- 10 August, 2026
CHENNAI, August 9, 2026: More than 5,000 people from across India gathered at Stella Maris College here for the country’s 5th National March for Life, calling for greater respect for human dignity and the protection of human life from conception.
The two-day pro-life initiative, held on August 8 and 9, was hosted by the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore and organised by CHARIS India under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), in collaboration with several pro-life movements and organisations, including EVA Pro Life, Jesus Youth Pro Life, MFC Live Life, Madras Service of Communion, YU4C Pro Life and the CCBI Pro Life and Bio Ethics Commission.
The preparations for the event included a significant grassroots mobilisation initiative. For the first time, the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore established Pro-Life Cells in every parish, involving parish communities in preparations and promoting awareness of the Church’s teaching on the dignity and sanctity of human life.
Run for Life draws 1,700 participants
The programme opened on August 8 with the Run for Life, a five-kilometre marathon held near Marina Beach. More than 1,700 people took part in the event, giving the pro-life campaign a visible public presence in the city.
Later in the day, Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore and President of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council inaugurated a Pro-Life Exhibition at Stella Maris College.
The exhibition attracted school and college students and provided an opportunity to engage with themes concerning the dignity and sanctity of human life and the formation of conscience in the light of the Gospel of Life.
Various commissions of the Archdiocese contributed to the organisation of the two-day programme.
Youth take part in Life Seminar and March
The second day brought together thousands of young people from across the Archdiocese for a Life Seminar before the main public gathering and March.
The programme began with praise and worship, followed by a pro-life skit and the playing of a recorded heartbeat of an unborn child. The gathering then featured the arrival and honouring of dignitaries, addresses, a personal testimony and the unveiling of the Memorial of the Unborn.
A moment of silence was observed before the National March for Life was formally flagged off.
Among the chief guests were Cardinal Antony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad and President of the CBCI; Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore, President of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council; Archbishop Francis Kalist of Pondicherry-Cuddalore, Episcopal Advisor to CHARIS India and CBCI Pro-Life In-charge; Thiru J. C. D. Prabhakar, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; and Dr Paul Dhinakaran, main leader of Jesus Calls Ministry.
The gathering became a public expression of the Catholic Church’s commitment to upholding human dignity and advocating for the protection of unborn life.
Mass offered in memory of unborn children
The March concluded with Holy Mass presided over by Archbishop George Antonysamy, offered in memory of unborn children who have lost their lives through abortion in India.
Organisers said the gathering remembered more than 1.56 crore children estimated to be lost through abortion in the country every year.
The Eucharistic celebration served both as a remembrance of unborn lives and as a renewed commitment to promoting a culture that welcomes, protects and celebrates human life.
Hyderabad to host 6th National March for Life
The two-day event concluded with the formal handover of the banner for the 6th National March for Life, which will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and the Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Council (TCBC).
An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, honoured as patroness of the unborn and of the March for Life, along with the National March for Life banner, was handed over to Cardinal Antony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad and President of the CBCI, accompanied by representative priests from Hyderabad and the TCBC.
The Chennai gathering concluded with a renewed appeal to Catholics and people of goodwill across India to become witnesses to the Gospel of Life by defending human dignity and working towards a society in which every child is welcomed and every human life is protected.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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