40 Days for Life 2019 - Midpoint Rally

Thank you Father Mark! What an inspiring talk. 

Praying today at Bank and Queen

Lois and I met at the 40 Days for Life vigil site again this afternoon shortly after 1:00pm  to pray for an end to abortion. When I arrived, Paul Lauzon and two ladies from  Our Lady of Fatima Parish were there. The ladies were quietly praying the rosary. I signed in and took a sign . Shortly after I arrived  a young man nicely dressed ( he probably worked in an office close by)  came by just as Lois arrived and  told us to move because " we were within the bubble zone" which needless to say we were not. We explained that we were outside the bubble zine and pointed to the sign. He ignored what we were saying and a few times rather loudly told us to move. He left but came back and told us he was going to call the police.  He was belligerent and very authoritative.  I don't know if he called the police but about 10 minutes later the sound of sirens brought 4 or 5 police cars and an ambulance to our corner right across the street where a man was sitting with his dog on the sidewalk looking for handouts. He was peaceful and wasn't bothering anyone so why 4 police cars and an ambulance? It was very bizarre. The cops spent at least 20 minutes talking to the man then left. Very strange indeed.

There was a similar occurrence last Wednesday when Lois and I were there. A young  lady passed by and told us to move because " we were within the bubble zone" She wasn't as nasty as the man today but still.

Oh incidentally, Lois walked from where we were praying to the bubble zone sign and it was 25 feet so we were about 25 feet outside of the bubble zone

No more negative incidents after that. The weather was beautiful so we stayed and prayed for about an hour and a half and then walked to a quaint little bakery, Bread and Son near Gloucester and Bank and bought bread: freshly baked at $5 a loaf, yummy

God willing Lois and I will meet again next Wednesday: pray and buy bread 

Bubble zone sign 

 This is where we pray 

which is 25 feet outside the bubble zone

New bag with a few 40 Days for Life signs 

The bin holding signs, sign up book, 

information with help for women in distress etc was stolen over a week ago

40 Days for Life, Ottawa, Thursday, November 3, 2016

My sisters and I spent some time yesterday morning praying at the abortion clinic in Ottawa. It was cold and rainy but there were still quite a few prayer warriors including members of Catholic Christian Outreach  ( first photo)

 

40 Days for Life, September 29, 2016, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Ottawa, ON

40 Days for Life, Ottawa Ontario, September 29, 2015

Praying for an end to abortion

Across the street from the abortion facility at 65 Bank Street

 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

 

Vigil for Victims February 14, 2011 at 12 Noon

Just received this message from Dave Bereit, 40 Days for Life



Maureen

I just shot a very important 2-minute video for you outside the Washington, D.C. Planned Parenthood with
Lila Rose -- whose organization brought to light the institution-wide scandal that is rocking the entire Planned Parenthood abortion chain..

The video was just posted online minutes ago, and you can be the first to watch it at: http://exposeplannedparenthood.com/vigil

Please spread the word, and forward this message to everyone you possibly can. We have a narrow window of opportunity to strip Planned Parenthood of its $363 million in annual taxpayer funds -- but we need to act this Monday!

For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life



P.S.- On the same page as the new video is more information about the vital project I'm asking you to
participate in -- if at all possible. Watch the video and learn more at:
http://exposeplannedparenthood.com/vigil

Summary of 40 Days for Life Mid-Point Rally from Stan Siok

Below is the summary of the Mid Point Rally that Stan Siok sent to all the 40 Days for Life Participants. Thank you so much Stan for doing this!!!

In the evening hours of Thursday October 14th, about 50 committed Pro-lifers were graced with an uplifting 40 Days for Life Mid-point rally at Ground Zero. Hymns and music were provided by David MacDonald, Kirsten Hardy and the sisters from the Queenship of Mary community. There were inspiring talks given by Ruth Lobo (President of Carleton Lifeline), Doris Gagnon (head of Sidewalk Counseling), and by Fr. Matt Wertin (a strong Pro-life priest from Colorado studying Canon Law at St. Paul’s University).

See pictures of the rally http://www.basilica.org/pdf/Pictures.pdf

Below is a summary of this exceptional rally.

Opening and Closing Remarks by Paul Lauzon and Wanda Hartlin

• We’re having a great 40 Days Campaign, with over 20 days covered by various Parish or Church groups. The attendance at the Ground Zero Vigil site is phenomenal: We had as many as 12 people across from the abortion mill at one time. What a powerful prayer witness in favour of the sanctity of life. Many thanks to all those who took part, as well as those individuals and Church groups who have registered to take part in this Vigil.
•  Tomorrow (Friday October 15th ) , we are expecting some students and parents from Wayside Academy in Peterborough to travel 3-4 hours by bus to be with us at Ground Zero for about 6 to 7 hours. What an extraordinary example of dedication to the Pro-life cause, and to 40 Days for Life.
• We still have some holes to be filled in the remainder of the Campaign. We encourage everyone to check the Vigil calendar and pray about registering for one of those empty slots. We’re doing this for those who cannot speak for themselves: the unborn entering the doors at 65 Bank. Do it for them and their mothers! Let’s end this Campaign with a Bang!!
• There are changes to the Closing Rally. Instead of starting at 7:00 PM at Ground Zero for a Closing Rally, we will start at 6:00 PM on Sunday October 31st. After the Rally, there will be a candlelight procession from Ground Zero to Saint Patrick’s Basilica for a Vespers Service. We found out officially on October 15th that this Service will be presided over by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast. The Archbishop expressed an interest in taking part in this 40 Days for Life campaign, and we are blessed that he is willing to take time from his busy schedule to help us end this campaign on a deeply spiritual note.

1st talk - Ruth Lobo

Ruth Lobo is a fourth-year Human Rights student at Carleton University and President of Carleton Lifeline. The arrest of four students from the Carleton Lifeline for attempting to set up a pro-life exhibit on a campus intersection has sparked considerable media attention. Ruth is often the centre of this attention, and she explained that the arrest of her and three other students for attempting an anti-abortion exhibit is an attack of freedom of expression. She started off her talk by thanking everyone for their prayers for the students arrested.
On the Carleton Lifeline Website http://carletonlifeline.wordpress.com/ , you can find links to the many articles dealing with this unjust arrest. The students were fines #130 each for “engaging in activity prohibited on the premises”. They are contesting these charges and have a lawyer who is defending them pro-bono. On the CALL TO ACTION: http://carletonlifeline.wordpress.com/  How can I get involved portion of their Website, you have directions on how you can donate and stand in solidarity with these outstanding students.

2nd Talk – Doris Gagnon
Doris Gagnon, head of Sidewalk Counseling with the 40 Days Campaign, counsels women against abortion as they enter the abortuary. In her talk, she describes her remarkable experience at Ground Zero with women as they leave the abortion mill….click  http://www.basilica.org/pdf/Doris.pdf to read the text of her talk
Doris mentioned our dire need for more sidewalk counselors at Ground Zero. If you can help in this important ministry, you can reach her at 40daysottawa@gmail.com


3rd Talk – Fr. Matthew Wertin
Fr. Matthew Wertin, a priest from Colorado, has come to Ottawa to study Canon Law at St. Paul’s University. However, instead of restricting himself to his studies, he has also become involved with local Pro-life activities.
Fr. Matt was an understudy of Fr. Frank Pavone (Priests for Life), and is an experienced sidewalk counselor. He thus has a keen understanding of the importance of the 40 Days for Life Campaign, and the need to get involved. In the short time he has been in Ottawa, he has a remarkable grasp of the Pro-life struggles facing our city, and its role in the Canadian scene.

Click http://www.basilica.org/pdf/FrMatt.pdf to read the text of Fr. Matt’s very inspiring talk.

Father Richard Siok's homily 7:00 pm Mass Saint Patrick Basilica, September 21, 2010

This is one of the best homilies I have ever heard so I transcribed it from the audio file which you can find at the forty days for life website or at this link on my website.
https://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/Home/40-days-for-life-in-ottawa-from-the-beginning/40-days-for-life-fall-2010-campaign/40-days-for-life-inaugural-mass 

Click  HERE  to listen to Father Richard's Homily

"Below is the text of the homily which I transcribed from the audio file (see link above)"

There are readings liturgies where we can chose from which are very targeted to the pro-life cause. Today, however, is the Feast of Saint Matthew, the Evangelist, the Apostle, and on the important Feasts we don’t fool around eh: we have to take the mass for that day, so I was scratching my head and worried needlessly that, what could I say? How can I tie in the readings? Until I read the readings properly and there is of course a beautiful tie-in!


