Jan. 22, 2013
On Jan. 25, hundreds of Catholic University students will join tens of thousands of people in the 40th Annual March for Life.
Jamila Evans, associate campus minister for women's ministry and social justice, expects 500 students to march under Catholic University's banner this year.
The day of the March, Catholic University student will assemble at 10 a.m. in Caldwell Hall Auditorium before traveling to the National Mall for the march. University President John Garvey will address the students and participate in the march.
"Students at CUA continually inspire me by giving prophetic witness to the dignity and sacredness of human life," says Evans. "Our students commit themselves daily to prayer, education, and advocacy for the cause of life. The March for Life is an opportunity for them to join the rest of the nation in advancing a culture of life and to rekindle a fire to defend the weakest among us."
As is custom every year, the University will provide overnight accommodations to teen marchers from out of town. More than 1,200 will camp out in the Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center the night before the march.
Approximately 200 Catholic University students have volunteered to serve as hosts for the visitors. Students will help with hospitality, such as aiding with registering visitors, serving meals, chaperoning, and laying out sleeping bags. CUA nursing students will be on hand to help with any medical situations that arise.
Students volunteers also will lead teams in the DuFour Center in the Rosary for Life. Beginning at 10 p.m. on Jan. 24, Catholic University will host eucharistic adoration and opportunities for confession. For the first time, this adoration will be an all-night vigil.
CUA students will serve as ushers at the National Prayer Vigil for Life. The vigil Mass, on the eve of the march in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception's Great Upper Church, typically draws thousands of people. The Mass is organized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Basilica, and Catholic University. This year, it takes place Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
The annual event in Washington, D.C., marks the anniversary of the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in the U.S.
For more information on activities at the Basilica, visit http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/national-prayer-vigil-for-life-schedule.cfm .
Students who wish to sign up to march with the CUA contingent and/or to volunteer for overnight hospitality should visit http://ministry.cua.edu/Activities/register/registration-dsp.cfm .