Students participate in Virtual March for Life

By Tanya Connor 

 The Catholic Free Press 

 Local students were encouraged to make prize-winning signs – for an online slideshow this year instead of for the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  It’s being called a Virtual March for Life. 

In-person and online Masses and Holy Hours, and an in-person morning of recollection and Life Chain, are other opportunities to pray, learn and show respect for human life. 

Jan. 22 marks the 48th anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion, and therefore the Church has designated that date as a day of prayer and penance, Bishop McManus noted in a letter sent to parishes. 

The March for Life and accompanying events in Washington are held annually at this time to pray and work for an end to abortion. 

The March is being held virtually this year, but on Jan. 29 because of the presidential inauguration. This year’s theme is “Together Strong: Life Unites,” said Allison LeDoux, director of the Worcester Diocese’s Respect Life Office.

She usually coordinates the diocesan trip to Washington, but this year buses are not going because of the pandemic, she said. 

“Since we can’t participate physically in the D.C. events, we decided to do a virtual March for Life,” she said. 

 LOCAL MASS 

 AND HOLY HOUR 

 The diocesan Mass that usually sends travelers off to the March is still being held; Father Richard F. Reidy, is to celebrate it at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at St. Paul Cathedral, Mrs. LeDoux said. New this year is a Holy Hour following that Mass.  

A link to this Mass and Holy Hour was sent to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which will share it so anyone can watch these services while they’re happening or afterwards, she said. In this way, the Worcester Diocese, like other dioceses across the nation, will participate virtually in the National Prayer Vigil for Life. (Local events can also be watched on worcesterdiocese.org.) 

 NATIONAL PRAYER VIGIL  

 The national vigil is held the night before the March each year, in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. In past years at least 10,000 people have filled the Great Upper Church of the Basilica 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. 

This year’s virtual vigil will begin at 8 p.m. on Jan. 28 with a live broadcast of the praying of the rosary, followed by Mass. Throughout the night people can watch Holy Hours from around the nation, including Worcester’s, online. The vigil ends at 8 a.m. Jan. 29 with a closing Mass. The Masses can be viewed on EWTN.  

NOVENA FOR LIFE

Also marking the anniversary of the Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion is the 9 Days for Life National Novena, held Jan. 21-29. Those wanting to participate can visit www.9daysforlife.com to download a free app or sign up for daily emails or text messages with prayer intentions. 

 RECOLLECTION MORNING 

 A Morning for Life is being held from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 23 at St. Paul Cathedral, 19 Chatham St., Worcester.

The cathedral rector, Msgr. James P. Moroney, is to lead the gathering prayer and give a talk about “Pope Francis and the Gospel of Life.” Then there will be time for quiet prayer at the church’s shrines, and an 11 a.m. Mass to thank God for the gift of human life. 

Pre-registration by emailing aledoux@worcesterdiocese.org is preferred, but not required. There is no charge for the event. People unable to attend can particpate by watching the  prayer service via livestreaming by going to https://livestream.com/dioceseofworcester/events/9481587

 PARISH EVENTS 

 Mrs. LeDoux offered parishes resources to hold their own devotions and events too. 

St. James Parish, 89 Main St., South Grafton, holds a Divine Mercy Holy Hour for an End to Abortion on Fridays at 3 p.m. and has scheduled a Life Chain in front of the church after the 9 a.m. Mass Jan. 23.  

Annunciation Parish is to hold a day of prayer for the legal protection of the unborn Jan. 22, beginning with the 9 a.m. Mass, followed by adoration until 8 p.m., in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols St., Gardner. There will be a rosary at noon, Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m., and a Holy Hour at 7 p.m. 

To unite their prayers with the prayers of those around the country, Mary Queen of the Rosary Parish, Spencer, is to hold a Mass to promote the respect for life from conception to natural death at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The parish is also planning to pray the Stations of the Cross for life. 

 WORCESTER’S VIRTUAL MARCH  

 To set up the diocese’s Virtual March for Life, Mrs. LeDoux said, she reached out to Catholic schools, colleges and parish youth ministries to invite students in grades 7-12 or in college to create signs like those typically carried in the March.  

Photos of the signs were to be emailed to her for a slide show to be launched on the Respect Life Office website www.worcesterdiocese.org/respect-life on Jan. 29. She plans to give prizes for some of the best signs in different categories.   

“Our virtual March for Life will provide an opportunity for everyone to participate, increase involvement, and bolster our commitment to the cause of life,” she said in a flier. 

David Perda, superintendent of schools, informed educators that the Catholic Schools Office and Catholic Identity Committee of the Diocesan Catholic School Board were supporting the virtual march, and included a letter from Bishop McManus which asked them to participate. 

“This year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s landmark encyclical Evangelium Vitae – The Gospel of Life, and what better way to put the Church’s teaching on the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person into practice than by joining our voices in defense of those most vulnerable,” the bishop said. 

Mrs. LeDoux said she offered webinars for educators and youth ministers, to give them ideas for the project and background about the March for Life.  

She said information about the project was also sent to area colleges and, through the diocesan youth ministry office, to parish youth ministers.  

 BISHOP’S LETTER 

 Bishop McManus, in his letter to people of the diocese, wrote about the devastation of abortion and the Church’s outreach to those suffering from it, and called for prayer, fasting and sacrifice to uphold the dignity of all human life, especially on Jan. 22. 

All the faithful in the nation “are called to observe this day in a spirit of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for the violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion,” he wrote. 

He said, “It is through our fervent prayers accompanied by our charitable works and loving sacrifices that the culture can be transformed.”