Today’s gospel describes the call of St. Matthew to become an apostle of Jesus Christ, improbable choice from a human perspective. He is a man who made money his idol. He didn’t care what his people said about him. He was ostracized: he didn’t care. Money! So the Pharisees had a problem when Jesus called him. And not only did Jesus call him, Jesus, my goodness ate with Matthew and other people of the same ilk! Now remember, I remind you again, that back then, having a meal with somebody, a formal meal, was not something informal like we have in our culture; let’s do lunch sometime. Here it’s just an acquaintance : let’s do lunch and we think nothing of it. Back then having a meal with somebody, a formal meal was a big deal! It said we now share an identity together and the idea of betraying somebody who you shared a meal with was unthinkable, hence the crime of Judas. The Jews saw even a deeper aspect to it than we see from that perspective.


Matthew, of course, as I mentioned: the Pharisees looked at Jesus and then said to His disciples, “What’s wrong with your master? Doesn’t He realize who this man is? He is eating with him, sharing an identity with him! He must have flipped! Talk to the man! “ Using modern language that’s what they were saying. Now as a tax collector, it wasn’t only that Matthew was a collaborator of the Romans, there was another aspect to Matthew which the Pharisees found a problem with and it’s this: He was a tax collector in Galilee a territory of Herod Antipas, and as a tax collector in Galilee, he had a lot of business dealings: close business dealings with the Gentiles. Now the Pharisees, in their mindset, they strove, they were always striving to insulate the Jews from the pagans, from the Gentiles, from the Goyim. There was too much rapport with the Goyim that got us into trouble in the past, and falling away from God’s commandments, so they said “Because your Master ( in effect they were saying ) is dealing with a man who had a lot of dealings with the Goyim, the Gentiles, Matthew is very impure therefore, and your master, by eating with him, is also becoming very impure liturgically. I’m not sure that was the accusation they were making about Christ, that He had become impure liturgically, by eating with Matthew, because dealing with the Gentiles was a source of liturgical impurities.


Now, notice Christ’s response to the Pharisees when he sees the brouhaha they are trying to create amongst his disciples. He quotes from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the sixth chapter: interesting quote “ I desire mercy and not sacrifice” For us we read that and say “What does that mean really? Now the Pharisees had many faults but they also had some qualities and one of their qualities was that they knew the old testament scriptures inside out. They immediately identified the quote, where it came from, and they immediately understood its context. Now to understand what Christ was saying to the Pharisees and hence what He’s trying to teach us, and what Matthew is trying to give us of God’s revelation through his quoting of Christ, we have to understand what this part of the book of Hosea was all about. Jesus gave one little quote eh? Now, Hosea the prophet, he ministered to and wrote to the Jews in the northern kingdom of Israel. That’s very important to know.


I’ll explain why shortly, because as you recall there was King David, King Solomon, it was all unite, all 12 tribes were united under Kings David and Solomon. After Solomon, now the tribes of the north, the ten tribes of the North very reluctantly had accepted King David. As a matter of fact , they only accepted David as their king after a civil war which lasted for quite a number of years. They groaned under Solomon. When Soloman died they said “to heck with it, we want nothing to do with the line of kings coming from David: nothing to do with them, the Davidic line, and so they actually separated: they became a separate country. . Anyways, what Jesus is saying quoting Hosea is this: Because God in the book of Hosea wrapped their knuckles for separating because God was saying “the Davidic line is My line” and Christ in quoting Hosea was saying to the Pharisees “ You guys are rejecting me. Like the people of the north rejected the Davidic dynasty, you’re rejecting me and I am the ultimate fulfillment of all those promised to King David.” That’s one message he was giving them.


But there’s another message as well. When the Jews were in the desert, and this is where it becomes very relevant to us, here with the 40 days for Life. When the Jews were in the desert when the EXODUS under Moses, God’s intent was that they become the elder brother to all the peoples, the pagan peoples, they had come into contact with. Through their example and through their teaching they were to bring healing from the contamination of idolatry. By their example and their teachings they were to bring all the nations of the world to Yahweh: away from their idolatry and to Yahweh. What happened? In the Kingdom of the North, I won’t talk about the south, in the kingdom of the north the opposite happened when they broke away from Jerusalem and all that, what happened was that they came under the influence of the pagans and instead of them transforming the pagans, they became paganized. Yes they had their rival temple to Jerusalem, in a place called Bethel, where they adored Yahweh. But they also had on their high places, on their mountains, all these little temples and sanctuaries to the pagan gods where they would also offer sacrifices to the pagan gods including , by the way, human sacrifices: infants…….. And hence, God’s words to them through Hosea, through the people of the North “ Your sacrifices, especially those to the pagan gods, you keep, start with mercy. Start bringing Me, MY Word, My Presence, to the pagan peoples. First purify yourselves. And that’s what the meaning was “ I desire mercy and not sacrifices” And when the Pharisees heard this in the context of Jesus calling Matthew and the others, what were they thinking? What was the message they got? Christ was telling them the following. He was telling them “ Look, we have those people like Matthew who have fallen into idolatry. Matthew’s idolatry was…. money.


