Florida Catholic | Forty Days of Prayer: changing hearts about abortion

Forty Days of Prayer: changing hearts about abortion

FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF REPORT

Published: 08.29.08

ST. PETERSBURG | Respect life groups in the St. Petersburg Diocese will join a national anti-abortion effort that will put peaceful, pro-life prayer in the public view.

Forty Days of Prayer, which started in 2004 in response to an abortion center opening in Texas, asks people of Christian faith to show their commitment to God and to women considering abortion by planning 40-day vigils outside abortion clinics.

Susan Dwyer, a lower deanery respect life coordinator, said several parishes in Pinellas County have committed to the effort, which in Texas proved to be highly successful and has since been repeated annually at various locations.

“They saved a lot of babies,” she said. “The word caught on about this. This is saving lives and closing abortion clinics.”

Bishop Robert N. Lynch has sent a letter to pastors asking them to participate and is expected to speak at the St. Petersburg vigil on the night of Sept. 24, Dwyer said. Six weeks before 40 Days was to start, 12 parishes had committed. Dwyer said organizers hope to have other Christian churches join, too.

People do not have to carry signs and those who do are asked to only use the signs provided by the diocese, which simply state, “40 Days For Life.”

“There are three points to it: prayer and fasting, constant vigil and communinty outreach,” Dwyer said. “It’s a peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion.”

“We have learned having ugly signs and saying ugly things doesn’t save babies,” she continued. “It just offends people. We’re not there to offend anyone. We’re there to love them. … That’s what works.”

This year, 140 faith communities nationwide have given their support to the 40 days. This is the first time the St. Petersburg Diocese has joined the national effort.

Vigils will take place 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at two sites: All Women’s Health Center, 4131 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; and at Women’s OB/GYN Center of Countryside, 28960 U.S. 19 N., Suite 110, Clearwater.

Information on 40 Days is available by calling Sabrina Burton, diocesan director of Life Ministries, at 727-344-1611, ext. 325. To learn more about the national campaign, visit www.40daysforlife.com.

JOINING IN PRAYER

Coordinators of a 40 Days for Life ask that people say the following prayer now and in the days ahead:

Dear heavenly Father,

Help us to reach out to the power of your Holy Spirit to test the hearts of women who are tempted to choose death rather than life for their unborn child. Help us to sacrifice at least one hour out of 40 days, praying peacefully at the abortion clinic with others. You have entrusted us to defend your gift of life. O Lord, bless this witness of our love for life with many babies saved and an end to abortion.

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