Kentucky March for Life to bring faithful together in Frankfort

Laura Keener

Editor

The Diocese of Covington will once again join Catholics from across the Commonwealth for the third annual Kentucky March for Life in Frankfort March 11, beginning with Mass at 9:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Parish, Frankfort. Bishop John Iffert is scheduled to celebrate Mass and spend the day with participants.

“We will have Mass the morning of the March, and that is where the Catholic community from all the dioceses come together,” said Faye Roch, diocesan director, Pro-Life Office who is coordinating Covington’s participation. “Good Shepherd in Frankfort has hosted us, and Bishop Iffert will be presiding over Mass.”

Following Mass, travelers will have a short break before heading to the rally point — a location still to be determined due to construction at the Capitol. There, participants will gather for a series of speakers before continuing on to the Cemetery of the Unborn in the Frankfort Cemetery for a concluding prayer service. The day typically wraps up around 3:30 p.m., after which buses return to Covington.

This year, the Diocese of Covington expects to take three buses, including two filled primarily with students. The buses will leave Covington for Frankfort at about 7:30 a.m. “Every year it seems like we’ve increased our attendance,” Mrs. Roch said. She added that moving the event back to March should help avoid last year’s weather issues and make travel easier for more families and parish groups.

Mrs. Roch emphasized that even with abortion clinics no longer operating in Kentucky, the March remains vitally important. “We have to love them both,” she said. “A woman many times is in crisis, and we have to love and support our women and show them that the pro life community is not only thinking about the baby, but we’re thinking about you.”

She noted the need for legislators to hear this message clearly. “It’s important that our legislators know that we want to support women and offer them solutions to their crises,” she said, pointing to issues such as health care, child care, and other supports for women and families. With various groups pushing for proposals such as criminalizing women, Mrs. Roch stressed that the pro life position must remain compassionate and comprehensive.

Last year, a notable number of legislators attended both the Mass and the rally — something Mrs. Roch hopes will continue. Their presence, she said, helps make visible “the community that has traveled there, and the importance of this.”