“Yet we Catholics and others who share our love for all human life will continue to do what we have been doing: encouraging, supporting and forming a greater culture of life.”

– Bishop Christopher Coyne

Each January, pro-life Vermonters gather for the Mass and Rally for Life, often in frigid temperatures, to mark the tragic anniversary of the January 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

This year, the Mass and Rally for Life will take place on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Montpelier.

Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne will celebrate the Mass for Life at St. Augustine Church at 9:30 a.m.  Mass will be preceded by a Rosary for Life at 9, led by deacons of the Diocese.

Following Mass, participants are invited to join the Rally for Life sponsored by the Vermont Right to Life Committee. As in previous years, the rally will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the City Hall parking lot behind St. Augustine Church.  Participants then peacefully will march together to the Statehouse. There on the steps, there will be a brief ceremony, commemorating the lives of more than 63 million unborn babies lost to abortion since the Roe v. Wade decision.

Following the ceremony will be a deli-sandwich buffet luncheon at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, where the featured speaker will be Savannah Craven, the Northeast field operations coordinator for Students for Life. The cost for the buffet is $20 (scholarships are available for students and young people).  Reservations are required for the luncheon.  Please call VRLC at 802-229-4885 or email vrlc@vrlc.net for reservations.

Vermont Right to Life is strongly encouraging students and young people to attend the rally.  Craven is a dynamic speaker, and her work at Students for Life includes beginning new pro-life groups at high school and college campuses, reviving existing groups and encouraging students to become strong, pro-life leaders. You can find her bio at

studentsforlife.org/people/savannah-craven.

This event is the largest annual gathering of those committed to the sanctity of life, especially the unborn. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the 63 million unborn babies lost to abortion in its wake, respond to the tragic passing of Article 22 and prayerfully move forward, all are invited to join us as we strive to continue “encouraging, supporting and forming a greater culture of life.”

 

9:00 Rosary for Life St. Augustine Church
9:30 Mass for Life St. Augustine Church
10:45 Rally for Life Gather in the City Hall parking lot behind St. Augustine Church and march to Statehouse for brief ceremony on Statehouse steps.
After ceremony Deli-sandwich buffet luncheon with featured Speaker Savannah Craven Capitol Plaza Hotel (reservations required ahead of time through Vermont Right to Life, 802-229-4885)

—Eileen Haupt is the respect life coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

—Originally published in the Jan. 21-27, 2023, edition of The Inland See.