FAIRFAX, Va. — When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, some Catholics wondered aloud: In the wake of such a resounding victory -- tenaciously fought for during a 50-year local, state and national campaign -- would there still be a March for Life, as there had been since 1974? Was it -- is it -- still needed?
A resounding affirmative answer rang out Jan. 23 and 24 at Life Fest 2025, where thousands of young people from across the country gathered at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax -- just outside the nation's capital -- to energize and encourage one another before taking to the streets of Washington, in peaceful witness to a sobering fact: The battle against abortion in America is far from over.
The Sisters of Life, the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, united to present the two-day event, which drew almost 8,000.
Life Fest builds upon the success of the organizational trio's support of the annual March for Life in Washington -- including the Diocese of Arlington's "Life is VERY Good" event, held annually for 12 years at EagleBank Arena, and the Sisters of Life and Knights of Columbus pro-life event Life Fest, first held in 2023.
The 2025 Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll results -- released Jan. 23 -- show that 67% of Americans support placing legal limits on abortion. However 60% support limiting abortions to at most the first three months of pregnancy -- nine out of 10 abortions take place within that time frame, according to available health data.
Knights across the U.S. and Canada have raised nearly $14 million to support pregnancy resource centers through their ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program, and have also funded the purchase of over 1,900 ultrasound machines.
The Sisters of Life -- recognizable by their traditional and distinctive navy and white habits -- are a Catholic religious community of women consecrated for the protection of human life, founded by Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York in 1991. Seemingly in a constant state of joy -- smiling, laughing, praying -- the sisters greeted Life Fest attendees with a message of optimism and faith.
"We march with renewed hope this year, and we're grateful for that," said Sister Pia Jude, a Sister of Life. "And we're grateful for the gift of Jesus. He marches alongside with us -- in us -- to proclaim the dignity of every human person."
Sister Juliana Guadalupe, also a Sister Of Life, agreed. "It's an explosion of life, an explosion of joy, and an explosion of grace -- we feel so blessed to be part of the March for Life in this way," she told OSV News.
Jane Bremberg -- a homeschooled 11th grader who attends the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia -- was also anticipating a renewed witness.
"Since Roe v. Wade has been overturned, that doesn't mean we stop praying," Bremberg said. "We keep praying, keep going to rallies, keep doing the March for Life."
Theresa Talavera -- a mother of 10 from St. Louis Catholic Church, also in Alexandria -- brought four of her children with her to Life Fest.
"I really wanted to expose my kids to the excitement and the moment of just being together with a big group of people who are all cheering for life," Talavera said. "I'm excited and energized by how many young people are here, and how many young people are excited about the pro-life cause."
Kevin Bohli -- the Diocese of Arlington's executive director of the Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries -- is in part tasked with maintaining that excitement.
"Yes, Roe v. Wade was overturned -- but that was because of the pro-life movement that that happened," he explained. "And so if we lose sight of that -- and we have another generation pass through without having opportunities to come celebrate this, and to think about why we're pro-life -- then I think we're really quickly gonna go backwards."
Confession was offered throughout the event, as well as the opportunity to venerate relics of St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Kolkata and Knights of Columbus founder Blessed Michael McGivney. The Knights of Columbus distributed bright blue drawstring backpacks emblazoned with their logo, which attendees stuffed with belongings and literature from the many display tables dotting the arena concourse.
Grammy-nominated Catholic musician Matt Maher headlined the evening, sharing gospel anthems that had the crowd both pogoing and swaying, waving their cellphone lights and even rushing the stage at one point.
"We need to ask ourselves: At what point are we gonna start to say it's our job to create a culture of life?" asked Maher. "As incredible as events like this are, we actually have to go back out into the world -- and not be of it, but be in it, and start to make substantive real cultural change in the world, OK?"
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington -- immediate past chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities -- took the stage to cheers and applause.
