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| Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison leads people in prayer at the 40 Days for Life closing vigil on Sunday, Nov. 2. For the eighth straight year, the vigil was held outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in Madison’s east side. Reportedly, two babies were saved during this year’s vigil in Madison with 528 lives saved across the country. (Catholic Herald photo/Joe Ptak) |
MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino was on hand to celebrate efforts to respect life as prayer warriors came out to help conclude this year’s 40 Days for Life vigil.
40 Days for Life is an internationally-coordinated 40-day peaceful pro-life campaign to end abortion.
Locally, the Madison vigil — in its eighth straight year — ran from September 24 to November 2 and consisted of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach.
For 24 hours a day, volunteers prayed outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Madison’s east side for an end to abortion.
About 50 people gathered at that site for the closing celebration on Sunday, Nov. 2.
Bishop Morlino thanked the pro-life community in Madison for its “perseverance” in praying and working toward an end to abortion.
The bishop also spoke about how everyone must continue to bring the truth on marriage to life.
Special recognition
After the closing prayer vigil, some of the group went to St. Albert Church in Sun Prairie for food and fellowship.
Vigil for Life Local Campaign Coordinator Gwen Finnegan thanked everyone for their involvement. She also recognized Vigil Captain Coordinator Mary Markielewski — who spent 81 hours praying at the site during the vigil — along with all the vigil captains who helped the campaign run smoothly.
Recognition was also given to St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo, whose parishioners filled 48 vigil hours, and the men’s group from Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Sun Prairie, who spent 30 hours praying at the campaign.
Fr. Jorge Miramontes, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Waterloo, also spoke. He said the laity who participated in 40 Days for Life are a real inspiration to priests — mentioning a parishioner who now believes abortion is wrong after praying during the vigil.
Lives saved
Reports from the campaign across the country said 528 lives were saved. In Madison, it’s known that two were saved and “two moms spared a lifetime of regret during this campaign.”
The national 40 Days for Life campaign said, “Today there are babies alive who were scheduled to be aborted during this campaign. Instead of becoming abortion statistics, these children will have birthdays in June and July because their moms had a chance to turn around at the very last moment.”
The campaign added, “There are also women who are finding hope and healing after an
abortion. There are abortion center workers who started this campaign by complaining about ‘those people’ outside praying . . . before God went to work on their hearts and led them to quit their jobs.”
Finnegan said the team is “grateful to God” for everyone’s involvement locally.
365 for Life
While the 40 Days for Life campaign has ended for the year, the work still continues and help is needed.
Vigil for Life has now transitioned into its “365 for Life” campaign, which takes place during the whole year.
Four more hours are being added to the campaign on Thursdays. A presence is now needed outside the Planned Parenthood clinic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Other hours include: Monday, 9 to 11 a.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Friday, 1 to 3 p.m.
For more information on Vigil for Life or 365 for Life, call 608-393-8545, email info@vigilforlife.org or visit www.vigilforlife.org