2019 Pilgrimage for Life

The 2019 Pilgrimage for Life began today in Washington D.C. Members, family, and friends of the American and Federal Associations gathered together with the Sisters of Life at St. Clare’s Convent & Eucharistic Chapel. Sister Cecilia Rose, SV, led an afternoon reflection for guests, with music by the very talented Katy Feeney. Katy was kind enough to give everyone at the reflection a CD with her music. All of the guests then joined together for lunch with the Sisters of Life. St. Clare’s Convent & Eucharistic Chapel is their newest mission and House of Studies in Washington, DC.

After this reflection and lunch, members traveled by bus to the Vigil Mass for Life, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Most of the Basilica’s seats were already filled 3 hours before the Mass was scheduled to begin! Click here to view a recording of the Vigil Mass for Life. Members, family, and friends returned to their hotel after Mass for fellowship and refreshments.

Day 2 of the 2019 Pilgrimage for Life began bright and early at 7:30 AM. About one hundred Knights and Dames from the American and Federal Associations gathered at Saint Patrick’s Church along with about 500 college and high students from North Dakota to pray at Mass for the success of today’s March. Many students wore shirts proclaiming, “Unique on day one!”

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, Conventual Chaplain from Upstate New York, was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. He said that many of today’s generation of young people have rejected the views on abortion espoused by their parents’ generation. He told the attendees that as science has progressed, the evidence has become more incontrovertible that life begins at conception. President Peter J. Kelly, MD, KM led the church in the Daily Prayer of the Order. It was a sign of hope that many young people joined in the prayer.

After Mass, pilgrims returned to the hotel for breakfast together before departing for the National Mall for the 45th Annual March for Life. Knights and Dames from both Associations gathered under the Icon of Our Lady of Philermo and joined the peaceful and joyful pro-life throng, moving along Constitution Avenue up to 1st Street, where they turned to pass in front of the Supreme Court. Pilgrims then stopped to pray the Rosary and join in song praising Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. After the March for Life, Knights, Dames, family, and friends reconvened for lunch at the Capitol Hill Club. The evening’s 37th Annual Rose Dinner concluded the 2019 Pilgrimage for Life in Washington D.C.