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40 Days for Life
Gear up for intense prayer and fasting to end abortion

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

Lent is just around the corner and that means the 40 Days for Life committee in the diocese is gearing up for a period of intense prayer and fasting aimed at eliminating abortion.

Mary Stevens, a member of the 40 Days committee, pointed out that while they will not hold the 24/7 vigil outside of Planned Parenthood, the pro-life prayers will continue.

“Due to the elements and the time it takes to schedule a 24/7 vigil, we are going to put our energy into encouraging prayer and education,” she said.

Prayer volunteers, however, plan to stand vigil outside the Sioux City abortion clinic on Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Another member of the 40 Days for Life Committee, Stormy Poss, said Catholics can consider various prayer options such as a pro-life version of the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic adoration, Scripture reading, rosary and spontaneous prayer. Lent is traditionally a time of prayer and fasting for Catholics and they recommend that a pro-life intention be included with those offerings.

“We really would like to see an increase in Eucharistic adoration. Because our prayer volunteers will not be out at the vigil (in front of Planned Parenthood), we are suggesting that they could pick up an hour a week in Eucharistic adoration,” Poss said. “This might also help to strengthen the parish.”

With the prayers, she recommended that prayers not only be offered for the unborn babies but for the mothers and fathers who opted to go with an abortion because of all the hurt that their decision ultimately creates. In the future, she added, they are looking at bringing a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat to town, which is designed at helping to heal the emotional and spiritual pain in post-abortive women.

Sean Martin, diocesan pro-life contact person, commended the efforts of this group and stressed the importance of their work.

“Life is sacred from the moment of natural conception to natural death,” he said. “Our laws are not recognizing the sacredness of human life, especially in the womb. The holocaust of abortion continues, even here locally in Sioux City.”

Efforts through the 40 Days campaign, Martin added, say “yes” to the call of Christ and his church.

In addition to prayer, he strongly urges people to take part in fasting as Christ had said that certain demons could not be cast out without fasting. And while most people think of food when it comes to fasting, it can include giving up things like television, movies, video games or as simple as no ice with beverages.

“Fasting is an incredible prayer,” Martin said, “to offer up sufferings to Christ in atonement for sins.”

This committee will once again work with the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) to help spread the word about the intense prayer effort during Lent. They also cited the strong support of the Knights of Columbus.

The 40 Days for Life committee pointed out that they are looking into various educational opportunities during the coming 40 days such as hosting a pro-life speaker and mentioned that there are plans to bring in the Fleet for Little Feet mobile unit.

During this Lenten season, Martin said he encourages the faithful of the diocese to take seriously the call to prayer and fasting.

“Sometimes people feel there is no hope, that we will always have abortion, but I strongly feel that we are each called to be a part of this effort to make the effort a better place,” Stevens said. “If we each did our little part, we can prevent this holocaust from happening in our country. We must change it. With prayer, God will lead us to the right action.”

The group pointed out that they do plan to offer the 24/7 vigil outside of Planned Parenthood in the fall.

If parishes or families are interested in obtaining a copy of the pro-life Stations of the Cross, they may contact Mary Stevens at (712) 276-0442. For other resources, she recommended these Web sites: www.priestsforlife.org and www.silentnomore.org.

Pro-life event
The 40 Days for Life committee from Sioux City is sponsoring a bus trip to Des Moines for the Prayer for Life Day that will be held Feb. 8.

Activities in Des Moines run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include a talk centered on stem-cell research by Father Tad Pacholczyk, lunch, a pro-life rally at the capitol and an afternoon presentation titled “Lobbying 101.”

For more details about the bus trip, contact Stormy Poss by e-mail at pt14me@ cableone.net or phone at (712) 943-5550.