Evangelium Vitae - Celebrate and Defend the Dignity of Human Life

Above video link; Rome Reports - Evangelium Vitae; Pope to celebrate Holy Mass for Life

The Catholic bishops of Ireland have asked the faithful in parishes all over the country to join Pope Francis this weekend in praying in support of the “Gospel of Life”.  Celebrating the encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae, Pope Francis will join in the special event entitled, ‘Believing, May They Have Life’ which begins today.  The initiative is part of the Year of Faith.

“It is so important that the Gospel of Life, which defends the principal right, the right to life, is shown as connected with the new evangelisation,” said Fr Eugene Silva one of the organizers behind Evangelium Vitae Day.

The event begins with education conferences according to language groups, studying Pope John Paul II's encyclical which expresses the position of the Catholic Church regarding the value and inviolability of human life.

Cardinal Burke will give the keynote address to the English language conference.This evening  there will be a candlelight procession at 8.30pm Rome time, down the Via del Conciliazione, punctuated by readings from John Paul II’s ‘Evangelium Vitae’ and the sharing of a number of personal testimonies. 

The procession will end in a prayer service and vigil at St Peter’s Square. Sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, the event  is expected to draw tens of thousands of parishes, communities, youth groups, voluntary associations for the sick and disabled and ordinary families.

Referring to the silent candlelit procession, Fr Silva said the silence would be offered “in the memory of the lives lost in the culture of death”.

Tomorrow, Sunday the event will culminate with 10.30am Mass (9.30am Irish time) celebrated by Pope Francis in the Vatican. The event will be televised live by EWTN.

Above from and continued here;

Catholic Ireland News - Bishops ask faithful to pray with Pope for coming of 'Gospel of Life'

Please also note the Dundalk Vigil for Life takes place today Saturday 15th June at 3pm.