Events--Local & National
Help us build our listings below by submitting info on upcoming March Day of the Unborn Child or Feast of the Annunciation events. Contact us with as many details as possible: the name of the event, date, place, time, phone or website (if applicable).
Note: For 2012 the Catholic observance of the Annunciation is transferred to March 26th to avoid a Lenten Sunday conflict -- special events may also be moved to this day.
If
you are seeking an event and there are no listings below for your area, look at
the past events archive to see if there is
a church/organization in your area you can contact that has had a previous
event (a website or phone number may be included in the listing)--oftentimes
they will have something annually that you can attend. Otherwise, contact your church/diocese
(particularly their pro-life ministry), a local pro-life organization, or call
the local Knights of Columbus councils as they often sponsor "Day
of the Unborn Child" masses and pro-life events for the Annunciation. If nothing is planned, consult our ideas page, and suggest an event and offer to help
organize it, or have a private celebration at home -- and consider the
following alternatives.
Alternate Activities for Years With No Local DOTUC/Annunciation Event:
Attend regular church services on the day
(or the day to which it is moved in years in which it is transferred). Look up phone numbers and websites of local
churches named after the Annunciation you may be able to attend as a
mini-pilgrimage -- they may have special events planned -- use an on-line yellow pages and
enter your location, and in the search box type: Annunciation
There may be ongoing pro-life activities in
which you can take part on March 25th -- for example, the day falls within the
annual spring campaign of 40 Days For Life which has prayer vigils all
across the U.S. and in other countries as well (click here
for more info and locations).
In 2012 March 25th falls during the crucial opening weekend of
the pro-life movie October Baby (attending a film with
life-affirming themes would be a positive way to honor the day -- click here for theatre locations
or here for more
info on October Baby).
Also in 2012 the Pro-Life Action League has joined with Citizens
for a Pro-Life Society to hold the Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom
on March 23rd -- organizers specifically chose March 23 because it is
the Friday closest to the Annunciation feast. There are many rally sites throughout the U.S. for those seeking
to mark the day with public activism -- click here for
rally locations or here
for an article on the rally and the significance of the date's selection.
If you would like to attend a Day of the Unborn
Child mass but are unable or cannot find one locally, as the feast draws near
the American Life League home page
may invite prayer
intentions for their pro-life Annunciation mass -- they also
offer an overview of
the Biblical account of the Annunciation and ideas for home, school and parish
based celebrations -- for the latest on ALL's Annunciation Mass prayer
intentions enter Annunciation in their website search box or click here for
ALL Annunciation articles.
2012 (Click here to skip to International
Events & others outside the
U.S.)
NOTE: For liturgical and other reasons, events may take place several days before or after March 25. Since the feast is movable, the changes are often made to avoid Easter week conflicts. If the date is other than the 25th, it will be noted in the listings. Since information comes from a variety of sources, you may want to call the church/venue to confirm.
Please note that the event listing is a free service--inclusion does not imply affiliation or endorsement and print materials offered via this site may not be available at the events listed below (for a complimentary prayer card, contact the webmaster directly).
Colorado
Aurora
Sunday, March 25, 2012, Queen of Peace, 13120 E Kentucky
Ave, Aurora, CO 80012, Phone: (303) 364-1056 -- Day of Prayer for the Unborn
Child -- Gather for Rosary and Spiritual Adoption Prayer After all Masses in
the Prayer Garden -- (Sunday Masses: 7:30,
9:30, 11:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (Youth Mass), Spanish Masses: 1:30 p.m. and
7:00 p.m.) Sponsored by Knights of
Columbus, and Ladies Auxiliary of Council 10122. For more info visit: http://www.queenofpeace.net
Delaware
Smyrna
March 26, The International Day of the Unborn will be observed with a march at Legislative Hall in Dover, from 2 to 4 pm. Sponsored by Helpers of God's Precious Infants, this annual event is a public witness to the sanctity of human life. At 5 pm, Brother Vincent Council of the Knights of Columbus will serve a free dinner in Mother Drexel Hall, at St. Polycarp Parish in Smyrna, De. A pro-life Rosary at 6:30 pm will be followed by a 7 pm Eucharist. The Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, Bishop of Wilmington, will be the celebrant. St. Polycarp is located on South Street, 1/2 mile from U.S. #13. For information, call the parish office at 653-8279.
