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Monday, 13 September 2010 09:58 |
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NEW YORK (CNS) – For the 13th year in a row, the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life will sponsor the National Black Catholic Vigil for Life on the first Saturday in October, the eve of Respect Life Sunday.
Franciscan Father James E. Goode, president of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, said the annual observance gives African-American and African Catholics "an opportunity to gather ... to pray for an end to abortion and all acts of violence that destroy the dignity of human life."
In New York, where the apostolate is based, the vigil will take place at 11 a.m. Oct. 2 at the Lady's Chapel in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Black Ministry in the Archdiocese of New York.
Closing prayers will be at the crypt of Pierre Toussaint (1766-1853), a freed Haitian slave who is the only layperson buried in the crypt, and Cardinal John J. O'Connor (1920-2000), the former New York archbishop who was closely connected to the pro-life cause. The Cardinal initiated Toussaint's sainthood cause, which was opened in 1989; he was declared venerable in 1996.
The theme of Respect Life Sunday for 2010, as established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is "The measure of love is to love without measure."
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