Nearly 10,000 Catholics attended two solemn Masses at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington during the National Prayer Vigil for Life Jan. 21 and 22.  The National Shrine and the Pro-Life Secretariat of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) jointly sponsored the event in conjunction with the March for Life.

Pro-life advocates converge on Washington each Jan. 22 on the anniversary of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision of the Supreme Court, which legalized abortion on demand throughout the United States.

Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore was the principal celebrant and homilist of the evening Mass on Jan 21, 1999.  He was joined by Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, Cardinal John O'Connor of New York, Cardinal James Hickey of Washington, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and 300 other bishops, priests and deacons.

Cardinal Keeler exhorted the 6,500 people in the congregation to "persevere in the face of falsehood and frustration" for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel.

Cardinal Law celebrated the morning Mass Jan 22 with nearly 3,000 in attendance.  Bishop James McHugh of Camden, N.J., was the homilist.

Hundreds spent the night at the Shrine in prayer and Eucharistic devotion.  Several liturgies and prayer services were conducted in the chapels of the Basilica.

Nearby, Catholic University (CUA) opened it campus Jan 21 to 1,400 high school students and their chaperones from across the U.S. who came to the nation's capital to participate in Masses at the Basilica and the March for Life.  The Basilica is adjacent to the CUA campus in Northeast Washington.

Some of the students traveled more than 21 hours to spend the night at the university's athletic complex.

Father David M. O'Connell, president of CUA, placed a message on the school's web site encouraging university students to participate in the annual March to end abortion:

"The Catholic University of America applauds the courage of those who dedicate themselves without reserve to the preservation and promotion of life from the first moment of conception until the time of natural death.  As members of the Catholic University of America welcome so many visitors into our midst for this year's 'March for Life' in Washington, D.C. it is our most fervent hope and prayer as we join you that our collective witness to the 'right to life' will be more than a symbolic action."

Father O'Connell accompanied 150 CUA students and their high school student guests on the Metro and throughout the March on Jan 22.

CUA volunteer coordinator Christine Cianflone, a senior philosophy major, and Father Robert Schlageter, director of the school's campus ministry, led dozens of volunteers to help the visiting high school students.

The university extended its food service hours, offered shuttle bus service around campus and gave marchers a discount at the bookstore.  Marchers worshipped at a chapel adjacent to the basketball court, went to confession and attend an all night prayer vigil on a  racquet ball court.
 

Send a pro life letter (letter is preferable) or an email to your  Senators and representatives using the Directory at the Congressional Email Directory.  Point and click here to surf to their web site.

Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol. 24, No 4;
page 11, dated Jan. 28, 1999.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
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A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods.  We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,  to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible. (It has become apparent that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)

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