Florida
Ave Maria
Annunciation High Mass in the Extraordinary Form/Men's Schola
Monday, March 26, 2012 -- phone oratory or AMU Music department for time
Ave Maria Oratory , 5050 Ave Maria Blvd, Ave Maria, FL, USA 34142, Phone: (239) 261-5555
For the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the AMU Men's Schola Gregoriana will chant the Ordinary and Proper chants at this Missa Cantata in the Extraordinary Form.
See website at http://amumusicdepartment.org/performance-calendar
Also click here for other events at the oratory or for a general calendar of events see www.aveherald.com.
Venice (and surrounding area)
Visit the website for the complete schedule of Novena Masses
for the nine months from the Annunciation to Christmas at http://www.laityforlife.org/
Illinois
Naperville
March 24, 2012 -- Annunciation Pro-Life Mass (5 pm) & Banquet (6:30 pm) at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville, Illinois 60540. Knights of Columbus Fundraiser Banquet benefits both The Waterleaf Women’s Center located in Aurora, IL and The Father Michael J. McGivney Women’s Center located in Glenview, IL. The main celebrant and speaker for the evening will be the Bishop of Joliet, Daniel Conlon.
Peoria
Contact you local parish for Masses and events throughout the Peoria diocese -- or contact The Family Resources Center at 309-637-1713 or e-mail famresct@mtco.com
New York
Brooklyn
St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis Catholic Church -- Annually on the Feast of the Annunciation, the statue from the "Mary Mother of the Unborn" chapel is brought up to the church for a blessing of pregnant women, newborns, and all those mourning the loss of a child -- contact the church for more information. Click here to read more about the Chapel of Mary Mother of the Unborn.
Buffalo (and surrounding area)
Mar. 21 (Wed.) Annunciation Mass for The Day of the Unborn Child. 7 p.m. Contact St. Aloysius Gonzaga church in Cheektowaga 716-833-1715 located at 157 Cleveland Dr. (at Century Rd.). Click here for more info. Sponsored by the Bishop Benincasa Council of the Knights of Columbus.
Mar. 25 (Sun.) 7 p.m-9 p.m. St. Amelia's. Holy Night of Prayer for the unborn, expectant parents, and couples hoping to conceive. Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 pm, followed by an hour of Eucharistic adoration and reflective prayer. The night will conclude with Benediction at 9 p.m. St. Amelia Parish, 2999 Eggert Road, Tonawanda, 716-836-0011. All are welcome!
Mar. 31 (Sat.) The first of 9 consecutive monthly pro-life masses begins on the last Saturday of March. The masses (8 am at St. Rose of Lima Church in Buffalo) continue each month through November. Sponsored by the Diocesan Pro-Life Office, each mass of the “Rosary Novena for Life” is followed by silent praying of the rosary in procession to a local abortion clinic. The church is located at 500 Parker Avenue at Parkside in Buffalo.
For other events in the Buffalo diocese, click here for more info.
New York (NYC)
Roman Catholic: For info visit the http://www.traditionalknight.com/ including:
3/26 (Monday): Feast of the Annunciation "Day of the Unborn Child" - Rosary at 5:45, then Mass at 6:00 PM, Church of the Holy Innocents, Pontifical Mass with Bishop Timlin of Scranton (Emeritus), Organist and choirmaster, Pedro d'Aquino, Missa O soberana luz, by Portugese composer Filipe de Magalhães (c1571-1652). Sponsored by Regina Coeli and Agnus Dei Councils.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: See the Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day 2012 and visit http://goarch.org/news for a link to the Archbishop's schedule including these events:
Sat., Mar. 24, 2012, 5:30 p.m., Archieratical Great Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation of Theotokos, Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (Evangelismos), 302 West 91st Street, NYC - Tel.: (212) 724-2070
Also:
Sun., Mar. 25, 2012 - FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS, 8:30 a.m. - Orthros & 9:30 a.m. - Archieratical Divine Liturgy and Doxology, Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, NYC
Pennsylvania
Aliquippa
March 26 (Mon.) 2012. Annual Holy Rosary for an End to Abortion. 4:30 p.m. Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery. 2186 Brodhead Rd., Aliquippa, PA 15001. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus, Woodlawn Council 2161. For more info please visit: http://knightsofcolumbuslatinmass.blogspot.com
Texas
Amarillo
For info visit the ProLife Amarillo Website. Special events include an annual Respect Life Banquet held on or near the Feast of the Annunciation.
