January 22, 2022 will mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States. As Catholics, we are called to stand up for all human life from the moment of conception until natural death. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children”: “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.”
Many parishes around our diocese have answered this call by attending the annual March for Life in Washington DC. While the March for Life is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 21, 2022, we invite you to participate in our own Vigil Mass for Life celebrated by Bishop Bambera on Thursday, January 20th at St. Maria Goretti Church in Laflin.
All faithful of the Diocese of Scranton are welcome to join us on January 20th as we pray for a greater respect for human life. The mass will also be broadcast on diocesan social media and Catholic Television.
If your parish is looking for additional opportunities to observe the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, please check out the resources below.