A Mass for Life and Eucharistic Adoration will be held in Wellington on the evening prior to New Zealand’s third annual National March for Life.
Held in the beautiful historic church of Saint Mary of the Angels, the Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Michael Gielen, Auxiliary Bishop of the Auckland Diocese.
The Mass will begin at 7pm on Friday 4 December and will be followed by one hour of Eucharistic Adoration in order to prepare for the National March for Life the following day.
Everyone is encouraged to attend this most important Mass and time before Our Lord in Adoration. Prayer is essential preparation to witnessing in the streets that every single life is precious and in need of protecting from conception.
Beginning with Mass absolutely essential
During the Mass held before the 2019 Canadian March for Life, Cardinal Thomas Collins explained why beginning with Mass is “absolutely essential.”
“Adoration, recognition, seeing the Lord, must lead to action. And all fruitful action must arise out of adoration,” the Cardinal said.
Memorably, he noted “it is the Acts of the Apostles, not the dreams of the apostles, or the wishes of the apostles, or the thoughts and plans of the apostles. It is the Acts of the Apostles: A boldness and action that rises out of that contemplative encounter with Jesus who sends us on our mission.”
Turning his thoughts to those who are actively engaged in abortion and advocating for it Cardinal Collins expressed how important it is that we who defend human life, love those who do not.
“We must especially recognize that we are simply servants of God who loves those who oppose us, and those who attack us, and those who espouse destructive approaches to life,” he said. “This calls us constantly to fervent and silent prayer for them — and fasting — for those who have that view.”
Details about the Mass for Life and Adoration
When: Friday 4 December
Time: 7:00pm to approximately 9:00pm
Where: St Mary of the Angels, 17 Boulcott Street, Wellington Central
Contact: Clare 021 231 7954
Rosary on Parliament Grounds
A Rosary will take place on Parliament Grounds 15 minutes after the conclusion of the National March for Life. Gather on the hill to the right of Parliament buildings.
When: Saturday 5 December
Time: 15 minutes after the conclusion of the National March for Life
Where: Parliament Grounds
Please note: These are not official March for Life events. They are being organised by Family Life International.