Candlelight vigil prays for unborn, conversion of hearts

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted January 30, 2003

Despite frigid temperatures that hovered around the zero degree mark, more than 200 people participated in an evening candlelight prayer vigil outside of Planned Parenthood in Sioux City on Jan. 22. Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo of the Diocese of Sioux City led the service.

The vigil was held on the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade - the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. It was sponsored by the pro-life group, Helpers of God's Precious Infants.

"It was inspiring," said Peggy McGuinty of Ponca, Neb., who organized the service and heads the pro-life group. "I was expecting maybe 100 people because it was so severely cold. I think a lot of people questioned whether we were even going to have it. As far as I remember, it was the largest turnout we have ever had for a vigil and it was on a brutally cold night."

The great participation, she added, showed the true character of those present and their willingness to make a sacrifice.

Bishop DiNardo was also pleased with the attendance.

Given the fact that it was an evening celebration coupled with the severe temperatures, he said the response of the people in Siouxland to the prayerful march for the unborn and the change of the heart and mind of those who perform abortions was a fine testimony.

"The pro-life situation has always been important to me - long before I was a bishop," he stressed. "I'm therefore always pleased to see people responding."

The bishop acknowledged that there is still much work to do in terms of the persuasion of hearts and minds.

McGuinty was heartened by the range of ages in the people whom attended - from about 7 years old to 80s. Several priests from the Siouxland area helped to lead the mysteries of the rosary.

"While we want Roe vs. Wade overturned and abortion made illegal, our main purpose of the vigil was for people to have a change of heart - for people to change their hearts about abortion and regard life as sacred," she stressed. "We wanted to memorialize the babies who have already died there."

Those who participated in the vigil met at Spalding Park, located about two to three blocks from the abortion facility. After 200 candles were distributed and lit, the bishop started the rosary. Filing in behind an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bishop DiNardo led the procession to Planned Parenthood.

The rosary continued in front of the abortion clinic, there was a short song, reflection and the crowning of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Rose Verdoorn, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City, attended because she wanted to protest against abortion and "pray for the babies."

"We got to live so why shouldn't they?" she asked, adding that her parents had 15 children.

Gene Fleming, a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City, said he attended the vigil because he is strictly against abortion and has very strong feelings about the issue.

"I hope things change for the better - that the government and states come together so there will no longer be any abortions in my lifetime," he said.

Claudia Ibarra, a parishioner at St. Michael Church in South Sioux City, Neb., said she attended the service to offer support and "to show mothers out there that even if they are single mothers, it is worth it. We are all human beings."

She believes that the unborn are human beings the moment they are conceived and that "God blesses us with a seed and we should cherish it."

Marv Japel, a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Church, said that he was willing to bear the cold to make the pro-life stand known to the rest of the Sioux City area. As a district deputy for the Knights of Columbus, he felt it was all the more important for him to be there with fellow Knights.

"I was thrilled to see as many people show up as they did," he said. "I was also thrilled to see Bishop DiNardo there and all of the priests that lead us in this issue."

Prayer services, organized by Helpers of God's Precious Infants, have been held outside of Planned Parenthood on a weekly basis since the late 1990s.

"We have people out there quietly praying while there are sidewalk counselors, offering help to the women," explained McGuinty. In the past the services were held on Tuesdays, but now that abortions are taking place on Fridays at the Sioux City abortion clinic, the prayers services have moved to that day.

While she is uncertain as to the exact number, she said babies have been saved by handing a woman a rosary as they made their way to the clinic.