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January 24, 2020

A Delegation of Over 3,000 from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to Participate in the 2020 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

The Annual March for Life is a national event promoting the respect and protection of all human life from conception to natural death.

This year marks the 47th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that legalized abortion nationwide.

Over 3,000 faithful from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will take part in the Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 24, 2020 to promote respect for all human life from conception to natural death.

March for Life activities will begin with an opening Vigil Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, and Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

Thursday, January 23, 2020
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue Northeast
Washington, DC 20017

A National Prayer Vigil for Life will immediately follow the Mass. It will include opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Rosary for Life, and Holy Hours for Life. Seminaries from around the country will lead individual Holy Hours throughout the night. Seminarians from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will lead a Holy Hour from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

On Friday morning, Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas, Bishop of Toledo, Ohio, and Philadelphia native, will be the homilist at a special Mass for pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia attending the March for Life this year. The Philadelphia contingent includes strong representation from Archdiocesan parishes, high schools, as well as parish and regional Catholic elementary schools.

Friday, January 24, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue Northeast
Washington, DC 20017

The March for Life 2020 Rally will take place at 12:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Following the Mass, participants from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will gather in front of the Smithsonian Institute Building located on Jefferson Drive and 12th Street and begin the march at approximately 1:00 p.m.

They will process behind the Archdiocese of Philadelphia banner, carried by seminarians from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. Auxiliary bishops Timothy C. Senior and John J. McIntyre will lead the Philadelphian contingent during the march.

For Media Coverage of Bus Departures from the Philadelphia Area for Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 24, 2020

(N.B. These denote group departures from select parishes and schools and does not reflect the full scope of participation from the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.)

  • Buses transporting about 150 seminarians will depart Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood (Montgomery County), at 5:45 a.m. – 100 East Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096.
  • Two buses from Pope John Paul II Catholic High School, Royersford (Montgomery County), with approximately 100 students will depart for Washington, D.C. from the school’s main entrance at 5:30 a.m. – 181 Rittenhouse Road, Royersford, PA 19468.
  • A bus from SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in South Philadelphia will depart from the school parking lot at 7:00 a.m. – 1736 S. 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148.
  • Two buses from Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School, Drexel Hill (Delaware County), will depart from the school at 6:30 a.m. – 403 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
  • Two buses from Saint Joseph Church, Downingtown (Chester County) sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, will depart from the parish parking lot at 6:30 a.m. – 332 Manor, Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335.
  • A bus from Roman Catholic High School for Boys will depart from the school at 8:30 a.m. – 301 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

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Editor’s Note: To view the 2020 March for Life route map visit: http://phillycatholiclife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MarchForLifePDF2020.pdf

Contact:

Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747 (office)