The annual fall 40 Days for Life campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful public witness for an end to abortion began last week and runs through Nov. 1. Held on the sidewalks in front of the Anchorage Planned Parenthood abortion center, the six-week vigil runs from 7 a.m. -8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Since this year’s campaign did not begin with a traditional opening rally, teens from Holy Rosary Academy’s Students for Life chapter decided to meet on the sidewalk after a Sept. 23 soccer game. They invited their friends to join them in prayer for an hour and nearly 20 kids showed up to pray during sunset.
“When we heard there wasn’t going to be an official rally, we decided we needed to try to organize one ourselves, Students for Life President Francis Bird noted. “I wish we’d been able to reach more people and invite them beforehand, but by the time we realized the vigil was approaching, we only had three days to plan.”
Joined by friends from Palmer and Lumen Christi High School, a number of kids from Holy Rosary’s soccer team jumped right in to embrace what local 40 Days For Life organizer Mary Kemper calls “the core work of 40 Days,” which is our presence on the sidewalks.
“Our mere presence on the sidewalk changes the minds of mothers and fathers headed into abortion facilities,” Kemper explained. “This gives them time to be offered and to consider life-giving alternatives to abortion. Peaceful public witness can also awaken the consciences of those driving by.”
The annual ecumenical pro-life witness regularly includes prayer advocates from churches and youth groups all across Anchorage, Eagle River and the Mat-Su.
Kemper hopes that many more individuals will follow these students’ example and sign up to pray in front of Planned Parenthood for an hour a week during the fall campaign. Nov. 1, which is the conclusion of the vigil, is coming up in less than five weeks, so the commitment shouldn’t be overwhelming, she pointed out.
“Sometimes people contact me to help them find a prayer partner because they don’t want to go out alone. I think that’s great,” Kemper said. “Find someone from your parish, among your friends or family, and please sign up for an hour together. You can save a child’s life and protect his or her mother from the trauma of abortion.”
TAKING ACTION
— Individuals, churches, youth groups, schools and other organizations are invited to sign up to pray for one hour (or more) during the 40 Days for Life vigil in Anchorage. Click here for more information about how to participate.
2 Comments
It is almost a given that prolifers should NOT be alone in front of an abortion-provider location. Too many incidents have happened locally and worldwide. The shopworn accusation that “anti-choicers” are violent and accusatory sidewalk witnesses is, as usual, a lie. The opposite is the truth. Christ Himself said, “The devil has been a liar and a murderer from the beginning.” The media will only cover sidewalk incidents from one point of view. But in addition, Christians of all denominations have a chance to pray and interact together, and learn to understand respect their differences, while they are united in trying to save humanity. There is no more important act of charity a Christian can perform..
As an interesting counterpoint, I’ve prayed many times, alone, in front of PP in Anchorage. Thereby, I’ve met fellow Catholics and even had the chance to explain the Church’s teachings on abortion and contraception to a fellow who drove by and wondered what impelled me to be standing out there, alone, on a winter evening.
I don’t think 40DFL recommends going alone, but for heavens sake, if one were to be accosted while praying and standing up for “the least of these,” then we should rejoice and be glad, for our reward will be great in heaven!