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LifeSiteNews.com interview BY LifeSiteNews.com By Steve Jalsevac  WASHINGTON, March 1, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com interviewed Deirdre McQuade, Director of Planning and Information of the USCCB, Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities and Jackie Hayes, Director of Communications for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. about the history and organization of the National Prayer Vigil for Life. McQuade:The National Vigil for Life is a vital part of implementing the bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, which calls upon the faithful to fast and pray for the Culture of Life. Here is the relevant section of the Pastoral Plan on the National Prayer Vigil:"Each year, in conjunction with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade (January 22), a National Prayer Vigil for Life is held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Thousands travel from all corners of the country to take part in the opening liturgy and all-night prayer vigil. Dioceses and parishes might conduct similar prayer vigils so that those unable to travel might participate in this prayer occasion. This date is also designated as a particular day of penance in the Roman Missal.  Prayer is the foundation of all that we do in defense of human life. Our efforts—whether educational, pastoral, or legislative—will be less than fully fruitful if we do not change hearts and if we do not ourselves overcome our own spiritual blindness. Only with prayer—prayer that storms the heavens for justice and mercy, prayer that cleanses our hearts and our souls—will the culture of death that surrounds us today be replaced with a culture of life." (Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life, p. 30)LifeSiteNews:  When did the first Vigil for Life take place at the basilica? Hayes: 1979 according to the Shrine’s Archivist, Dr. Geraldine M. Rohling.  The first Vigil was held January 21-22, 1979 in the Crypt Church with approximately 50 persons who assembled for Eucharist Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and other devotions.  Mass was held in the evening and then again in the morning.  Participants later walked in the March for Life. LifeSiteNews: How did the size of this year’s crowd compare to previous years?  Hayes: Crowd estimated at 10,000. McQuade: Each year the crowd increases. Though no official count is taken, for the past several years, the amount of communion stations and hosts increases, and this year again, the Shrine staff notified us of even more people down in the Crypt church and lobby area than last. LifeSiteNews: How many people were in the crypt area during the vigil mass? McQuade: Estimate of 1,200 in Crypt Church, Memorial Hall and Lower Level Chapels (all on lower level of Shrine) LifeSiteNews: Considering that the basilica was nearly jammed to the limit are there considerations for alternative or additional arrangements in coming years to accommodate even more people?  McQuade: No, not at this time.  This has been considered in the past, though, and the organizers are well aware of the challenges and difficulties of accommodating such a large crowd.LifeSiteNews: How many televisions were set up throughout the facility to help those without a view to see and hear the vigil mass events?   14 in total.  (2 Large Projection Monitors in the Crypt Church.  2 Large Projections Monitors in the Upper Church.  10 27” Monitors in chapels of the Upper Church.) LifeSiteNews: How many members were in the choir and is there anything of special interest you can tell me about the choir? Hayes: The Choir of the Basilica is the resident choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, DC) and is regarded as one of the foremost liturgical singing ensembles in the world.  The choir is comprised of approximately twenty professional singers from the greater Washington metro area and is responsible for performing at Solemn Eucharist on Sundays and Solemnities that mark the church calendar.  The choir is engaged in close to one hundred performances (liturgical and otherwise) each year, and prepares approximately three hundred works each season. On solemn occasions, the choir performs with Washington-area musicians including the Washington Symphonic Brass, Orchestra of the 17th Century and members of the National Symphony Orchestra.  Solemn liturgies are broadcast live on the Eternal Word Television Network throughout the world.     The choir performs under the direction of Dr. Peter Latona, Basilica director of music since 2001. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., is the pre-eminent Marian shrine of the Catholic Church in the United States.   For more information, please visit http://www.nationalshrine.com. LifeSiteNews: Is there anything special you can tell me about the organist and the organ? Hayes: The organists for the Mass were Richard Fitzgerald, Basilica Assistant Director of Music and Robert Grogan, Basilica organist and carillonneur.  The two pipe organs which grace the Great Upper Church at the Basilica have a combined total of nearly 10,000 pipes, the largest is 38 feet in length and weighs nearly 800 pounds.  LifeSiteNews: Who is the main organizing group responsible for the Vigil? What are the respective roles of the USCCB, the Basilica staff and the Archdiocese in the organization of the event?  McQuade: The three co-sponsors, The Basilica, USCCB pro-life office, and CUA campus ministry jointly organize the event.  USCCB plays an organizational and oversight role, with some responsibility regarding the liturgies and arranging confessions for the pilgrims, as well as closed captioning. The incredible number of details involved in the liturgy are handled by Shrine staff, as well as extra security needs, audiovisual needs, visitor services, bus parking, hosting student groups to stay over night.   There is a live EWTN feed for both evening and morning masses.  The holy hours from midnight to 6:00 a.m. are coordinated by pro-life seminarians throughout the country.  The Prayer Vigil would not succeed if the over 100 volunteer students from CUA campus ministry were not present for the almost 30 hour duration of the entire event. They act as ushers, security, food and coffee servers all throughout the night. They also work as chaperones at the DuFour Center, where mainly high school groups are hosted for the night before the March for Life.   Also, there is a strong Vigil tradition that the principal celebrant and homilist is always the chairman of the bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities, currently Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia. The success of this event depends on God’s grace at work, as well as the participation of the co-sponsors and volunteers.  Other groups provide additional support, such as the Dominican priests from Dominican House of Studies who lead morning prayer as well as provide most of the confessions for the pilgrims.   The Washington Archdiocese is not a co-sponsor of the event.  LifeSiteNews: How many staff and volunteers were required for the event?   McQuade: A core team of organizational staff numbers seven.   This includes combined staff from CUA, USCCB, and Shrine.  About ten support staff from all 3 co-sponsors work part time in the months preceding the event.  On the actual night and morning of the event,  staff consists of approximately 60 people in various roles (including cleaning crew, cafeteria staff, security etc.) as well as about 150 volunteers, mostly from CUA campus ministry.  The Knights of Columbus play a key role in the event, both in their attendance, service as ushers, and in their incredible support of many of the pro-life efforts of the church, including providing the Knights’  Tower at the Shrine, and the work of our USCCB pro-life office. LifeSiteNews: Who does the responsibility and running of the basilica ultimately belong to?McQuade: Ultimately, the Administrative Board of the USCCB.  The membership of the Corporation known as the BNSIC is comprised of members of the Administrative Board of the USCCB. All Cardinals of the United States are to be ex-officio members of the Board of Trustees unless they indicate otherwise.    The archbishop of Washington, currently Archbishop Wuerl, is always head of the board of the Shrine. LifeSiteNews: Has a U.S. president or vice-president ever attended the event and if not, why not?McQuade: According to our recent memory, no, because it is a Catholic prayer event, not a political one.  President Bush sent a note of greeting to the participants in the prayer vigil through the presence of Tim Goeglein in 2002 and 2002.   * See Special Vigil For Life additional photos page at:   http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007_docs/2007Vigilforlifephotos.htm  See more related stories:  Massive Annual National Prayer Vigil for Life in Washington Actively Backed by US Bishops  http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/mar/07030113.html  Cardinal Calls for “Sober Rejoicing” at Increasing Support for Life: March for Life Homily  http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07012603.html  Bishop: Denying Communion to Obstinate Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians "in many cases becomes the right decision and the only choice"  http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07013109.html http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/history-and-details-of-the-us-national-prayer-vigil-for-life/

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