More than 1,000 parishioners from across the Diocese of Rockville Centre and nearly 700 high school students participated in the 46th annual March for Life on Friday, Jan. 18, in Washington, DC.
The more than 31-bus Diocesan contingent joined more than 100,000 Americans on a journey across the country to the nation’s capital for this year’s March for Life, the largest annual pro-life demonstration in the world. This year’s theme is “Unique from Day One: Pro-life is Pro-science.”
Prior to the event, Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre said he was looking forward to “being with hundreds of our young students and faculty from each of our nine Catholic high schools and hundreds of parishioners from across Long Island as we come together in our nation’s capital, giving living witness to the gospel of life.”
“I am proud of each and every one of them as they are willing to be vocal and courageous in the public square about the deep reverence for every human life at every stage of life,” said Barres. “Let this strong outpouring of support for the gospel of life, and respect for human dignity, radiate to our local statehouses including New York, where Governor Cuomo and the NY State legislators plan to make the horrific ‘Reproductive Health Act’ the law of New York State. This dangerous act would effectively remove all impediments to late term abortions. I invite all Catholics to pray with us for the protection of all life from the moment of conception until natural death.”
The March for Life Rally took place at noon at 12th street on the National Mall. Following the rally, the march began on Constitution Avenue between 12th and 14th streets at approximately 1 p.m. where it continued up Constitution Avenue and ended at the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court buildings. Some marchers visited with their U.S. Congressional and Senatorial representatives after.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre also hosted a post-rally prayer service and blessing at St. Joseph’s Church on Capitol Hill (313 2nd Street NE, Washington, DC 20002). In addition, Bishops conducted continuous prayer services and blessings at 15-minute intervals for pilgrims before they boarded buses to return home to Long Island.
—Submitted by the Diocese of Rockville Centre
