www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Yearly March & Activities?

Does anyone know where I might get info about Byzantine activities at the March for Life? It's only a couple weeks away. THANKS for any info you can provide. Will there be Vespers or a Liturgy at the Basillica again on the night before?

https://www.byzcath.org/Calendar/index.htm

January 21-22
National March for Life
Washington, DC and Across America

At 11:30 PM on January 21 His Grace, Bishop Andrew of Passaic will lead "Night Prayer" ("Compline") at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The March for Life will begin at noon on January 22 with a rally on the grounds of the Washington Monument, followed by a march to Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court. For more information contact your local diocese or the USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, 202-541-3070 or visit the website at http://www.usccb.org/prolife/vigil2004.htm.

Cool. I dunno how I missed all this.

Hopefully the kids and I will be able to get up there...See ya all at Compline.

Annie,

I went last year and the Byzantine contingent is there but not all that well organized. There are usually a couple of Divine Liturgies in the Byzantine Chapel, call the Basilica to see if any are scheduled yet. They can be scheduled very last minute. Also the Ukrainian Catholic Shrine of the Holy Family is right around the corner in walking distance from the Basilica and they usually have a Pontifical Divine Liturgy the day of the March.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Compline that night is a marvelous event.

The entire downstairs of the Basilica, and all the side chapels, are filled with the young people and their sleeping bags. At that late hour, the Crypt Church is overflowing with people, few of which are Eastern Christians but who very reverently participate. The acoustics of the church resound with the chant from the men�s chorus, and all of us are praying with our Bishop. And what is being manifested most solemnly is the Communion of Saints of our Church in all its fullness and mystery.

It is very hard to fall asleep later on after all that.

Come if you can. Please continue to pray.

Deacon El

Thanks, Deacon Lance - I've been to the Ukrainian Shrine many times and I'd definitely urge anyone in town to visit it for Liturgy. Unfortunately, it is not really open for visitors at other times. The building has come along nicely in recent years. When I first went there, all Liturgies were in the lower level auditorium area. It has been nice to visit the upper church these past few years.

And thanks, also, Deacon El - Unless there are a lot of Deacon Els around thispart of the country, I believe my husband and I are parishioners at your church (Epiphany). I assume it is okay for people to stay all night in the Basillica before the March if they wish to make an all-night prayer vigil or to come in very late or early before work to pray? Sounds like people will be there all night long??? I missed Bishop Andrew last year. I think he is wonderful and I will try to make it this year.

I will defnitely be marching with the SFO - we even have our meeting place mapped out, so if anyone comes to the March and sees us, we have a brown banner that says "Franciscans pro vita" then come say "hi!"

Rev Deacon Lance, Greetings! Are you going to vest for the Vigil Mass? I just received a reply and the vesting for Deacons will be in the Crypt Church. I hope to see you there. Metropolitan Basil is hoping to be there if he can clear his calendar.

I forgot to add this info for those who would like to participate at the Basilica.
If you need to have a place to sleep on Jan. 21st you need to contact Ellen Sarneckjy at the Archdiocese of Washington Pro-Life Office at
(301) 853-4555.

The lower level became too crowded about 8 years ago so they severely limit the number who can stay at the Basilica

Anyone participating in any aspect of the March for Life is encouraged to take pictures and send them to byzcath for posting. If you contact me in advance I can make suggestions for "good photos".

If your camera uses regular film make sure to request digital copies. Please contact me via e-mail or PM for information on where to send/e-mail the pictures.

I will be going and taking pictures...what did you have in mind?

Pictures:

For those going to the Compline celebrated by Bishop Andrew I would like some good photos of the gathered people and some good close-ups of the bishop, priests and faithful during the celebration of Compline. I know that very often the lower level of the Basilica is covered with sleeping bags for those staying overnight. I would greatly appreciate some photos of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel crowded with people spending the night.

For those going to the March for Life itself I would appreciate crowd photos and especially photos of our fellow Eastern Christians with their signs �Byzantine Catholics for Life� and �Orthodox Christians for Life�. Such photos can be an effective tool for evangelization of the Gospel of Life.

I would also welcome similar photos for other March for Life gatherings across North America.

Dear Administrator,
Glory to Jesus Christ!

Thanks to Father Deacon Tony Kotlar, photos are now available of the Compline last night at the Basilica of the National Shrine. Bishop Andrew was the celebrant. Priests of the Eparch of Passaic, along with visiting Eastern priests were in attendance. Deacon Gerry and Deacon El served with Bishop Andrew.

The photos are at http://www.patronagechurch.com. Then click on �Some pictures of the Compline service�. Many photos of the service, the people attending, and the "campout" nature of the Shrine last night.

The atmosphere last night was one of both excitement and prayer. Clergy praying with their Bishop. Hundreds and hundreds of people at that late hour (starting at 11:30 PM), the Slava Chorus leading the responses in the Crypt Church, the sound of chant reverberating all around the tiled ceiling, and the true communion of one Church was again magnificent to experience.

Again, thanks Deacon Tony.

Deacon El

I took a couple hours off from work and went to the March. Amazing. I met a couple friendly Byzantines there from PA, too. There was a large banner with a number of Orthodox marchers that I noticed.

The March was great....we were greeted by many in the Orthodox group...a very friendly bunch. We also met a Ukranian Priest from Toronto on Thursday night, at the Shrine...he was alot of fun...he was at the Mass for Life and later came down and joined the other priests and Bishop Andrew for Compline.

Okay...for those of you who were at Compline...my group was the one with two women and a bunch of kids who walked in after the Bishop had started(we lost track of time,). I was not the slender, pretty one, btw...I was the short chubby one

How many Ukranian parishes are there in Toronto, btw...I am wondering if the priest we met was Alex's pastor?

Vie