OTTAWA, February 2, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The annual Canadian National March for Life in Ottawa is set for Thursday May 11, 2006. The event is a popular one for pro-life Canadians who come from all regions of the country to call on Parliamentarians to protect human life from conception to natural death.
On Wednesday evening May 10, the day before the march, a special March for Life Catholic Mass will take place at St. Theresa’s parish church. This will be followed by a candle-lit procession and interdenominational vigil at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights monument at Lisgar and Elgin Streets. Pro-life Canadians who are unable to attend the march are being encouraged toÂmake March for Life candle pledges @Â$2 per candle which will beÂlighted at the monument during the vigil which marks the beginning of the march. See the pledge form at https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006_docs/candlepledgeform06.pdfÂ
For Catholic marchers, the vigil will be followed by all-night prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Patrick’s Basilica at Kent and Nepean Streets in downtown Ottawa which ends with a Mass at 7:00 am.
At 10 a.m. on the day of the march, a usually heavily attended bilingual March for Life Mass will be offered at Notre Dame Cathedral on Sussex Drive. This will be presided over by Ottawa Bishop Marcel Gervais and concelebrated by other bishops and priests in attendance. The number of clergy at this event has been significantly increasing in recent years. At the same time, an interdenominational prayer service is offered in English at 10 a.m. St. George’s Anglican Church, 152 Metcalfe Street.
Marchers are asked to gather on Parliament Hill at noon on Thursday and hear welcoming speeches and introductions from pro-life Members of Parliament and other prominent pro-life Canadians. The always dramatic march itself will begin at 1:30 p.m. and winds through downtown Ottawa with full police escort. The presence of enthusiastic youth in the march has been growing in recent years to the point where they comprise the largest age group of participants.
As in the last two previous years, the Silent No More Awareness Campaign will give their moving personal testimonies at 2:45 p.m. right after the march on Parliament Hill. As word about this powerful new addition to the pro-life movement has been spreading more marchers have been staying after the march to listen to these first hand experiences of the effects of abortion.
The March will be followed by a dinner at the Ottawa Congress Centre at 55 Colonel Drive, beginning with cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m. This year’s main speaker is Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life USA. Tickets for the dinner are $50.00 and must be booked in advance.
The past few years numerous Knights of Columbus and their families have started attending the March for Life and have been highly visible in theirÂstunning uniforms. This trend is expected to grow as the knights have becomeÂespecially enthused about taking on more of a direct role in the battle to protect the lives of theÂunborn.
The always popular Youth Conference is set for Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the hall of St. Joseph’s Church. This facility, like all other March for Life venues, was chosen for its central location within walking distance of Parliament and the University of Ottawa.
Rooms have been blocked for May 10 & 11 for those wanting accommodation in Ottawa at the Capital Hill Hotel & Suites, 88 Albert Street. Call (613)235-1413 or 1-800-463-7705 to book. Ask for Erin and mention Campaign Life Coalition and the March for Life. There are of course many other hotels with accommodations. March organizers stress booking early because many hotels are usually filled at this time because of the tulip festival.
Good, affordable accommodations for over 200 will also be available at Ottawa University which is within walking distance of Parliament. Rate is $25.76 per person per night. These are booked through Campaign Life Coalition. Many two bedroom suites are also available at the university for $99 per night. Suites are booked directly by calling 1-613-564-5400.
For more information please contact Campaign Life Coalition:
613-729-0379, orÂ
1-800-730-5358 or
416-204-9749
or email:
email at [email protected]