Respect life events to comply with pandemic guidelines

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic will impact in-person participation at annual local and national respect life events this month, but a variety of activities will continue as scheduled in somewhat different formats and with virtual viewing opportunities. 

Respect Life Mass
Bishop Robert Brennan will be the principal celebrant for the diocese’s annual Respect Life Mass at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22 at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St. Other bishops from the state have been invited to participate. Public attendance will be limited, but the Mass will be livestreamed at www.columbuscatholic.org and on the diocese’s YouTube channel and broadcast by St. Gabriel Radio. 

For more about the Mass at the cathedral, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org or (614) 241-2540. 

Roe Remembrance
The annual Roe Remembrance, sponsored by Greater Columbus Right to Life on the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, will follow the Respect Life Mass at noon on Friday, Jan. 22 on the Ohio Statehouse west lawn.

his year’s event will be moved outside because of COVID-19 restrictions inside the capitol. Bishop Brennan and  lawmakers are scheduled to be among the speakers at the hourlong gathering, which also will be livestreamed. For updates, visit www.gcrtl.org/roe.   

Ross County March for Life
The fourth annual Ross County March for Life will begin at noon Friday, Jan. 22 in downtown Chillicothe.

Marchers will meet at the Water and Paint streets entrance to the City Park at 11:30 a.m. and walk down Paint Street to the Ross County Courthouse starting at 11:45. The rally is set to begin at noon and end at 1 p.m.

Pastors from local churches will offer prayers and words of encouragement for the pro-life movement, and local voices will join in singing songs of praise. Ross County Right to Life said in its announcement that “we believe is fitting for such a time as we are in as a nation. We want to come together in peace and demonstrate our love for one another and offer thanks to God for His precious gift of live.”

Contact Judy Harness at judyharness53@gmail.com for questions or more information.
The local observances are part of a nationwide Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of Unborn Children on Jan. 22.

9 Days for Life novena
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops-initiated 9 Days for Life novena for respect and protection of all human persons will begin Thursday, Jan. 21 and run through Friday, Jan. 29, when the national March for Life will take place in Washington, D.C. Intentions, short reflections, suggested actions and related information is vailable through email or text messaging for a mobile app at www.9daysforlife.org.

More information for individuals, parishes, schools and local pro-life leaders is available at www.respectlife.org/leaders-resources.
 
National Prayer Vigil for Life
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is encouraging Catholics across the United States to observe a unified prayer vigil from Thursday, Jan. 28 to Friday, Jan. 29.
Thousands of pilgrims annually attend the National Prayer Vigil for Life preceding the national March for Life each January in Washington, D.C., at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, but the basilica will not be open to the public this year because of local attendance restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. And so, for the first time, in addition to the televised Mass, bishops in dioceses throughout the nation will take turns leading livestreamed holy hours throughout the all-night vigil. 

The vigil will begin with a live broadcast at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 from the basilica with a rosary, followed by Mass opening the National Prayer Vigil for Life. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the USCCB.

After the Mass and throughout the night, holy hours led by bishops from various dioceses throughout the country will be broadcast on the USCCB website. The vigil concludes at 8 a.m. Jan. 29 with Mass celebrated at the basilica 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 schedule of the 2021 National Prayer Vigil for Life:
 
Thursday, Jan. 28:
8 p.m. National Rosary for Life
8:30 p.m. Opening Mass with Archbishop Naumann
9:45 p.m. Holy Hour for Life
11 p.m. Livestream of holy hours throughout the night

Friday, Jan. 29:
8 a.m. Closing Mass with Archbishop Lori

Live television broadcasts from 8 to 11 p.m. Jan. 28 and 8 to 9 a.m. Jan. 29 will be provided by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and will also be available via livestream on the basilica’s website. Livestreaming information for the overnight bishop-led holy hours from various dioceses will be provided on the USCCB’s website. 

Youth Rally and Mass for Life
The annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life, traditionally held at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., will take place virtually at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 29. The website for more information and livestreaming is https://youthrallyandmassforlife.org. In past years, numerous school groups and individuals have attended the Youth Rally and Mass for Life, including Bishop Brennan in January 2020, but students have been encouraged to watch via livestream or participate in activities at their schools. 

March for Life
The annual March for Life on Friday, Jan. 29 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., has adopted the theme “Together Strong: Life Unites” in 2021. The march will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend. 

The rally takes place from noon to 1 p.m. on the Mall, and the march to the U.S. Supreme Court kicks off at 1 p.m. To sign up for the livestream, visit www.marchforlife.org. The website includes an extensive list of COVID protocols (masks, physical distancing, travel and more) for those who plan to come to Washington to take part in the march.

A pre-rally concert with Matthew West, a Christian singer/songwriter, will begin at 11 a.m.
The lineup of speakers at the rally include former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson and wife Kirsten; former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback, minor-league baseball player and broadcaster Tim Tebow (virtually); Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of Billy Graham; Jim Daly, author, broadcaster and president of Focus on the Family; Elizabeth Eller, student body president at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia; Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who serves as chair of the USCCB’s Pro-Life Committee; J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and West.

Other resources
This year’s events take on greater significance as a new anti-life administration in Washington, D.C., prepares to take office while promising to dramatically increase access and funding for abortion domestically and internationally.

Pro-life leaders caution those who defend life against being discouraged. They point to the significant gains made during the past few years that include the passage of legislation in multiple states, including Ohio, protecting the unborn. 

Walking with Moms in Need
Walking with Moms in Need is a year of service during which Catholic parishes and communities “walk in the shoes” of local pregnant and parenting women in need. The Diocese of Columbus is participating in this initiative.

Visit www.walkingwithmoms.com  or contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns to learn how to get involved at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org.
  
40 Days for Life
In a recent email to supporters, Shawn Carney, the national president of 40 Days for Life, said, “America is at a crossroads as we await the most pro-abortion government in American history, which will take power in less than two weeks. The culture in America reflects the greatest need for our world at large – the need for Jesus Christ.

“This is not a time for despair, but for fortitude and faith. … When we draw ourselves closer to Him, our hand doesn’t shake in uncertain times. He is our focus, and He will lead us to victory in ending abortion in America and around the world.”

40 Days for Life is a national organization that initiates 40-day prayer vigils at abortion clinics throughout the world, including Columbus, twice a year.

Visit 40daysforlife.com for more resources and ways to help the organization.

Students for Life of America
Students for Life Action president Kristan Hawkins announced last week that the organization launched a congressional scorecard as part of its Blueprint for a Post-Roe America that tracks voting on defunding Planned Parenthood, defending life-affirming health care and proactive measures to support mothers and their children, born and preborn.

“Our SFLAction Scorecard will have a weighted score, like AP Classes for example, in which direct abortion-related votes will be most significant, but other issues will be scored for their service and support to mothers and their children, born and preborn,” Hawkins said. 

“Students for Life Action was launched to capitalize on the desires of the pro-life generation in all 50 states who want to add direct political engagement on the issue of abortion to their outreach to women who are directly targeted by abortion vendors.”
For more information, visit www.studentsforlife.org.