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Conference, procession to lead into Mass for Life

Pro-life supporters to observe anniversary of Roe v. Wade ruling Jan. 20

Published: January 15, 2019   

Arkansas Catholic file / Malea Hargett

Youth from St. Jude Church in Jacksonville pray during the 2018 Youth Mass for Life. The 2019 Mass for Life is moving to Robinson Center in Little Rock, with room for more than 1,200 people to attend in one Mass.

Arkansas Catholic file / Malea Hargett

Youth from St. Jude Church in Jacksonville pray during the 2018 Youth Mass for Life. The 2019 Mass for Life is moving to Robinson Center in Little Rock, with room for more than 1,200 people to attend in one Mass.

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Catholics attending the annual Mass for Life will have two new opportunities to expand and show their support for respect life issues.

The Diocese of Little Rock has also moved the Mass Sunday, Jan. 20 back to a larger downtown facility to allow for one Mass for more than 1,200 people instead of the 375-seat Cathedral of St. Andrew.

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. the first Hearts for Life conference will be held at St. John Center for adults, college students and families with younger children. High school students are invited to attend the Weekend for Life at the DoubleTree Hotel, also in downtown Little Rock.

“Everyone is part of our pro-life community,” said Catherine Phillips, respect life director. “Our new conference is designed to help our pro-life community be more inclusive of everyone.”

The adult conference will include discussions on end-of-life decisions, pro-life legislation and facing an “adverse pre-natal diagnosis.” Speakers will include Caryn Hoyt of Conway; Patrick Gallaher, Catholic Charities director; Sister Chabanel Finnegan, RSM, of Fort Smith; Deacon Matt Glover, chancellor for canonical affairs; and Phillips. A time of prayer and adoration will be held as well as a movie and activities will be available for children who attend with their parents.

The $40 fee will include dinner, breakfast and overnight lodging at Fletcher Hall at St. John Center or $20 if the attendee doesn’t need an overnight room. Registration will remain open as long as space is available.

Before the Mass this year will be a Eucharistic procession beginning at 10 a.m. on the plaza in front of the DoubleTree Hotel. Participants will walk more than a mile, pray and sing through Riverfront Park, ending at Robinson Center for the noon Mass. The procession will last about one hour.

Participants can park in the parking garage and walk all or part of the procession route or park at the River Market and join in the middle of the procession, Phillips said. For exact locations where the procession will stop and pray, call Phillips at (501) 664-0340.

Before Mass, adoration and Benediction will be held. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the Mass for Life at noon in the renovated Robinson Performance Hall, which seats 2,600.

“It’s a weekend for our diocese to come together to give public witness to our faith. It’s a witness for us to pray for the end to the grave evil of abortion but also for the sanctity and dignity of each human life,” Phillips said.

To register for the adult conference or for more information, call Phillips or visit dolr.org.

Following the Mass, Catholics can attend the March for Life, beginning at 2 p.m. around the State Capitol grounds. The march, sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life, begins between Battery and Wolfe streets on West Capitol Avenue.

The March for Life keynote speakers will be Courtney Beck, who obtained an abortion by judicial bypass of the Arkansas Parental Notification law, and Christa Brown, coordinator of the Abortion Pill Rescue program for Heartbeat International.

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