campus Ministry.
The closing Mass for the vigil Jan. 29 will be open to the
public but because of attendance restrictions allowing only 100 people inside
the basilica, admission will be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis.