(Contributed photo by Tina Heiney)
MADISON/SAUK CITY — This spring, from February 17 to March 28, Madison and surrounding communities are uniting with over 160 other large cities across America, as well as locations in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, for the largest coordinated spring pro-life mobilization in history — the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign.
Three other Wisconsin cities — Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Wausau — will join efforts in Madison in praying that this will be the beginning of the end of abortion.
St. Aloysius Parish in Sauk City is promoting the vigil in Madison and has also scheduled several additional pro-life activities, including a candlelight Walk for Life on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta stated, “Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Three quarters of its victims are women: half the babies and all the mothers.” Those involved in 40 Days for Life will continue praying for millions of women.
40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign that has generated measurable lifesaving results. Some locations have reported as much as a 28 percent drop in local abortion numbers. In addition, five abortion facilities have closed, 26 abortion workers have quit their jobs, and thousands of new people are getting involved in local lifesaving ministry efforts. The 40 Days for Life campaign is made up of three key components:
- Prayer and fasting: inviting people of faith to join together for 40 days of fervent prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. Fasting can be from certain foods, TV, alcohol, coffee, or anything that helps in this form of physical prayer.
- Peaceful vigil: standing for life through a 40-day peaceful, prayerful public witness outside the Madison Surgery Center, 1 S. Park St., Madison. Contact Steve at 608-445-2063 or steve@vigilforlife.org to learn more about this opportunity.
- Community outreach: taking a positive, upbeat pro-life message to every corner of our country through media efforts, church presentations, and public visibility
Sauk City events
St. Aloysius Parish in Sauk City is promoting and publicizing this spring’s 40 Days for Life by offering rides to the prayer vigil at the Madison Surgery Center, encouraging prayer and fasting at any time by promoting with commitment cards, as well as hosting special scheduled prayer opportunities for all who wish to join together in prayer. The scheduled dates include:
- Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17 — At 6:30 p.m., a candlelight Walk for Life will be led by the St. Aloysius High School Youth Group. All are invited to attend, and candles will be provided. The walk begins at St. Aloysius School gym and ends at the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Memorial to the Unborn, in front of St. Aloysius Church. Mass will follow at 7 p.m. Call John Ramthun at 608-643-4062 with questions.
- Sunday, Feb. 21 — At 7 p.m., pro-life Stations of the Cross in church will be led by the St. Aloysius Middle School Youth Group.
- Wednesday, Feb. 24, and every Wednesday during Lent — At 6 p.m., Silent Prayer for the Unborn will be held during Eucharistic Adoration in church.
- Friday, March 5 — 8:45 a.m., pro-life Stations of the Cross in church
- Friday, March 19 — 8:45 a.m., pro-life Stations of the Cross in church
- Wednesday, March 24 — 7 p.m., pro-life Stations of the Cross in church led by St. Aloysius High School Youth Group
All are invited to join in these special prayer opportunities.
“Come fast and pray with members of your community and join this global effort,” stated Dr. Noreen Johnson, a former abortion provider.
More information can be found at www.40daysforlife.com