International Events (& others outside the
U.S.):
Note: Spanish speaking countries often have multiple large-scale nationwide pro-life events centered on the March 25th feast -- as the day approaches visit http://sialavida25m.org and http://veladas25.org for more information. (The Google search engine site's language tools link can be used to produce an English translation of websites in other languages). Also, the internationally known Annunciation shrines/churches of Walsingham England, Loreto Italy, and the actual site of the Annunciation/Incarnation at Nazareth's Annunciation basilica offer the ultimate opportunity to make your own event with an actual pilgrimage (and for those who cannot visit in person, virtual tours, and armchair pilgrimages can also be made via home video and at various sites on-line.)
Argentina
For Info on events in Argentina, where the Day of the Unborn
Child originated, please visit http://www.forovidafamilia.com.ar/Sitio/Principal.asp
Australia
Click here for info from
fli.org.au or go directly to their events page for the Day of the
Unborn Child.
Sydney
Contact St. Mary's Cathedral for info on their Annunciation Day of the Unborn Child mass scheduled for:
Sydney, Mar. 25, Sun. 10:30 am mass for DOTUC w/ Bishop Julian Porteous St. Mary's Cathedral, noon procession, 1:30 benediction
Cuba
Click the following link for the Day of the Unborn Child spiritual adoption program -- Adopcion Espiritual -- Spiritual Adoption. Read about the international movement in favor of life promoting "a day without abortion" each 25th of March, and more about the "day without abortion" initiative here.
Ecuador
The March 25 pro-life/Incarnation mass takes place at the Cathedral of Quito,
and several cities in the Episcopal Conference--a Mass for the unborn child and
Thanksgiving for the Incarnation of Christ in the womb of Mary.
(El 25 de marzo se realiza en la Catedral de Quito y de varias ciudades de la Conferencia Episcopal una Eucaristía por los niños no nacidos y en Acción de Gracias por la Encarnación de Cristo en el Vientre de Marìa Santísima).
Every 25th of the month in 5 parishes of the Archdiocese of Quito there is a
Mass for the unborn child and the blessing of pregnant mothers.
(En 5 Parroquias de la Arquidiócesis de Quito se
realiza cada 25 de mes una Santa Misa por los niños no nacidos y la bendiciòn
de vientres a las mamitas que están embarazadas.)
Israel/The Holy Land
Nazareth
The ultimate special event to celebrate the feast day is a pilgrimage to the Annunciation church/basilica in Nazareth, where an inscription inside states "The Word was made flesh here." Click here for information on pilgrimages to Nazareth's Annunciation church. Click here to visit the official site of the basilica, and here for the webpage featuring a video on the new pilgrim's tour that combines the basilica with the archaeological site (click the four-arrows box in the lower right YouTube screen for full size image). A mini photo slide show from the archaeological museum can be viewed here. There is also an informative ChristianNewsToday article on how the Annunciation feast is celebrated in Nazareth available here -- events include a special Mass, a traditional parade, and guided tours by the Nazareth Cultural and Tourism Association highlight Mary's Well Square, the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Church, Pilgrims' Route, the House of Culture and Art, Alleys of the Old City, and the Basilica of the Annunciation. For a site that includes one pilgrim's insights on the import of the March 25th feast inspired simply from driving by the Annunciation basilica, click here.
