The archdiocesan Pro-Life Office encourages Catholics around the archdiocese to participate in the annual Mass for the Unborn followed by the Together for Life Memorial Service and Silent Walk this Friday, Jan. 21, to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion.

The actual anniversary of the Supreme Court decision is Jan. 22. In addition, youth are encouraged to participate in the Rise Up for Life overnight event at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, beginning Thursday, Jan. 20, and concluding Friday morning.

The Mass for the Unborn will be held on Jan. 21 at 10 a.m., preceded by a rosary at 9:30 a.m., at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta. Parking is available in the Underground Atlanta lots and at the Five Points MARTA Station.

The principal celebrant will be the newly installed Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, and the concelebrant will be Archbishop-emeritus John F. Donoghue and priests of the archdiocese.

At 11 a.m. there will be a box lunch at the Shrine, with a requested donation of $5.50 per lunch. At 12 noon Catholics may join others in the pro-life movement a block up the street on the steps of the Capitol on Washington Street for the Together for Life Memorial sponsored by Georgia Right to Life, preceded by praise and worship time at 11:30 a.m. The main speaker there will be former governor and U.S. Sen. Zell Miller. The native Georgian who has served in elected office over six decades wrote in his 2003 book “A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat” how he changed from a pro-choice to a pro-life position through the revelations of ultrasound technology. At 1 p.m. there is a silent one-mile walk through downtown Atlanta. There is no cancellation due to inclement weather.

Rise Up for Life Georgia beginning Thursday night is an evening of prayer and adoration for teens and their families, as well as anyone unable to attend the Friday Mass, at the Cathedral. It begins at 6 p.m. with registration, and continues with an 8 p.m. Mass with Archbishop Gregory and priests, pizza, music, and speakers at 9:30 p.m., and a midnight rosary for life. For registered youth only in seventh through 12th grades there is a lock-in and adoration from 12 a.m.- 6 a.m., Mass at 6:30 a.m., breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and departure at 8 a.m. for legislative meetings followed by Together for Life. Participation in the lock-in costs $15 and must be cleared by one’s parish pastor.