On the 31st anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, pro-life supporters will have an opportunity to pray for those hurt by abortion and to speak to Congressional representatives about the legislation regarding abortion. The archdiocesan Pro-Life Office is sponsoring Rise Up For Life Georgia, which will include activities for both adults and teens as part of this annual commemoration, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, all are invited to attend an evening of prayer and adoration dedicated to the fight to stop abortion at the Cathedral of Christ the King. This event, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Babies for Life Foundation, will begin with an 8 p.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop John F. Donoghue. Following Mass, praise and worship will continue from 9 to 9:30 p.m. From 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., various speakers will give pro-life talks. Perpetual adoration will be held from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Youth in grades 7-12 and their chaperones will spend the night at the Cathedral at a pro-life lock-in dedicated to stopping abortion. On the following morning, Thursday, Jan 22, the teens will have morning Mass at 6:45 a.m. and a 7:30 a.m. breakfast. The youth and their chaperones will then depart the Cathedral for downtown to visit their Congressional leaders. Each group is responsible for setting up their own appointments with a Congressional representative.

On Thursday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m., all are invited to the annual Mass for the Unborn, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Donoghue at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Following lunch in the Shrine parish hall, attendees will attend the Together for Life Memorial Service and Memorial Walk at the State Capitol where the archbishop will join other speakers in addressing the crowd.

Together For Life is an annual service held at the Georgia Capitol in memory of the millions of babies killed since abortion became legal in 1973. The service is sponsored by Georgia Right to Life, a nonprofit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization whose purpose is to engage in activities that will restore respect and effective legal protection to all human beings from the moment of fertilization until natural death.

In addition to the archbishop, speakers at the memorial service will include Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Georgia’s First Lady, Mary Perdue.

All pro-life supporters, including the teens, will gather at the State Capitol for the rally and a one-mile silent walk through the streets of downtown Atlanta.

For information about this event and other pro-life events, call the archdiocesan Pro-Life Office at (404) 888-7821.

For more information about pro-life youth activities, call Angela Russo in the archdiocesan youth ministry office at (404) 885-7425. Teens must register for the lock-in by Jan. 9.