National Prayer Vigil For Life
The National Prayer Vigil for Life is an all-night pro-life prayer vigil held on the eve of the March for Life each January. Over 20,000 pilgrims from across the nation pray through the night for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life. It is held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
“A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer.” – Pope Saint John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, no. 100
If you cannot travel to Washington DC for the Vigil for Life, you can pray at home or at work. Prayerfully watch the Mass Processional from a past Vigil. Ponder the messages on the screen. Watch the March for Life events on TV or internet. Click here for the schedule.
The vigil schedule includes the Opening Mass celebrated in the Great Upper Church. Prayer continues throughout the night with the National Rosary for Life, Night Prayer and Holy Hours for Life. The following morning, the prayer vigil concludes with Morning Prayer, Benediction and the Closing Mass the next morning.
Click here for more information on the January March for Life activities.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – January 21-22, 2016
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Thursday, January 21, 2016
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Confessions – Our Lady of Hostyn Chapel – to the left in
the Crypt Church (lower level) and other locations TBD
5:00 – 5:15 pm Chaplet of Divine Mercy – Great Upper Church
5:30 – 7:30 pm Opening Mass – Great Upper Church
Principal Celebrant & Homilist: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan,
Archbishop of New York and Chairman,
USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities
8:30 – 10:30 pm Confessions – Our Lady of Hostyn Chapel – to the left in
the Crypt Church (lower level)
8:30 – 9:30 pm National Rosary for Life – Crypt Church (lower level)
10:00 – 11:00 pm Night Prayer (Byzantine Rite) – Crypt Church
Celebrant: Most Reverend Kurt R. Burnette, JCL, DD,
Bishop of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, NJ
Homilist: Most Reverend Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
Bishop of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, NJ
11:00 pm Holy Hours for Life – Crypt Church
Led by seminarians from across the country
Friday, January 22, 2016
12:00 am – 6:00 am Holy Hours for Life – Crypt Church
Led by seminarians from across the country
6:00 am Adoration – Crypt Church
Dominican House of Studies:
Priory of the Immaculate Conception
Washington, DC
6:30 am Morning Prayer, Benediction, Reposition – Crypt Church
Dominican House of Studies:
Priory of the Immaculate Conception
Washington, DC
7:30 am Closing Mass – Great Upper Church
Principal Celebrant & Homilist:
Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh