The Knights of Columbus joined Archbishop José H. Gomez and thousands of others at the annual Requiem for the Unborn Jan. 24, 2015 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This year’s Requiem Mass will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 23. (photo : Victor Aleman/The Tidings)
More than 2,000 people of all ages are expected to fill the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles January 23 for the annual Requiem for the Unborn Mass at 5 p.m. The archdiocesan-wide event, which falls a day after the anniversary of the historic Roe vs. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S., is being held following the close of OneLife LA earlier that same afternoon, when pro-life marchers will walk from nearby La Placita Olvera to Grand Park.
“In order to embrace the marchers before they simply disperse to their homes, we have moved … our liturgy up by one hour. Tennis shoes, T-shirts, shorts, backpacks, water bottles, perhaps that sweet fragrance of sun block mixing with incense — we want the pro-life marchers to ‘come as they are,’” said John Bonaduce, music director at Our Lady of Peace in North Hills, who composed the original hymns and music for the pro-life Requiem Mass.
Various pro-life groups will be in attendance, including the Southern California Right to Life League, the California Pro-Life Council, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and OneLife LA. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles, retired Bishop Gerald E. Wilkerson, Auxiliary Bishops Joseph V. Brennan and Edward W. Clark, and the Knights of Columbus will also be present along with other clergy and laity members.
