Updated: March for Life (Jan 26-27): Liturgy Changes & Special Events
Important Update
The Vice President of the United States will be addressing the Rally for Life on Friday. This has led to a series of last-minute changes in the schedule of the day for March activities due to heightened security. The Rally Site (the area around the Washington Monument directly south of the White House) will include airport-style security screening. Some sources indicate that attendees must be in place by 10.30am for the noon rally, though this is not certain. Note the list of banned items on the March for Life website, including (but not limited to): backpacks, glass, thermal, and metal containers, packages, bags and signs exceeding ‘size requirements’ (which are not specified).
As a result, the friars with the banner will not go to the Rally site and instead will assemble at the intersection of 15th and Constitution (crowd permitting) and join the March from there, when they intersect with the group of friars leaving the Rally. It will likely be chaotic.
House Liturgy Changes
On Thursday January 26, Night Prayer will be an hour early, at 8pm. At 8:15pm there will be a Solemn Enrollment for the Angelic Warfare Confraternity of St. Thomas Aquinas for any Catholics who wish to enroll.
On Friday January 27, the house will follow a Saturday schedule (8am Mass with Morning Prayer, 12 noon Midday Prayer with Office of Readings, 5:20pm Rosary, 5:40pm Evening Prayer) plus public Night Prayer at 9pm.
Shrine Events
(at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, across Michigan Avenue from DHS)
On Thursday January 26, at 5:30pm the National Vigil for Life Mass (priests who wish to concelebrate must register in advance; seminarians also should register)
On Friday January 27, from 6-7am, a Holy Hour led by the Dominicans in the lower crypt church with Preaching, Morning Prayer, and Benediction.
