The Archdiocese of Baltimore was well represented at a two-day celebration of life Jan. 22-23 in the nation’s capital that concluded with the 53rd annual March for Life.
Archbishop William E. Lori helped kick off events Jan. 22 as he concelebrated the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
The following day, Archbishop Lori was the main celebrant for the fourth annual Life Fest, a morning rally by the Sisters of Life and the Knights of Columbus that took place Jan. 23 at 6:20 a.m. at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill.
Collin Kourtz, the director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace in the archdiocese’s Institute for Evangelization, led a group of about 80 to Life Fest. He attended the morning events and then the march later in the afternoon on the National Mall.
“It was a beautiful and reverent experience,” Kourtz said of the morning event in a phone interview from the grounds of the march. “It was great to see so many people at such a prayerful event.”
Life Fest featured a eucharistic procession, Mass, confession, musical performances and speakers including pro-life advocate Lila Rose of Live Action. First-class relics of St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Kolkata, St. Carlo Acutis, the Blessed Ulma family and Blessed Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights, were available for veneration.
Archbishop Lori serves as the supreme chaplain of the Knights.
Later in the day, Kourtz accompanied a group of students and FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) campus ministers from Towson University to the March for Life.
Mary Kate Locke, a Towson student and parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, was excited to take part in the march.
“I’m here to support the lives of unborn babies,” she proclaimed. “It’s good to see how crowded it is here.”
Brian Casey, a FOCUS missionary at Towson University, carried on a family legacy by participating in the march.
“My grandparents used to march years ago,” said Casey, a parishioner of St. Dominic in Oyster Bay, N.Y. “I’m proud to be able to follow in their footsteps.”
Casey said the atmosphere at the march was inspiring.
“Everyone’s getting pumped up,” he said by phone as the march was getting underway at 2 p.m. “You can just tell how excited everyone is to be here and be a part of this incredible event.”
Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org
OSV News contributed to this story.
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