Italy
Loreto
Consider a pilgrimage to The Holy House of Loreto in Loreto Italy, also known as the Santa Casa di Loreto, long visited as an Annunciation pilgrimage site. According to tradition, the actual house in Nazareth where the Annunciation/Incarnation took place was moved to Loreto. A basilica was built at the site--Basilica of the Holy House (Basilica della Santa Casa)--click here for the official website. A pictorial tour of the Holy House can be found here. Click here for more information on pilgrimages to Loreto, including the "armchair" pilgrimage video that aired on EWTN hosted by Bob and Penny Lord available here. Other video pilgrimages available include two from EWTN's Religious Catalogue--"Loreto: The Mystery of the Holy House" (click here for info on this item # 20445) and also "Forgotten Heritage: Europe and Our Lady" (click here for item # HDFH2) which is a combined set that features Loreto among other important locations including the Annunciation-themed pilgrimage site of Walsingham in England. Videos such as these can be shown for church groups, family gatherings, and individuals if an actual pilgrimage isn't possible. You can also take virtual on-line tours and view website pictorials of Loreto.
Poland
For information on events click the following link and contact the organization. The bottom of their English translation page notes that in 1999 "The Polish Association for Human Life Protection was registered on the 25th March" -- 25 marzec.
Spain
For the most current info visit http://blog.sanandresarrixaca.es/ that includes the links to the materials below -- and also check the websites at http://sialavida25m.org/ and http://veladas25.org/ for more information.
Cartel -- Posters ("Blessed be the fruit of thy womb" is the title): Right-click to save: cartel.pdf
Rosario y oraciones por la vida -- Rosary and Prayers for Life: Right-click to save: rosario-y-oraciones-por-la-vida.pdf
Oracion por la vida en los lugares de culto -- Prayers for the Churches: Right-click to save: oracion-por-la-vida-en-los-lugares-de-culto.pdf
En la eucaristia y la liturgia de las horas -- Liturgy of the Hours: Right-click to save: en-la-eucaristia-y-la-liturgia-de-las-horas.pdf
Estampa -- Prayer Card: Right-click to save: estampa.pdf
U.K./England
Walsingham
Given the nearly one-thousand year history of Walsingham as an Annunciation pilgrimage center, consider honoring the day with a visit to one of its shrines--click here for more info on both the Anglican and Catholic shrines of "Walsingham--England's Nazareth". Consult the shrines’ events and calendar pages for current schedules. If an actual pilgrimage isn't possible, consider an armchair pilgrimage via virtual on-line tours and pictorials. Click here for travel/tour information including a map. More info on visiting Walsingham including photos can be found here--(pause cursor over picture to get a caption). Click here for additional tour/pilgrimage information and then scroll down for a mini photo tour. An informative article on Walsingham with pictures can be found here. EWTN Religious Catalogue offers a video pilgrimage that combines Walsingham with other significant locations including the Annunciation-themed site of Loreto--"Forgotten Heritage: Europe and Our Lady" (click here for the combined set item # HDFH2). Another excellent video that can serve as a virtual pilgrimage for church groups, family gatherings and individuals that includes many more details on the history of Walsingham as dedicated to The Annunciation is Part 3 of the 4 part series The White Dove of Peace (click here for availability) which aired on EWTN in 2008. Part 3 of the documentary begins with modern-day pilgrims gathered to pray the Angelus near Walsingham on the millennium Feast of the Incarnation, with the following voiceover: "March the 25th 2000, was the two-thousandth anniversary of the Incarnation--the miracle of God coming down from Heaven and making his home with human beings. The simple house at Nazareth and the room where Mary heard the angel's message and where her son was conceived, have long since vanished from Palestine, but in the Middle Ages a replica of it, which was built near here, brought innumerable pilgrims to this place to venerate Mary and to ponder the mystery of the Incarnation." Later on in the program the narration continues: "The message of Walsingham therefore--is the Annunciation"--"By divine providence, Walsingham was destined to become a reminder of Nazareth, in the heart of the English countryside. It is evidence that England had a unique part to play in the purposes of God." For a website that addresses the pro-life import of the Annunciation and Walsingham click here. A book entitled "Walsingham: Pilgrims and Pilgrimage" by Michael Rear is published by St Paul Publishing, London 2011.