Thousands of pro-life marchers are expected to rally in Washington Jan. 22 to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, just days after President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated.

Abortion opponents also will hold multiple events in the nation's capital and throughout the U.S. the day before and the day of the official 2009 March for Life, as well as the following days.

The main event will begin with a noon rally on the National Mall, followed by a march along Constitution Avenue that will end at the U.S. Supreme Court. From there, participants are encouraged to meet with members of Congress to lobby on abortion-related issues.

"The first session of the 111th Congress will convene in January, with all newly elected members of the House and many newly elected members of the Senate," organizers of the march wrote on the official Web site, www.marchforlife.org. "We shall be a large group of Americans to bring our prayers and our important simple pro-life message to this new administration and new Congress."

With millions expected in Washington for inauguration events the week of Jan. 19 and the thousands of participants anticipated for the march and related activities, organizers said it will be a "crazy week" in the nation's capital.

The theme of this year's march is "Remember --- The Life Principles Mean 'Equal Care' With No Exceptions," meaning the intentional killing of even one unborn human is never justified or necessary, the Web site said.

Organizers are also stressing that the U.S. must provide equal care for both a pregnant mother and her unborn child.

The National Prayer Vigil for Life will begin an all-night vigil at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, and conclude with a 7:30 a.m. liturgy Jan. 22. The primary celebrant will be Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, who is chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

For the first time since the all-night vigil has been held, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will direct people who won't fit into the basilica for the events to similar Masses within walking distance, said Deirdre A. McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications for the USCCB's Office of Pro-Life Activities.

"We estimate that 12,000 people were at the vigil last year," McQuade told Catholic News Service. "If we have such a crowd this year, we may not be able to accommodate everyone in the basilica. So, we're making sure they have a place to worship close by. We want everyone to have an opportunity to participate."

Several other events will take place in Washington and around the country to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 decision.

On Jan. 21 the Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life will be held at Georgetown University in Washington. The conference is intended to educate college and high school students.

On the morning of the annual March for Life, the Washington Archdiocese expects more than 20,000 Catholic teens and young adults from all over the U.S. to attend its morning youth rally at the Verizon Center, with a 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl.

The Filipino Family Fund and Culture of Life Foundation will host the third annual "Champions for Family" awards reception Jan. 22 at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington. Honorees include U.S. Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa.; Dr. Rene Bullecer, who heads Human Life International in the Philippines; and Father Jerome Magat, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., and founder of the Guadalupe Free Clinic, a free medical clinic for the poor.

On Jan. 23 the American Life League will hold a conference at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington, followed by a concert sponsored by Students for Life of America and featuring Barlow Girl and Laura Ingraham.

Speakers at the conference will include David Bereit, director of the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign that combines prayer, fasting, vigils and community outreach in 204 U.S. cities and 49 states.

"David Bereit is a hero in the pro-life movement," said Marie Hahnenberg, project director for the Jan. 21-23 "training and activism week" sponsored by the American Life League. "His dedication to ending abortion through regular, peaceful presence outside of Planned Parenthood facilities and other abortion clinics has sparked a passion in thousands of people for protecting and defending the pre-born."

The Walk for Life West Coast will begin at 11 a.m. Jan. 24 at the Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. The 2.5-mile journey will end at the city's Embarcadero's Marina Green.

Founded in 2005, the event drew 25,000 people from across the country last year. The Walk for Life West Coast group was promoting the 2009 walk with a 20-foot-by-60-foot billboard in front of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, said Eva Muntean, who co-chairs the event.

"San Francisco is a beautiful city, but there is a lot of sadness beneath the surface," Muntean said. "Until recently we had more abortions than live births, and a high percentage of our population has experienced abortion. We need to reach those women and men who are hurting, and this seemed like the most effective method."

---CNS