Religious Liberty Prayer Vigil Scheduled at U.S. Capitol
K of C sponsors event to promote ‘Fortnight for Freedom’
A candlelight vigil organized by the Knights of Columbus will be held outside the U.S. Capitol on June 22 in response to this year’s Fortnight for Freedom initiative. Participants will pray for an increased respect for the right to religious liberty, guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The event, led by our Supreme Chaplain, Archbishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, will take place at the park space on the northeast side of the Capitol grounds, near the corner of Constitution Avenue and First Street N.E., at 8:45 p.m. It will be preceded by a 7 p.m. Mass said by Archbishop. Lori at St. Joseph's Church on Capitol Hill (corner of Second and C Streets N.E.).
“Of all of our unalienable rights, the founders of our country chose to put religious liberty first in our Bill of Rights,” said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “As we gather, we will pray that those God-given rights be respected and protected by our government.”
The “Prayer Vigil for Religious Freedom” marks the feast of Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More, martyrs who died in defense of religious freedom. It will include the recitation of the Rosary, readings, and Compline (night prayer), sung by friars from the Dominican House of Studies.
Participants are asked to foster a spirit of prayer and peaceful demonstration, refraining from the use of signs or banners.
At 10 p.m. at St. Peter's Church (on the corner of 2nd and C Streets, SE) there will be an ice cream social with music by Marie Miller (www.mariemiller.net).
