March For Life in Washington D.C.
Friday, January 23, 2026
What is the March for Life?
The March for Life in Washington D.C. began as a grassroots response of pro-lifers nationwide to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion throughout the 9 months of a woman’s pregnancy. Although Roe v. Wade was overturned in the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the battle for life continues and the March for Life is more important than ever! Inspired by the Holy Spirit’s gift of reverence, Catholics and all people of good will come together at our nation’s capital to pray and publicly intercede on behalf of the unborn, their parents, families, our communities, our nation and its leaders – that this prayerful presence may open hearts, minds, souls to the fullness of the Gospel of Life in our lives and laws.
2026 Bus Pilgrimages to the March for Life
Respect Life Office Bus Pilgrimage
This year, our Archdiocesan Respect Life Pilgrimage will be departing from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY. You are welcome to join the Sisters of Life and other pilgrims on this year’s day bus pilgrimage. We will arrive in time for the New York Pilgrim Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Washington, DC and there will be the option to attend the March for Life Rally on the National Mall. Come, stand with us in prayerful, public witness on behalf of the most vulnerable. Let us testify to the goodness and beauty of life!
Click here to view details and to register!
Parish-Sponsored Bus Pilgrimages
Below are the parish bus traveling on pilgrimage to the 2026 March for Life! Check back for more specific details regarding cost and departure times.
Thank you to all those parishes who applied for the 2026 March for Life Transportation Grant Program! Many of the parishes listed below were awarded funds to subsidize the cost of transportation to the National March for Life. We’ll see you in Washington, DC!
Bronx
Holy Cross: Departing from Holy Cross Church, Bronx, NY.
St. Benedict’s: Departing from St. Benedict’s Church, Throgs Neck
St. Margaret Mary: Departing from St. Margaret Mary Church, 1914 Morris Ave, Bronx, NY.
St. Rita of Cascia and St. Pius V, Bronx, NY.
St. Joan of Arc: Bronx, NY
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bronx, NY.
Dutchess
St. Columba, Hopewell Junction: Meet at St. Columba for Mass at 4:30AM, then departs at 5AM. $20 tickets, $10 for students. Contact Dan Slader, Respectlife@stcolumbaonline.org.
Manhattan
St. Vincent Ferrer
St Rose of Lima
St. Paul and Holy Rosary
Holy Innocents: Departs at 8AM, 3:30PM Mass in Washington DC following the March. $70 per person. Contact the Holy Innocents parish office for more details and to submit payment (212-279-5861). For additional questions, contact Grand Knight Mark A. Bertotti (646-342-8579).
Holy Name of Jesus and St. Gregory the Great: Contact Ana Paula for more details (anapaula@hnj.nyc).
Our Lady of Lourdes
Orange County
Sacred Heart-St. Patrick: Departing from Sacred Heart Church, 26 Still Road, Monroe, NY. Contact: Rich: 914-456-0512 (call or text).
Putnam County
Bringing a group from Putnam County? Email sr.elena.marie@archny.org to be added!
Rockland County
Rockland Right to Life: Contact: Gayle: 845-634-1283 or Eileen: 845-492-6709. Departing from: St. Francis, West Nyack, NY.
Staten Island
Blessed Sacrament Parish: 30 Manor Road, Staten Island, NY.
Westchester
Respect Life Office: Contact: Sr. Elena Marie, SV at sr.elena.marie@archny.org or 646-476-0931; $60 per person. Departing from St Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers. Register here!
St. Patrick, Yorktown Heights (with Kennedy Catholic): Contact: Maria Litrenta: 914-962-1815, mariaglitrenta@gmail.com.
St. Augustine’s, Ossining.
St. Theresa, Briarcliff Manor.
Sts. Peter and Paul / St. Ursula, Mt. Vernon.
Archdiocese of New York Pilgrim Mass
Join pilgrims from throughout New York who have traveled to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life at the New York Pilgrim Mass at 10:30am at St. Patrick’s Church. Archdiocesan priests intending to concelebrate the Mass must request a Letter of Good Standing. To avoid a delay, please submit your request today.
Additional March for Life Events
Check out the following events surrounding the March for Life!
Life Fest
Join the Sisters of Life and the Knights of Columbus at LIFE FEST 2026 on January 23rd! LIFE FEST includes a Morning Rally & Mass, featuring dynamic speakers, music, Holy Mass, and more! For more information and to obtain tickets, visit www.lifefestrally.com.
National Prayer Vigil for Life
The National Prayer Vigil for Life is a pro-life prayer vigil held on the eve of the March for Life each January. It is held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The Opening Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 22nd at 5:00 p.m. and will be followed by a 7:00-8:00 p.m. Holy Hour for Life in the Crypt Church. Throughout the night, Holy Hours will be led by various bishops throughout the country and available on live-stream. A closing Mass for the Vigil will be celebrated at 8:00am on Friday morning. Typically, over 20,000 pilgrims from across the nation pray through the night for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life.
The Vigil Program will be televised by EWTN and livestreamed on the Basilica’s webpage so millions can participate remotely.
Cardinal O’Connor Conference
The Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life is the largest collegiate pro-life conference in the United States! The conference will be held on Saturday, January 24th, 2026. To register or learn more about the conference click here.
National Pro-Life Summit
A massive gathering of grassroots pro-life activists of all ages, hosted in D.C. the day after the March for Life. The National Pro-Life Summit will be held on January 24th, 2026. Visit the website to register and for more details.
Other Pilgrimage Sites in Washington, D.C.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Make time to visit “America’s Catholic Church!” Stop in for Mass, or explore the beautiful basilica, including the crypt Church. Visit the Basilica’s website for more information.
Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Visit the Saint John Paul II National Shrine! Make sure to give yourself time to explore the exhibit of his life and legacy, and to pray with his relic in the chapel. A beautiful and moving experience!
Local Opportunities for Prayer and Witness
If you are not able to attend the March for Life in D.C. this year, we encourage you to participate in local prayer events or peaceful, prayerful witness outside of an abortion clinic near your. January 22nd remains the National Day of Prayer and Fasting for the legal protection of the unborn.
Consider witnessing at one of the 40 Days for Life vigil sites, or participating in a local Witness for Life.
Want to learn more about how to pray and witness outside of an abortion clinic? Click here for Tips for Witness (Spanish)