Cardinal Egan to Celebrate Pontifical Mass for Feast of Annunciation

For the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, will celebrate a Pontifical Mass according to the 1962 Missal to mark the 15th anniversary of Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”), the pro-life encyclical by Pope John Paul II. Issued on March 25, 1995, the encyclical condemns murder, abortion and euthanasia.

The Pontifical Mass for Life begins at 7:30 PM at the Church of the Holy Innocents, 128 W. 37th Street, in Manhattan. Before Mass, there will be a Rosary for Life at 7:00 PM. David J. Hughes, organist and choirmaster at St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT, will lead the choir singing Tomas Luis Victoria’s Missa de Beata Mariae Virgine. The Mass is being sponsored by the Agnus Dei Council of the Knights of Columbus (http://www.traditionalknight.com/Home_Page.php)

The Pontifical Mass marks an important milestone for the New York Archdiocese. It will be the first time since the Second Vatican Council that an American Cardinal will celebrate a Pontifical Mass in New York City according to the form in use before the Council.