Florida Catholic | Diocese Part of 40 Days for Life Campaign

Diocese part of 40 Days for Life campaign

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 09.12.08

BOB REDDY | FC Christina Berdeax (left), Joelise Jandric, Emmy Walsh and Toni King make buttons for the 40 Days for Life vigil at a Panned Parenthood abortion facility in Sarasota from Sept. 24-Nov. 2. The women are volunteers and members of various parish Respect Life groups.

Christina Berdeax, left, Joelise Jandric, Emmy Walsh and Toni King make buttons for the 40 Days for Life vigil at a Panned Parenthood abortion facility in Sarasota from Sept. 24-Nov. 2. The women are volunteers and members of various parish Respect Life groups.

Parishes are encouraged to “Sign Up for Life” by committing to a half or full day of prayer by calling 941-716-6510 or visiting the Web site at www.40daysforlife.com/sarasota.

VENICE | The Diocese of Venice is once again part of the annual 40 Days for Life campaign, which organizers say is the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in diocesan history.

The diocese will join other local churches and Christians in 170 cities in 45 states across the country to pray for an end to abortion from Sept. 24-Nov. 2, and encourages all the faithful to participate.

The most visible component of 40 Days for Life is the peaceful prayer vigil planned for outside of the Sarasota Planned Parenthood abortion facility at 1958 Prospect St., Sarasota. The vigil will takes place each day for 40 days from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Marina Kopko, assistant director of the diocesan Respect Life department and director of Project Rachel, said individuals and parish groups are invited to come out and pray for a half-day or full day. Many parishes have already signed up, including Knights of Columbus councils in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The vigil in Sarasota is the only one planned in the diocese.

While all aspects of 40 Days for Life are crucial in the effort to end abortion, and the vigil is important, fervent prayer and fasting are other ways individuals can join together for an end to abortion, according to materials distributed by the 40 Days for Life campaign.

“People need to participate in any way they can,” Kopko said.

Prior to the vigil, woman from several parish Respect Life groups made 1,000 buttons with the 40 Days for Life logo on them. They will be worn by everyone who attends the vigil.

David Bereit, national campaign director of 40 Days for Life, said the United States may be on the verge of a turning point in the battle against abortion.

“Response to our call for communities to participate in this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign has exceeded our wildest expectations,” Bereit said. “This fall marks a critical time for our country and our culture, and this heartfelt effort to pray and fast for an end to abortion is crucial with regards to our future and what sort of nation we wish to become.”

He added that Planned Parenthood is a special concern because it is the nation’s largest abortion provider. Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report shows some 290,000 abortions performed in a single year – almost one-fourth of the total number for the entire United States.

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