Patricia Heaton and Rosie Rivera will join Archbishop José H. Gomez at OneLife LA, on Saturday, January 21, in downtown Los Angeles. One Life LA is a large-scale pro-life event expected to draw tens of thousands to downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the beauty and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.
The event, themed “Choose Love” will include a roster of international and national voices sharing their personal and life-affirming stories.
Emmy award winning actress Heaton will be a presenter at OneLife LA for the third consecutive year. “When a woman finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, the world offers her the reality of isolation and we must offer the truth of community, hope and love,” said Heaton at OneLife LA 2016.
Television personality Rivera will share her story of how her faith and love for her family helped her overcome an ongoing battle with addiction, depression and sexual abuse, as described in her book “My Broken Pieces.” In 2015, Rosie founded the movement Sister Samalia to restore and uplift women whom have been victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, drugs and domestic violence in Latin America. Rivera hopes to “inspire other women who have suffered abuse.” She is also committed to carrying out her sister’s mission of helping other single mothers find affordable housing, shelter and treatment for abuse with Jenni Rivera Love Foundation.
Keynote speaker, Immaculée Ilibagiza will share her story of surviving the Rwandan genocide where she and seven other women spent 91 days huddled silently together in the bathroom of a local pastor’s house. An estimated 800,000 people — including most members of Ilibagiza’s family — were brutally murdered during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Other scheduled speakers include Karyme Lozano, Kirk Bloodsworth, Christopher Duffley, and Chris Stefanick. Jamie Grace and the West Angeles Church Gospel Choir will perform during the OneLife LA program at Grant Park in downtown Los Angeles.
The event begins at noon at La Placita Olvera, kicking off with the annual Walk For Life and continuing at 1:30 p.m. outside of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with speakers, entertainment, and food. The annual Requiem Mass for the Unborn will be celebrated by Archbishop Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles at 5 p.m.
OneLife LA was first celebrated on January 17, 2015. That event united about 15,000 people to “Be Somebody to Somebody” in their own communities through good works. OneLife LA 2016 drew nearly 20,000 to downtown Los Angeles. The event is spearheaded by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Office of Life, Justice and Peace.
Visit onelifela.org full for the schedule of events and roster of speakers, or to register or donate.