"Do not underestimate what your presence in our nation's capital will mean tomorrow," counseled Bishop Burbidge. "Because young people ... have a charism, a gift, an ability to turn heads. 'Wow, look at all these young people.' God's going use you tomorrow in ways that you cannot even imagine," he said. "So thank you for agreeing to be an instrument of the Lord in our nation's capital at a time we have to work together."
Bishop Burbidge spoke with OSV News afterwards, and said there is "more work to be done" following the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
"We had a brief celebratory moment," he said. "But I think people miss the point that abortion is legalized throughout our country, and often without any restrictions. And so the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it did not end abortion -- it brought it to the people."
Roe's reversal returns the ability to protect the unborn back to the American people, through their elected officials -- both federally and in the states.
Life Fest's evening event Jan. 23 concluded with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament by Bishop Burbidge, followed by a Eucharistic procession and Benediction.
The next morning, roots-rockers Scythian warmed up the crowd with energetic tunes, including a musical admonition of "don't give up the fight."
"Live for love -- and live for life," encouraged Dominican Father Gregory Pine, professor of moral theology at Washington's Dominican House of Studies. "It's more than slogans. It's a matter of testimony. And you can constitute a pro-life generation today, tomorrow, and throughout the whole course of the year -- and unto ages of ages."
On both days, abortion survivors shared their stories of hope and healing.
Retreat master and spiritual director Father Scott Traynor -- born to an unwed college student, who, as an adopted child, he never met -- was homilist for a Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, who is also supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
"The Lord is going to look out -- and he's going to see the need for his love in action, to build up a civilization of life," Archbishop Lori said. "And he's going to say, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?' Will you respond -- with love, with gratitude -- to God, today? 'Here I am. Send me.'"
The crowd repeated the words as a roar, followed by reception of the Eucharist.
And with that, they were off to march.
— Kimberley Heatherington, OSV News
At National Prayer Vigil for Life, young people challenged 'to be a light in our culture'
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At National Prayer Vigil for Life, young people challenged 'to be a light in our culture'
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, celebrates Mass at the National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Jan. 23, 2025, the evening before the annual the March for Life. (OSV News photo/(Mihoko Owada)WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a basilica "adorned with beautiful mosaic art," the "most impressive" mosaic was "the gathering of people from so many different places coming together to stand for life and to be a light in our culture," Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, said Jan. 23.The archbishop was the main celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. A congregation of 5,500 filled the Great Upper Church. The annual vigil precedes the March for Life.
Four cardinals were among the concelebrants: Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, now retired as Washington's archbishop, and his newly named successor, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, formerly the bishop of San Diego; Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, retired archbishop of Boston; and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Among the 22 bishops concelebrating was the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services. Fifty deacons and 300 seminarians were also at the altar.
A National Holy Hour for Life followed the Mass. The morning of Jan. 24, a Mass was celebrated in the Great Upper Church to close the vigil, serving as a send-off for those heading across town to the National Mall for the March for Life. Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn, New York, was the main celebrant of the closing liturgy.
During both Masses, a second collection was taken to benefit the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, with the donations to be sent to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
In his homily, Archbishop Naumann had a special message for young people, recalling that St. John Paul II's custom almost everywhere he went in the world was to meet with young people. "He challenged them to be light as only young people can be light. ... The Lord has this particular love for the young to be his instruments of grace in the world," Archbishop Naumann said.
"My good young people, say not that you are too young to be a light in our culture and society," the archbishop said. He pointed to many young saints in the life of the church, such as St. Agnes, an early Christian martyred for her faith when she was 12 or 13, and Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized in April. Widely regarded as a computer whiz, Blessed Carlo catalogued true stories of Eucharistic miracles before his death at age 15 from leukemia in 2006.
Archbishop Naumann called on young people "to be witnesses to your peers. You're called to help them to come to know what brought you here tonight."
Since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the issue to lawmakers, a victory for the pro-life movement, there have been "many disappointments" with the outcome of state referendums, "beginning with my state of Kansas," where nearly 60% voted to uphold legal abortion access.
