‘40 Days for Life’ campaigns targeted to end abortion nationwide

Criterion staff report

“40 Days for Life” ecumenical prayer and fasting campaigns in Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky., will work to end abortion as part of a national pro-life effort from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2.

This year, pro-life supporters in more than 173 communities in 45 states will conduct simultaneous peaceful and prayerful campaigns.

Pro-life supporters from central and southern Indiana are invited to participate in a “40 Days for Life–Indy” prayer rally from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sept. 21 in the chapel at the St. Augustine Home for the Aged, 2345 W. 86th St., in Indianapolis.

“We want to start this effort by drawing members of the community together to share the vision of ‘40 Days for Life’ and to pray for God’s blessings on this effort,” said St. Bartholomew parishioner Eileen Hartman of Columbus, director of The Gabriel Project, a pro-life ministry for women experiencing crisis pregnancies, and co-coordinator of the “40 Days for Life” campaign in Indianapolis.

Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry, will serve as the emcee for the rally.

David Bereit, the national director of “40 Days for Life,” now in its second year, will be the keynote speaker.

St. Thomas More parishioner Bernadette Roy of Mooresville, who had an abortion years ago, will speak about the Rachel’s Vineyard post-abortion reconciliation ministry offered by the Catholic Church as well as the national Silent No More and Operation Outcry campaigns.

St. Mary parishioner Luis Fernando Aguayo of Indianapolis will address the participants in Spanish.

Father James Heyd of Priests for Life will conclude the first portion of the rally at the St. Augustine Home chapel then lead the participants in a prayerful procession to the Planned Parenthood clinic at 8590 Georgetown Road for more prayers and singing until 4 p.m.

“We look forward to seeing what kind of transformation God will bring about in our city,” said Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parishioner Eric Slaughter of Indianapolis, who is co-coordinator of the campaign in Indianapolis with Hartman.

In Kentucky, Jenny Hutchinson is helping coordinate the “40 Days for Life” campaign and prayer vigils in front of the E.M.W. Women’s Surgical Center in downtown Louisville.

“People here in Louisville [will] join with others from across the country to pray and fast,” Hutchinson said, “and take courageous action for 40 days to end the tragic violence of abortion. It is exciting for our city to be a part of something that can have such a lifesaving impact.”

(To learn more about the national “40 Days for Life” campaign, log on to www.40daysforlife.com and www.40daysforlife.com/Indianapolis or call Marc Tuttle, president of Right to Life of Indianapolis, at 317-582-1526. For more information about the Louisville campaign, log on to www.40daysforlife.com/louisville.) †