Bishop Scharfenberger to host Mass, Holy Hour for Life

Join Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger for a Mass and Holy Hour for Life virtually on Jan. 27, starting at 12:15 p.m. The Mass and Holy Hour will be livestreamed from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

Renee Morgiewicz, coordinator of Parish Services and Respect Life Ministry for the Diocese of Albany, said pro-life events commemorating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade are still happening, just not in person. Instead, the Diocese will be focusing on local efforts, with livestreaming of virtual Masses and Holy Hours in lieu of marching in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 29.

“We’re just taking one day at a time with COVID, because hey, if COVID gets so bad we can’t even go to the Cathedral, we can’t even videotape this,” Morgiewicz said.

Morgiewicz added many parishes also are unable to financially afford the trip, with New York State’s Department of Health guidelines restricting 55-person buses to an occupancy of six people maximum.

“People more than ever want to be together, and they can; we see each other over Zoom, so that’s great,” Morgiewicz said.

Bishop Scharfenberger’s Mass and Holy Hour will be livestreamed at www.rcda.org/livestream. For those who miss the livestream, the service will also be available on YouTube at youtube.com/user/DioceseOfAlbany.

Youth Rally and March for Life

While the annual Youth Rally and March for Life is typically held in Washington, D.C., this year schools and youth groups are invited to participate virtually on Jan. 29, starting at 8:30 a.m. Mass will begin at 10 a.m., then transition into live coverage of the march on EWTN.

Josh Brahm, the keynote speaker from the Equal Rights Institute, will discuss ways to persuasively talk about pro-life issues with pro-choice people, eliminating faulty rhetoric and tactics.

Traditionally the march coincides with the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision, which legalized abortion nationally. The March for Life, which began in 1974, is one of the largest pro-life event in the world. Serving as a peaceful protest, hundreds and thousands of youth, young adults and adults gather from across the nation and world to march together in solidarity.

Registration is now open online. Join the Diocese of Albany at no charge for this annual youth and young adult pro-life event. Registration at youthrallyandmassforlife.org.

St.John the Evangelist HOLY HOUR

St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady will be holding a Roe v. Wade Holy Hour with Father Richard Carlino presiding on Jan. 22. Beginning at 3 p.m., the service includes Exposition of the Holy Sacrament, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, followed by litany of the Blessed Virgin. Father Carlino will offer a reflection, followed by benediction at 3:55 p.m., with the service ending at 4 p.m. St. John the Evangelist Church is located across from Union College, at 808 Union St. For more information, contact Patty Gutch at [email protected].