A Day of Fasting and Prayer in Reparation for a Culture of Violence and Disrespect of Human Life across the entire Diocese of New Ulm will be held January 22.

Initially organized by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, similar events are being held in other dioceses across the state, beginning in early December. The events were partly inspired by a series of undercover sting videos discussing the sale of human body parts from aborted babies by Planned Parenthood officials. However, the day is meant to encompass the full Catholic teaching on a consistent ethic of life.

January 22nd was chosen in the Diocese of New Ulm because it is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Bishop John LeVoir will celebrate the 7 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, in which he will include the petitions for the End of a Culture of Violence. Parishes are encouraged to celebrate Mass that morning including the same petitions. Buses will then depart for the March for Life in St. Paul and the Prayer Service at the Cathedral, over which our bishop, His Excellency John LeVoir, will preside this year.

Download the petitions for Mass on this day, as well as a bulletin insert from MCC. An article in the January Prairie Catholic will support this initiative.