Much of that victory was due to young voters who have "grown up in a culture where they've never known anything but legalized abortion," the archbishop said. He acknowledged that "my generation has failed to protect them."
"These defeats have been sober reminders that we need to re-intensify our efforts" to build a culture of life, he said. "If we're gonna follow (Jesus), we have to follow him all the way to Calvary. We have to be prepared to take up the cross to transform our culture."
Archbishop Naumann said he was "encouraged to hear" that earlier in the day President Donald Trump had pardoned 23 pro-life activists convicted of violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, that afternoon. He also prayed for Trump and Vice President JD Vance "that they will have wisdom to be good leaders for our nation."
The archbishop is a past chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities and has served seven terms as a member of the committee. He was filling in as main celebrant and homilist for the current chairman, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, who was not able to attend due to a death in the family. The wife of his late brother, who was his only sibling, died unexpectedly, and he had to be with family in Philadelphia, Archbishop Naumann said. He asked for a moment of silent prayer for the bishop and his family.
The archbishop shared notes from Bishop Thomas on the homily he would have given. His overall theme was "light and life."
With the March for Life and the National Prayer Vigil for Life that precedes it, Bishop Thomas wrote, "we take the time to give voice to our praise and thanksgiving for the gift of Christ, who is our life and light, to praise and thank him for the gift of human life in all its forms and at every stage, for the gift of life and light he has given each of us. (We're) called to witness to his life and light, in particular for the preborn, who may not have the opportunity to be born into this world and who may never see the light of day."
In concluding his homily, Archbishop Naumann said, "We ask Jesus -- this word made flesh who humbled himself to be an embryo," carried to term by Mary, "and humbles himself again to be present to us in the Eucharist -- to give us food for the journey. Let us take up the banner to be pilgrims of hope intent on building a culture of life and civilization of love."
Like Archbishop Naumann, Bishop Brennan at the vigil's closing Mass the next day delivered his homily from the shrine's pulpit high above the congregation and remarked on what he observed from that perch.
"I wish you could see what I see now. You are amazing, you really are amazing. Thank you for being in such fervent prayer, in earnest prayer," Bishop Brennan said. "We gather here friends in our nation's capital to join with people from all around the country with people of different faith traditions and witness to the dignity of the life of every human life. ... The church is on her knees quite literally these past hours in earnest prayer begging the Lord's guidance, his help and mercy."
"We see the roots of human dignity expressed very profoundly at the beginning of the Bible, don't we? In the beginning God made them in his own image and likeness, male and female he created them, in his own image he created them. ... Looking deep into the eye of every human person we find the spark of divine life that is true of every person at every stage from conception to natural death."
But sadly, he said, "too many scourges ... undermine human dignity in the world today." He pointed to racism, antisemitism, human trafficking and "abuse of any kind," saying all must be rejected. "These crimes against human dignity are direct assaults against God himself, because dignity, human dignity, comes from God himself."
The fact that every human person is created in "the image and likeness of God," he said, must inform "our care for ... victims of violence and wars abroad or crime at home, for the immigrant and the refugee."
"But how will we recognize the dignity in one another," he asked, "unless we see it in the child from the very first moment of his or her existence?"
"Without the right to life, without the right to be born, every other right collapses," he added.
At the beginning of the National Prayer Vigil for Life, Cardinal Pierre read a message from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, issued on behalf of Pope Francis, who sent "the assurance of his spiritual closeness to those from throughout the United States who are participating in this 2025 March for Life."
The pope expressed appreciation "for this long-standing public witness to the sanctity of human life." He prayed that this annual gathering "may always be a visible sign of the immense goodness present in our world."
The vigil event is hosted each January by the basilica, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities and The Catholic University of America's Office of Campus Ministry.
— Julie Asher, Mihoko Owada
How to participate in the March for Life virtually
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How to participate in the March for Life virtually
WASHINGTON,D.C. — The 52nd annual March for Life will take place Jan. 24 in Washington. The theme of the 2025 event is "Life: Why We March."A concert and rally near the Washington Monument will preface the march from the National Mall to the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued the now-defunct 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states. Since the court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision issued June 24, 2022, the March for Life has typically ended between the nation's highest court and the U.S. Capitol.
