How close is your nearest 40 days for Life campaign?
Even with a springtime record 258 cities taking part, many people are traveling far — really far — to pray at the peaceful vigil. But for so many dedicated faithful the need is great, the urgency is high … and the journey is but a small obstacle.
This first story comes from Canada, where some people are really going the extra mile — well, kilometer. For these volunteers, the trip from home to the vigil site takes upwards of FOUR hours!
As we enter the home stretch of this campaign, be encouraged by these efforts and challenge yourself before this campaign ends — it may help save a life!
—————————————————— VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA ——————————————————
“The prayer vigil in Vancouver, BC is really taking off,” said Peter, the local coordinator. “We’ve had groups coming out all the way from Powell River – that’s over 170 km away (about 105 miles) and you need two ferries to get here – and they’re coming out again!”
Students from Christ the King Seminary in Mission, British Columbia came to pray on a rainy day and stayed for four hours. A Benedictine priest also brought students from another seminary that same day.
Peter also said a visit from Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church was reported by a prominent Chinese language newspaper, the Sing Tao Daily.
He provided a translation of the article, part of which noted that the volunteers “braved the cold weather to participate in the 40 Days for Life prayer campaign outside the BC Women’s Hospital, catching the attention of passing drivers and earning honks in support.”
—————————————————— SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN ——————————————————
Patricia writes that it was a very quiet morning at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Southfield. Only staff cars were in the abortion center’s parking lot when a taxi quickly pulled up into the driveway.
She found it curious that the car stopped near the street and didn’t go all the way into the lot. But it soon became clear what was happening – the taxi driver had just stopped to pray.
He “got out of his door looked at the building for about a minute, blessed himself and turned to look at us. We waved. He waved back,” Patricia said.
The driver then walked over to the vigil participants and said, “What they do in this place is very bad. I can’t stay because I am working.”
“We had a little discussion with him sharing some personal things,” she said. His final comment was about the gift and blessing of fertility, “You should not kill someone because you are healthy.”
—————————————————— CLEVELAND, OHIO ——————————————————
Marge in Cleveland shared the story of a young woman who approached the abortion facility in Cleveland where a 40 Days for Life vigil is in progress. She stopped to talk to the people praying, telling them she was pregnant and was there to have an abortion.
“I told her there were many places she could receive help,” said Marge. “She was struggling because she already had a 4-month-old child.” She quickly accepted a list of places where she and her children could find assistance.
“She went back and sat in her car for some time,” Marge said. “All the while, I prayed for her that God would change her mind.”
After a time, she started the car, headed towards the exit – and gave Marge a great big smile as she said she had decided not to have the abortion. “A saved baby!” Marge said. “All the glory to God!”
