Maryville hosts prayer event to oppose same-sex marriage

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The Archdiocese of Chicago's Office for Hispanic Catholics will sponsor an evening of prayer that includes a call to Illinois legislators to preserve the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, from 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1170 N. River Road in Des Plaines.

Auxiliary Bishop Alberto Rojas will preside at the bilingual vigil that begins with Mass in the gymnasium, followed by an outdoor procession with the Blessed Sacrament and ending with the rosary and a family blessing in the gymnasium.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois opposes Senate Bill 10, which changes the state's definition of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two persons."

"Marriage joins a man and a woman in love to meet one another's needs, to procreate and to raise children. This is the lifeblood of any human society," said CCI director Bob Gilligan. "This legislation tears at that definition with unknown consequences."

For information on the evening of prayer, call Fr. Marco Mercado, Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Hispanic Catholics, at (312) 534-1080.