Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.
18 June 2023
The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. In England and Wales, Day for Life is celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year. This year it falls on 18 June. For the first time, it will be celebrated in Scotland and Ireland on the same day.
The theme is ‘Listen to Her’ and focuses on post-abortion trauma and the impact of abortion primarily on women, but also men and others.
Each year a message is released, usually by the Church’s Lead Bishop for Life Issues, offering a reflection on the year’s theme. The 2023 message is unique in that the bishops’ have given it over to a Catholic woman who has had an abortion to share her experiences. Often the voices of women who have had an abortion are silent in Church and in society. The hope is that this will help break this silence and offer further opportunities for healing and reconciliation.
This resource has been created to enable parishes to highlight and pray for Day For Life. Includes the Day for Life 2023 Message and Prayers.
This year’s 'Day for Life' message is written by a woman in the hope that it can offer opportunities for healing and reconciliation.
Pope Francis has sent a message with his Apostolic Blessing to Catholics in England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland who will celebrate Day for Life on Sunday, 18 June 2023.
Have you or someone you know been affected by abortion? There are some wonderful organisations that can help you. Here are three that we are profiling.
This novena, nine days of intercessory prayer, can be prayed in the lead up to Day for Life 2023. It is offered to encourage a flourishing of a culture of life, with a particular focus, on ending abortion and healing the trauma of abortion.
These two prayers for the intercession of St Joseph, patron of the unborn and defender of life, can be used on or around Day for Life to bring our intentions to the Lord.
Rachel's Vineyard is a healing ministry for those who are suffering from the trauma of abortion.
These testimonies come from women and men who are willing to share their experiences of post abortion trauma, or have walked alongside those who needed help and support.
Day for Life in England and Wales is celebrated on the third Sunday in June and is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to celebrating and upholding the dignity of human life.
'Day for Life' is the day in our calendar set aside to celebrate life from conception to natural death. This year our focus in on caring for and valuing the elderly.
