Florida Catholic | Diocese Participates in March For Life

Diocese faithful join in national March for Life

Published: 02.08.08

Bishop Frank J. Dewane appears on Eternal World Telvision Network’s (EWTN) live broadcast from Washington as he prays at the closing of the March For Life.
Courtesy of EWTN

WASHINGTON | Dozens of people from the Diocese of Venice, including youths, adults, priests and Bishop Frank J. Dewane, attended the 35th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 22.

Thousands of people gather each year in Washington to pray for an end to abortion. The event is held on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Roe v. Wade case in 1973. Participants hear messages from politicians, clergy and other pro-life advocates. The crowd then marches down Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building, with many people wearing pro-life T-shirts and holding pro-life signs and banners.

In preparation for the march, thousands of faithful from across the country gathered Jan. 21 for a vigil Mass for life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The following morning, youths packed the Verizon Center in Washington for a rally for life and youth Mass before the march.

Courtesy Photo
Youth for Life members from St. William Parish in Naples bring a 70-pound wooden rosary, that was made by a parishioner, to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., each year.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane offered the following closing prayer at the March for Life.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing so many good people here today, braving the cold, to pray and to demonstrate to our elected officials, our country and the world that we in the United States of America believe and affirm the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We believe that the right to life is the prerequisite for liberty and happiness. Almighty God, restore the right to life to every human being, the innocent human life in the laboratory, in the fertility clinic and in the mother’s womb.

Make abortion more than illegal; make it unthinkable. Help us to reach out to all women contemplating abortion with practical, emotional, spiritual and loving help so that no one can say they had no choice. Help them make the right choice — for life.

Lord, grant your forgiveness and healing to all women and men who have been hurt by abortion, letting them know that you love them, that we love them, and that programs are available to help them be healed and forgive them.

May we be united in all that we do for life from the beginning of our earthly existence, conception, to the moment you call each one home to you. Keep us faithful, Lord, at every stage of life, regardless of age or condition and throughout our lives until your will is done. Amen.

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Diocese faithful join in national March for Life

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