Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, invites the faithful to observe a nationwide prayer vigil Jan. 23-24 and encourages them to pray for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life in post-Roe America.
The National Prayer Vigil for Life is hosted each January by the USCCB’s Pro-Life Secretariat, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and The Catholic University of America’s Office of Campus Ministry. The vigil has always taken place on the eve of the March for Life, which marks the date of the historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
The Opening Mass will take place in the Great Upper Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. The principal celebrant and homilist for the opening Mass will be Bishop Thomas.
After the Mass, there will be a Eucharistic Procession immediately followed by a National Holy Hour for Life, which will include Recitation of the Rosary and Benediction. The Opening Mass and Holy Hour of the National Prayer Vigil for Life will be broadcast on various Catholic networks and will be livestreamed on the Basilica’s website at www.nationalshrine.org/mass.
The vigil concludes at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 with the Closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn.
The full schedule of the 2025 National Prayer Vigil for Life is listed below. (All times are in Eastern Time.)
Thursday, Jan. 23:
4:45 p.m. Chaplet of Divine Mercy
5:00 p.m. Opening Mass with Bishop Thomas
7:00 p.m. Holy Hour for Life
Friday, Jan. 24:
8:00 a.m. Closing Mass with Bishop Brennan
The live television broadcasts on Jan. 23 from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and on January 24 from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. will be provided by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and will be available via live-stream on the Basilica’s website.
For more information about on-site attendance at the Basilica for the National Prayer Vigil for Life, please visit the information page on the Basilica’s website.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is located at 400 Michigan Avenue Northeast in Washington D.C.
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