Celebrant: As brothers and sisters in faith, we gather our prayers and petitions and offer them to our generous God. 

Deacon/Lector:  

That our Holy Father and all who are entrusted with teaching God’s Word may be blessed with wisdom and courage, we pray to the Lord...

That the leaders of the world who have the task of governing may carry out their duties with justice and maintain peace among nations, we pray to the Lord...

That nations may repent of the sins of abortion, euthanasia, and neglect of the poor and weak, and may reform their laws to protect every human life, we pray to the Lord...

That Christians may join together across denominational lines to help the hungry and homeless, we pray to the Lord... 

That those who have died may enjoy the peace of God’s kingdom, and that those who grieve for them may be comforted, we pray to the Lord...

Celebrant: Father, send your spirit upon us and strengthen our faith. As you answer our prayers, grant that we may grow in your grace.  We ask this though Christ our Lord.

A Tragic Commemoration 

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court, in the Roe vs. Wade decision, made its worst mistake in history. By declaring that children in the womb are not “persons,” it opened the door to tens of millions of abortions. Some 62 million children have been killed in the womb since then just in America. In fact, over 10,000 of these children killed by abortion each year are at 21 weeks of development or beyond.  Indeed, as we mark another Roe vs. Wade commemoration, it is time for all of us to get involved in the efforts to end abortion. Visit www.TenStepsToEndAbortion.com to learn what you can do. 

Jon 3:1-5, 10
1 Cor 7:29-31
Mk 1:14-20

Watch a video with homily hints

January 22, 1973 was the date of the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision. Its commemoration is rightly marked by readings that accent the theme of repentance. “Repent” is the first message of Jesus as he begins his public ministry (today’s Gospel). It was also the first message of John the Baptizer as he began preparing the way for Christ (Mark 1:4), and was the first theme that Peter proclaimed on the first Pentecost (Acts 2:38). The preaching of Jonah foreshadowed all of this, and the work of the Church today echoes it.

Many believers, as they learn more about the facts of abortion and Roe vs. Wade, think that our first spiritual duty in the face of abortion is to pray. But it is not. Our first duty is to repent. God does not simply prohibit us from committing abortion. He prohibits us from tolerating it. He calls us to become active in fighting it.