US Catholics urged to build culture of life, pray for end to abortion during January vigil

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- The U.S. Catholic bishops Nov. 19 called on the faithful to observe a nationwide prayer vigil Jan. 22-23 "to pray for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life in post-Roe America."

"Together, we must pray to change hearts and build a culture of life as we advocate for the most vulnerable," said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

"I look forward to opening our Vigil with Holy Mass together with many other bishops, hundreds of priests, consecrated religious, seminarians, and many thousands of pilgrims," he said in a statement.

The National Prayer Vigil for Life is hosted each January in Washington by the USCCB's Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and The Catholic University of America’s Office of Campus Ministry.

This year, the opening of the National Prayer Vigil for Life will take place on Jan. 22, the anniversary date of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion policy to the states. Some states have increased access to abortion, and others are working to ensure stronger policies to protect preborn children and their mothers.

The national vigil's opening Mass will take place at 5 p.m. ET in the basilica's Great Upper Church, with Bishop Thomas as the principal celebrant and homilist. Following the Mass, a National Holy Hour for Life will take place in the Crypt Church on the basilica's lower levels, which will include recitation of the rosary and Benediction. The vigil concludes with a closing Mass Jan. 23 in the Great Upper Church at 8 a.m., which will be celebrated by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, retired archbishop of Boston.

EWTN will provide live television broadcasts of the opening Mass Jan. 22 and the closing Mass Jan. 23, and both Masses also can be viewed via livestream on the basilica’s website at www.nationalshrine.org/mass.

"For those who cannot come to Washington, Catholics across the country are invited to unite in prayer during the nationwide vigil through local diocesan prayer efforts such as special Masses and Holy Hours Jan. 22-23," a USCCB news release said.

It added that thousands of Catholics are signing up for the national pro-life novena, 9 Days for Life, which will take place Jan. 16-24.