Thousands Gather to Celebrate the Joy of Human Life


W H A T | Annual Cross the Bridge for Life

W H E N | Sunday, June 4th; 1 p.m. Festival, 2 p.m. Program and Walk

W H E R E | River Front Row Festival Area in Newport, KY, Purple People Bridge

W H O | More than 3,000 Participants


The 2023 Cross the Bridge for Life will take place on Sunday, June 4, in Newport, KY. Thousands of people from both sides of the Ohio River will come together for a family festival and to walk across the Purple People Bridge to celebrate the beautiful gift of human life, at all its stages, regardless of age, ability or disability. The Most Reverend John C. Iffert, Bishop of the Diocese of Covington, and Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, will all take part in the festival and walk.


The family festival will begin at 1 p.m. at Riverboat Row, in Newport. The event will be held rain or shine. Any changes to the schedule will be posted the day of the event on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CTBforLife/. The festival will include live music by Lee Roessler, free face painting and balloon artists. Free water, refreshments, hot dogs and t-shirts (while they last) will be available.


At 2 p.m. a 15-minute program is planned. The emcee for the event is Anna Mitchell of Sacred Heart Radio. Speakers include Bishop Iffert, Archbishop Schnurr. After the speakers, bagpipers from the Ancient Order of Hibernians will lead walkers across the Purple People Bridge along with the American Heritage Girls color guard.


This event is organized by more than 20 area pro-life organizations that work to raise awareness of the value of human life. More information about the event and the coalition of sponsors can be found at www.CrossTheBridgeForLife.org. The Diocese of Covington and Archdiocese of Cincinnati are proud sponsors of Cross the Bridge for Life.


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington is comprised of more than 90,000 Catholics with 48 parishes and five missions, 38 Catholic primary and secondary schools and one Catholic university. Within the diocese around 13,300 students are under Catholic instruction.


The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 208 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.