ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, January 19, 2007 – Bishop William Murphy will join one thousand pilgrims from the Diocese of Rockville Centre in Washington, D.C. at the annual March for Life.  Held on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, the march draws more than 100,000 pilgrims from across the country and now features events that begin on Saturday, January 21, and continue through Monday evening.

The actual March for Life begins at noon on Monday, January 22nd with a rally on the National Mall followed by a march to Capitol Hill and the U.S. Supreme Court, where participants can meet with their senators and representatives.  Following the march, pilgrims from the diocese will meet from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church on Capitol Hill for prayer and fellowship. 

On Monday morning, young adults from the diocese will join an expected crowd of over 20,000 Catholic teens and young adults, dozens of bishops and hundreds of priests from around the nation as they fill Washington’s largest sports arena, the MCI/Verizon Center for the Rally for Life and Youth Mass.  The event begins with the Sacrament of Confession at 8:00 a.m., followed by a rally featuring three bands and then Mass at 10:00 a.m. 

After the rally, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. will be the principal celebrant of the Mass.  Bishop Murphy will concelebrate along with many cardinals, bishops and priests from around the country.  The homilist will be Father Bill Byrne, Catholic chaplain for the University of Maryland.  The rally bands and the Mt. St. Mary’s School Schola will provide music. 

Some groups from the diocese are headed to Washington on Sunday, January 21 to participate in the National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass at 8 p.m.  The principal celebrant of this Mass is Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia and it will be held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Bishop Murphy will concelebrate this Mass.  Eucharistic Adoration will follow the Mass, throughout the night in The Crypt Church (the lower level of the Basilica).

For more information on the March for Life, please contact Diana Tellis, Diocesan Respect Life Coordinator at 516-379-8292, ext. 215 or respectlife@drvc.org.

About The Diocese of Rockville Centre

The Diocese of Rockville Centre (www.drvc.org) was formed in 1957 and covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million Catholics (total population in both counties is approximately 3.3 million).  There are 134 parishes in 115 towns.  Last year over 20,000 baptisms, 18,000 confirmations, 20,000 first communions and 5,000 marriages took place in the diocese.  There are 2,137 students in Catholic kindergarten, 23,825 in primary or elementary school, 12,628 in secondary school and 3,300 in higher institutions.  There are 76 Catholic elementary and high schools and one Catholic college in the diocese.  Catholic Health Services of Long Island consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two home-care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a community-based home for those with special needs and a hospice.  Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than 80,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged on Long Island. 

Contact:

Sean P. Dolan
Director of Communications
516-678-5800, ext. 625
sdolan@drvc.org

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