The concert will begin at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the rally at noon and the March at 1 p.m.
Supporters can participate virtually by watching the event on the March for Life's social media channels, including YouTube, or by using the hashtag #WhyWeMarch. The March for Life's website is marchforlife.org.
Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer, author and motivational speaker, is the event's keynote. Other scheduled speakers include Senate Majority Leader John Thune; Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.; and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas. Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, had planned to speak but is now unable to attend the event.
"We are overjoyed to welcome these inspiring pro-life leaders at this year's 52nd March for Life," Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, said in a statement announcing the speakers earlier this month. "For the past 52 years, the March for Life has powerfully witnessed to the tragedy of abortion, while calling for stronger protections for women and the unborn. This year's speakers will address the 2025 theme -- 'Life: Why We March' which reminds us of the basic truth that every life has inherent human dignity from the start."
The group is also organizing a series of state-level events throughout the year. More information about those events can be found on its website.
— OSV News
Trump to send video message to March for Life rally; Vance to speak at event
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Trump to send video message to March for Life rally; Vance to speak at event
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump will deliver a video message to the March for Life rally in the nation's capital Jan. 24, and Vice President JD Vance will speak to the rally in person.
According to multiple news reports, the White House confirmed Trump's remote appearance Jan. 23. Earlier the same day march organizers announced Vance would address the crowd, and his appearance will mark Vance's first public event as vice president outside of inaugural events.
During his 2022 U.S. Senate bid, Vance, a Catholic, said he supported a federal 15-week abortion ban -- a measure potentially affecting nearly 6% of abortions in the U.S. But in the days leading up to his selection as the Republican vice presidential nominee, Vance moderated his position on abortion, aligning with Trump that abortion policy should be left to the states. He affirmed Trump would oppose a federal abortion ban if Congress passed such a law.
Vance said on the campaign trail he also supported mifepristone, a pill commonly used for first-trimester abortion, “being accessible.” Although mifepristone can be used in early miscarriage care protocols, Vance did not qualify his statement. Nearly nine out of 10 abortions take place within the first trimester, with more than six of 10 abortions performed through mifepristone.
However, Vance has also frequently discussed a more aggressive policy approach to combating root causes of poverty, calling for a higher minimum wage and floating a $5,000 per child tax credit. Some pro-family researchers have pointed to findings indicating that giving robust child allowances to parents could have both anti-poverty and pro-life effects by lifting households with children out of poverty and alleviating some of the economic push-factors behind abortion. In the U.S., abortion correlates heavily with low-income levels, with seven out of 10 women telling researchers at the Guttmacher Institute that they could not afford a baby as an important factor into why they had an abortion.
March for Life organizers noted Vance spoke at the Ohio March for Life in 2023, while serving as the U.S. senator from that state.
"We are thrilled that Vice President Vance has chosen the National March for Life for his first public appearance in his new role -- a sign of his commitment to standing up for life," Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, and Jennie Bradley Lichter, its president-elect, said in a joint statement Jan. 23.
"President Trump governed as a pro-life president during his first term which resulted in a long list of accomplishments," they said. "We look forward to working with him and Vice President Vance as they dismantle the Biden Administration’s aggressive and unpopular abortion agenda and once again put wins on the board for vulnerable unborn children and their mothers."
Additional expected speakers at the rally include Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., among others. Both DeSantis and Smith, like Vance, are Catholic.
Former Vice President Mike Pence was the first vice president to address the annual pro-life gathering in person in 2017. In 2020, Trump became the first president to do so, although some previous presidents addressed the group by video or audio message.
— Kate Scanlon, OSV News
WASHINGTON,D.C. — The 52nd annual March for Life will take place Jan. 24 in Washington. The theme of the 2025 event is "Life: Why We March."