Pro-Life Mass and March

Yesterday marked the 33rd Anniversary of Roe v Wade and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. I had been three times before but this was my first time as a seminarian. It was an amazing experience to participate in this capacity. Seeing the overwhelming numbers and support of seminarians from all over the country was very inspirational. I even got to join the procession of the Vigil Mass for Life in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The procession alone took 30 minutes! There were hundreds of seminarians, priests, and bishops. One thing that struck me the most was walking the long procession, winding through the crowd and seeing the faces of the thousands of faithful packed into the Basilica. All of their smiles and waves as we processed through were very encouraging and I could really feel the love of the Universal Church for her seminarians. And now...here's some pics:

Here is one of my best friends at St. Mary's, Dan Hoffman of the Diocese of Erie, PA, in front of the side altar of St. Agnes in the crypt church of the Basilica............... and me:



Here are just a few of the hundreds of seminarians who donned their cassocks and surplices to get ready for the procession and Mass..... wait for it.....wait for it.....P.O.D.!!
And a deacon prepares for Mass as well, in prayer before the tabernacle of the crypt church.



Here's a shot of the many, many priests vesting for Mass and the best shot I could get of Fr. Frank Pavone (I must admit I was a little star-struck!) - he's on the right.



Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the main church. I can't explain well enough how huge the basilica is (largest Catholic Church in the Americas, top 10 largest of any church in the world) and how many thousands of people were packed in for Mass.

In future posts coming soon: Pics from the Youth Mass for Life at the MCI Center, and pics from the March for Life!

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!