The hundreds of teens and young adults from across The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington who gathered Jan. 20 prior to the annual March for Life to pray and attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington were urged to be “witnesses to life, witnesses to the truth that every life matters.” 

“Pray and be confident that God can and will do great things,” said Father Robert Kilner, administrator of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Solomons, Maryland who was homilist at the early morning Mass of Celebration and Thanksgiving for Life. “Witness by the way you love your family, and especially the smallest most helpless around you. Witness by your words in defense of the unborn, witness to God’s mercy, inviting everyone back to the joy of Confession.”

He reminded the young people that “when you stand up for life, when you pray, when you love the smallest among us, when you defend the unborn, and when you invite others to the mercy of God, you tell the truth and show the world that every life matters. You make a difference.”

Cardinal Wilton Gregory was the principal celebrant of the Mass. “It is a special joy for me to be able to celebrate this Eucharist with you, our young, youthful, joyful, happy Church,” he said. “We come together to praise God and to thank God for the gift of our lives – and we do so humbly.”

Concelebrants included Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States; Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio; Washington Auxiliary Bishops Mario Dorsonville and Roy E. Campbell Jr.; and about a dozen priests.

The Mass of Celebration and Thanksgiving for Life replaced the Youth Rally sponsored by the archdiocese and held prior to the annual March for Life at Washington arenas for more than 30 years. The new celebration and Mass follows the Supreme Court’s June 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

The archdiocese changed its pre-March for Life activities after other dioceses that had typically sent participants to the Youth Rally in Washington indicated that they would instead focus their efforts on own their states’ pro-life efforts now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.

In his homily, Father Kilner called the overturning of  “the unjust and awful decision of Roe v. Wade” a “great victory in the fight for life.”

“I have a confession to make. Going to the March for Life year after year since I was a kid, I can remember sitting on my father’s shoulders as we marched... I started to doubt that we could make a difference. Oh, me of little faith. I forgot what great things God can and will do through little people like me and you,” he said.

He stressed that although Roe v. Wade has been overturned, “we have a mission to continue to be witnesses to the truth that every life matters.”

“Our mission is to save souls, our mission is to save babies, our mission is to help end abortion in our day,” Father Kilner said.

The priest told those at the Mass never to doubt that “you are too small for this mission, that you could not possibly do such great things.” He spoke of his nephew, named John Paul, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy and who died when he was only 14 months old. 

“Even though he never said a word, even though he couldn't even walk, even though he was small, he was a witness to the value of every life,” Father Kilner said. “John Paul told the truth that every human life is beautiful, valuable; he witnessed that every life matters… and it changed people’s lives. He made a difference.”

He urged those at the Mass to remember that the difference his nephew made “is the power that any humble person has. That is the power that you have. You all can be witnesses to life. Jesus says whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

The priest called on young people to “be witnesses to the mercy of God – witnesses to the good that God does, the difference God makes when we are faithful,” and promised that if they did so, “you will, with the help of God, save souls, you will save babies, and you will make a difference.”

Father Kilner also said that as young people witness to the sanctity and dignity of all lives, they must do so with “a passion for lost souls.”

“We must, with the mercy of God, invite them back into the flock,” he said. “That is our mission – to bring people back home to God through prayer and sacrifice, and mercy.” 

During the Mass, prayers were offered for “pregnant mothers in difficult circumstances and their unborn babies.” Prayers were also offered for the people of Ukraine and Russia, those suffering from COVID and for the peaceful repose of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died Dec. 31, 2022.

Also during the Mass, Cardinal Gregory prayed that God would “awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of human life.”

The cardinal also asked young people to consider a religious vocation. 

“I want to encourage all of you who may be considering a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life to hang on to that thought. It is a good thought. It is a happy thought. It is an important thought,” he said. “The Church is so in need of joyful, holy, young men and women who want to follow Jesus Christ with all their heart and to serve their brothers and sisters.” 

At the start of Mass, Archbishop Pierre read a message from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, that was issued in the name of Pope Francis.

In that message, Cardinal Parolin said Pope Francis “is deeply grateful for the faithful witness shown publicly over the years by all who promote and defend the right to life of the most innocent and vulnerable members of our human family.”

“His Holiness trusts that Almighty God will strengthen the commitment of all, especially the young, to persevere in their efforts aimed at protecting human life in all its stages, especially through adequate legal measures enacted at every level of society,” the message read.  “To those taking part in the March for Life, and to all who support them by their prayers and sacrifices, the Holy Father gladly imparts his blessing as a pledge of strength and joy in the Lord.”

The Holy See granted a plenary indulgence to those who attended in person or virtually the Mass of Celebration and Thanksgiving at the cathedral, or the Jan. 19 National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception or any Masses offered Jan. 19-20 in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington in conjunction with the March for Life. To gain the plenary indulgence a person must sacramentally confess his or sins, receive Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Since 1990, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has sponsored a Mass and gathering on the morning of the march as an opportunity for young people to worship together, learn about Catholic teaching on life issues, and to stand firm in their support of life. Before the start of the Mass, music was provided by Mike Tenney, host of the podcast Pop Culture Catechism.

“Let us pray that we see with clear eyes the kingdom of heaven,” Tenney said. “Let us pray that we see God more clearly, especially today as we stand up for the dignity of life.”

He asked those at the Mass to “remember the unborn and those who lives are threatened by the various pro-life issues” and the pray for the protection of the unborn, the marginalized and the poor, those who face violence and those who face discrimination.

He added that while Roe v. Wade has been overturned, “we are not done … there are still unborn children in danger, there are still women who are hurting, there is still racism, the death penalty, euthanasia, poverty, unjust war.”

Helping to coordinate the gathering were members of the Archdiocesan Youth Leadership Team of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Members of the team led participants in the recitation of the rosary before the Mass. After the Mass, members of the leadership team held a rally.

Serving as mistress of ceremonies and keynote speaker was Ogechi Akalegbere, the recipient of the 2021 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development who is  director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Gaithersburg, Maryland.