Solemn Mass, march and pro-life rally begin at noon on Jan. 24 in Indianapolis

Patricia Arthur, the administrative assistant of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Activities, displays three of the respect life signs that will be carried by people during the Jan. 24 pro-life march from SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral to the Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

A Mass for Life, pro-life march and respect life rally in downtown Indianapolis on Jan. 24 will peacefully and prayerfully protest the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand in America, and memorialize the deaths of more than 52 million unborn babies killed in abortions since 1973.

The solemn pro-life observance begins at noon with a Mass for Life at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis.

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general of the archdiocese, will be the principal celebrant for the liturgy, which coincides with the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24.

“The Mass will be the most significant event in our local solemn observance to peacefully and prayerfully protest

Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the Jan. 22, 1973, Supreme Court decisions that legalized abortion during all nine months of pregnancy,” said Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, the director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry.

“We will pray in a special way for the unborn victims of legalized abortion,” Sister Diane said, “and for their post-abortive parents.”

Following the one-hour Mass at the cathedral—which is also open to pro-life supporters from other faith traditions—adults, families and students will carry a variety of pro-life signs as they walk to the Veterans Memorial Plaza, 431 N. Meridian St., for a respect life rally.

Keynote speaker Rebecca Kiessling of Rochester Hills, Mich., who was conceived in rape and whose mother was encouraged to abort her twice, will discuss her unique perspective on Roe v. Wade.

Kiessling’s mother decided to carry her pregnancy to term and place her baby for adoption.

The international pro-life speaker has five children, and has saved countless lives by sharing her story and speaking out for the rights of the unborn.

Her inspirational speech will be followed by several Silent No More campaign testimonials presented by men and women who have been harmed by the tragedy of abortion.

“Through personal testimonies given by post-abortive men and women, the public will be made aware of the devastation that abortion brings to women, men and their families,” Sister Diane said. “The goal of those giving testimonies is to make known the emotional and physical pain of abortion, which is shrouded in secrecy and silence. The participants want to expose abortion for what it is so that people may be healed from its trauma.”

(For more information, contact the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry at 317-236-1569 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1569.) †