Unite in prayer Oct. 2 for sanctity of life

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
September 22, 2005

The World Apostolate of Fatima hopes to unite people throughout the world in prayer for the sanctity of human life. With that in mind the World Wide Fatima Sanctity of Life Day is slated for Oct. 2.

St. Michael Parish in Sioux City will host the service that is being planned by the Sioux City Diocesan World Apostolate of Fatima. The four-hour service will include Eucharistic adoration from noon to 4 p.m.

"They hope to offer 100 million prayers to heaven that day," said Marge Stanek, treasurer of the diocesan apostolate and an organizer of the service. "Prayer is the answer. Our Blessed Mother in 1917 at Fatima asked that people pray for families, for peace in the world and we are getting further and further away from that."

Mary Ann Wente, a member of the organizing committee, pointed out that the national World Apostolate of Fatima that is based out of New Jersey organized this world wide day of prayer and urged members to organize events at the diocesan and parish level. She explained that the apostolate has cells throughout the nation and in 40 other countries.

At the diocesan service at St. Michael's, every hour there will be a pro-life rosary, Litany for Life, hymns and silent time.

People can opt to attend 30 minutes, an hour or the entire service. Organizers of the event stress that the length of time in attendance is not the important factor - it's just important to pray. For those who can't attend an actual service, prayers can be offered from anywhere.

In referring to the promotion of the sanctity of life, Stanek explained that they are not only praying to end the war on the unborn but are striving to end all destructive acts of the culture of death such as wars, terrorism, child abuse, euthanasia and embryonic stem-cell research. Members of the apostolate work to create a culture of life.

Wente said the prayers can even include such things as prayers for victims of Hurricane Katrina as so many people's lives have been devastated.

"We need to pray that those people can restore their lives," she said.

The Oct. 2 date slated for the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Life also is Respect Life Sunday. They mentioned that these two events tie in well with one another as they both strive for the same thing.

Stanek said that some of the people gathered in Sioux City would probably also participate in the Life Chain that is held each year on Hamilton Blvd.

"I think it's also interesting that it falls on the Feast of Our Guardian Angel," said Wente. "What an opportunity for us to put the born, the unborn under the protection of your Guardian Angel."

Earlier this month, the diocesan apostolate sent a letter to all parishes in the diocese asking them to organize prayer services in their own churches. They recommended that parishes recite the rosary, plan an hour or two of adoration, have the homebound parishioners offer prayers that day and invite all Christian churches to join them in prayer.

The World Apostolate of Fatima and the Blue Army were formed over 50 years ago to spread the message of Fatima. Stanek and Wente mentioned that they have been part of the cells at their respective parishes for about 25 years. The cells consist of 10 or less people who meet on a weekly basis to say the Fatima prayers.

"Once the group gets more than 10 in a group, we are supposed to divide - so it keeps multiplying," noted Stanek.

The women said that several of these cells are located in various parishes throughout the diocese.

People who attend the Sioux City service will have the opportunity to fill out a pledge card to say the rosary and other prayers on Oct. 2. This will enter them to win a trip to Fatima, courtsy of the World Apostolate of Fatima.

Organizers of the diocesan service on Oct. 2 - along with Wente and Stanek - are Shirley Kennedy of Sioux City, Julia Behm of Alta and Mary Margaret Sudbeck. Father John McGuirk, pastor at the parishes in Wall Lake and Odebolt, serves as the spiritual director for the Diocesan Apostolate of Fatima.