Mass, March for Life to be held Jan. 22

Published: January 7, 2017

En Español

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the annual Mass for Life at 12:05 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in downtown Little Rock. Prior to the Mass, a Rosary for Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Anyone who has lost a child, for any reason, will be able to present a rose during the offertory in memory of their child. There is no need to bring roses; they will be made available at the Mass.

Each year, this Mass is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that legalized abortion in the United States. The event is an opportunity for Catholics statewide to come together and pray for an end to abortion. 

A prayer vigil, in the form of eucharistic adoration, will be held from 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 to 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Cathedral. Central Arkansas parishes are assigned to pray at the Cathedral. To learn more about the vigil or Mass for Life, contact Catherine Phillips, diocesan director of the Respect Life Office at (501) 664-0340, ext. 326.

Following the Mass for Life, the 39th annual March for Life will begin at 2 p.m. The staging area for the march will be at Battery and Wolfe streets behind the State Capitol. Marchers will circle around the capitol and end at the Capitol steps where a brief program will be held including prayer and talks from religious, political and community leaders. To learn more about the March for Life, contact the Arkansas Right to Life at (501) 663-4237.

To coincide with the Mass and March for Life, high school youth from across Arkansas will participate in the annual Weekend Extravaganza and Mass, Jan. 21-22, before joining other participants in the march at the Capitol. This event focuses on right-to-life issues through a youth perspective. 

Complimentary chili and hot dogs will be served following the march by the Knights of Columbus Council #6253 at 6253 Camp Robinson Rd. in North Little Rock.