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40 Days for Life offers prayers to end abortion

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

The fall 40 Days for Life campaign came to a close on Nov. 1 with a gathering at Trinity Heights in Sioux City.

Father LeRoy Seuntjens led the opening prayer, a litany for the unborn, and Steve Elbert welcomed the more than 50 people who gathered.

“We had many people to give thanks to,” said Mary Stevens, the campaign director for Sioux City. “We were most appreciative to Bishop Nickless who served as an outstanding leader and voice for the unborn. He spent time in prayer at the vigil.”

They also thanked the priests, deacons, leaders and the many people who helped with the scheduling. Gratitude was also extended to the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for their sponsorship of the campaign.

Stevens acknowledged the involvement of the many parishes and those who held individual pro-life activities in their areas.

During the gathering, attendees shared some of their experiences while participating in 40 Days for Life.

Saving babies
“There were some really interesting stories,” said Stevens. “We have no idea what the results (of our prayers) will be. People stop and thank us for being there. It makes people think and it changes hearts.”

She noted that through the campaign more people are becoming educated and becoming more pro-life because “they understand that it truly is a life that they are terminating.”

Stevens recalled the story of a woman who was told not to have her two children because of a disease. The doctors told the woman that her life would be in danger if she decided to have the children.

“She chose to risk her life rather than to abort the babies,” said Stevens. “She had pictures of two young boys that she would not have if she had listened to her doctors.”

Dr. Ken and Lou Roach spent an hour, 5 to 6 p.m., each day of the campaign praying in front of Planned Parenthood. The two prayed the rosary together as well as the Divine Mercy Chaplet and other prayers.

“A wonderful thing was that we not only met Catholics from Sioux City but we met others from South Sioux City, Le Mars, Anthon, Moville and other surrounding towns who came to pray – young and old,” said Lou Roach. “It was a great experience.”

While they were praying one day, the two were discussing whether or not their presence makes a difference. A woman drove up and thanked them for their presence.

“We wondered if people really noticed us, if they saw the signs and if it really made a difference or not and she drove up right after that,” said Lou Roach. “She said, ‘Seven years ago I came here to have an abortion and there were people here praying, saying the rosary and holding signs. They made me stop and think. I went home and did not have the abortion.”

The woman now has a 7-year-old daughter and has turned her life around. Lou Roach said she and Ken thought this was God’s answer to them about their presence making a difference.

Campaign wrap up
Stevens said that the fall campaign went well and all of the hours were filled. During the 40 days, there are two known cases where a baby was saved.

Overall there were 212 cities that participated and campaign organizers estimate that 542 babies and mothers were saved during this fall campaign. Stevens mentioned that there were eight clinic workers who left their jobs.

“Women continue to have abortions because they feel there is no choice and so we have to continue so the awareness is more known,” she said. “So much of this is just education and sharing with others the truth that life begins at conception. Women need to know that it is truly life that they are choosing to end. Most women suffer from the abortions that they have. There are other alternatives.”

Stevens encouraged people to continue their special prayers to end abortion and to be aware politically of what they can do to help.

What else happened?
During the 40 Days for Life campaign the parishes of St. Mary's in Dow City, St. Mary's in Ute and St. Boniface in Charter Oak had Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the weekday Masses in October to pray for the end to abortion. Also, several young people from St. Boniface spent time praying at the vigil on Oct. 24.

Many other schools and parishes in the diocese held prayer services and Adoration with the intention of 40 Days for Life.