"To honor and glorify Jesus Christ and to defend innocent life" is the goal of the MidWest March for Life Saturday.
The March for Life program will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Missouri Capitol Rotunda with Master of Ceremonies Mark Serafino.
Jacob Mueler, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Stringtown, will open with prayer, and Don Hinkle, editor and director of public policy with the Missouri Baptist Convention, will lead the tribute to pilgrims and closing prayer.
Speakers will include Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor; Reagan Nielsen, member of Students for Life of America; Connie Eller, of Silent No More; Brian Westbrook, of Coalition for Life St. Louis; Bridget Van Means, leader of ThriVe Express Women's Healthcare; and Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director and founder of And Then There Were None.
A chili and hot dog fundraiser will follow at Selinger Hall.
Mass of Holy Innocents will be celebrated by Bishop John Gaydos at 2 p.m. at St. Peter Church, 216 Broadway St.
Other dates in 2016 for pro-life events include:
• Chili Cook Off and Polar Bear Motorcycle Rally to support the Pregnancy Help Center of Jefferson City, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Memorial Baptist Church.
• Pro-life Lobby Days, 11 a.m. Feb. 9 and 10 a.m. April 6 at the Capitol Rotunda with rallies at noon, organized by the Missouri Right to Life.
• Life Runners A-Cross-America Relay, Feb. 10. Register at www.liferunners.org/across.
• 40 Days for Life, Feb. 10-March 20. Call 340-8444 for more information.
• Show Me Your Glory, noon March 30 in the Capitol Rotunda, organized by Bott Radio.
• National Night of Prayer for Life, Dec. 8 at St. Andrew's Church, Holts Summit.