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2026 National Prayer Vigil for Life
January 22 @ 5:00 pm - January 23 @ 8:00 am
We invite you to join us both in person and virtually for the 2026 National Prayer Vigil for Life on January 22 – January 23. The Opening Mass will begin at 5:00 p.m. on January 22 in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica. Following the Opening Mass, the National Holy Hour for Life will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Crypt Church. The National Prayer Vigil will conclude with the Closing Mass at 8:00 a.m. on January 23 in the Great Upper Church. Both the Opening and Closing Mass will be livestreamed on www.nationalshrine.org/mass.
The faithful who participate in the sacred celebrations during this time may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions – view details below.
Thursday, January 22
| Time: | Location and Additional Information: |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Confessions – Our Lady of Hostýn Chapel & Chapels on the lower level of the Basilica |
| 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Confessions – Our Lady of Hostýn Chapel & Chapels on the lower level of the Basilica |
| 4:45 p.m. | Chaplet of Divine Mercy – Great Upper Church |
| 5:00 p.m.* | Opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life – Great Upper Church Most Reverend James D. Conley, Bishop of Lincoln – Principal Celebrant & Homilist |
| 7:00 p.m.* | The National Holy Hour for Life – Crypt Church Most Reverend James T. Ruggieri, Bishop of Portland – Presider |
| 8:00 p.m. | Night Prayer (Byzantine Rite) – Crypt Church Most Reverend Kurt R. Burnette, Bishop of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, NJ – Presider |
Members of the Hierarchy and Priests who wish to concelebrate and Deacons who wish to attend are required to register ahead of time for the Opening Mass. Seminarians are also required to register ahead of time for the Opening Mass.
Friday, January 23
| Time: | Location and Additional Information: |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m.* | Closing Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life – Great Upper Church Sean Cardinal O’Malley, OFM Cap., Archbishop Emeritus of Boston – Celebrant & Homilist |
Members of the Hierarchy and Priests who wish to concelebrate and Deacons who wish to attend are required to register ahead of time for the Closing Mass. Confessions will be heard on Friday at the Basilica’s regularly scheduled hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Noon), and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
*Livestreamed on www.nationalshrine.org/mass.
Special Plenary Indulgence
The faithful who participate in the sacred celebrations that will be held in the Archdiocese of Washington, especially in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, throughout the annual “March for Life,” may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and offer a prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father). The indulgence may also be granted to those who spend at least a suitable period of time in pious meditation, prayer, or other works of Christian piety to the glory of God, and pour out pious prayers to God for harmony and peace among peoples against the aberrations of the day, concluding with the Our Father, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, Mother of Mercy. This indulgence may also be applied, by way of suffrage, to the souls of the faithful detained in Purgatory. (Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, January 5, 2026).