First of all, before we can reach out to the pagans like God wanted us to do originally in the desert, let’s first purify ourselves. I’m reaching out to MY own people and look they’re saying yes. I’m calling them: they’re saying yes. They’re changing their lives. They’re changing their lives. That’s what God wanted through Hosea. That’s what he wants us to do, and you Pharisees are fighting God’s plan. You don’t want God’s mercy to flow to those who have fallen away. And of course, that message applies to us. We know that as Christians eh, we are called to be followers of Christ. We have to follow his example. Christ didn’t shirk away from identifying evil, making himself vulnerable to evil, and confronting evil. He did it with the Pharisees, for example where they were off mark, although they were very prestigious, powerful people, the priests of His time. High Priests or not, when they deserved criticism, He criticized them. He identified where they got off the mark: the authorities in the temple. Christ identified evil and confronted it. The people were possessed. Christ didn’t shirk away from them. He confronted the evil and made himself even vulnerable to it as we will read at His passion. They only arrested Christ because he gave them permission. That’s clear in John’s Gospel. Christ had to give them permission to be arrested.


And so, it’s the same for us as followers of Christ. He’s our model. And one of the great evils of our time, I’m preaching to the choir, if not the greatest evil of our time, is abortion. Human sacrifice , really when you think of it, to an idol; the idol of human Freedom or libertinism perhaps is a better word and as an absolute, and like Christ as His followers, we are called to identify an evil for what it is, to bear witness to it, and also to do it in such a way, that God’s mercy will be offered to our society through our witness. And also, God’s mercy will be offered perhaps to the young women going for an abortion, as they see the witness , maybe some of them even haven’t thought about it. And some who have had abortions will think it over, and those who support abortion, perhaps seeing the witness, will think, and God’s Grace, if they are open to it, will start to work in them.


Now I’ll give you something perhaps very, ah………… When we are dealing with the abortion issue, we are generally dealing with people who aren’t Christians. They may be baptized, but in their souls they’re not Christians eh? We’re dealing with people who are secularized and they will say well, it’s a human right. It’s a free society. It’s a human right: the right to choose. And it’s good to be able to confront them on that level. It’s no use quoting the bible to them, they don’t believe. So to get them thinking, confront them with something which will surprise them. Make them think on a human level. In the whole aspect of human rights, first of all the Church wrote the book of human rights. It’s not for society, it’s for the Church. If it wasn’t for the Church there would be no concept of human rights out there.


In effect, it’s in the thirteenth century, eh, the thirteenth century that Thomas Aquinas in some of his writings , the idea , the reality of human rights, inalienable human rights coming from God, cause we’re human, simply because we’re human , we get them from God, that started to perculate in his writings. He never worked on it as a specific separate item, but it was there, it started to come up.


And then in the sixteenth century a Jesuit by the name of Suarez, he focused on human rights, and building on what Thomas Aquinas was developing, he expounded on it, and he wrote, if you wish, the book on human rights in his writings. And what Suarez wrote, and an English professor Hobbs took up in the seventeenth century. And Hobbs writings on human rights was then taken up by the drafters of the American Declaration of Independence eh? And you remember they said we were all created by God and all that? And we have basically three inalienable human rights given to us from God: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness or property. Americans say Pursuit of Happiness, English say Pursuit of property . These three rights, inalienable rights are not co-equal. They are Hierarchical. And when you think about it for a minute, you immediately see why. If you don’t have a right to life, then what’s the use of having the right for liberty and the right for property or happiness? If anybody can kill you at any time, the other rights become moot eh? So the right to life is fundamental. Without the right to liberty and life, then the right for property and the pursuit of happiness becomes moot. And if you’re not free, don’t have a right to eh freedom, how can you pursue your happiness or property? So, you see there is a hierarchy eh in them. Now in the nineteenth century…… you talk about Supreme Courts. In the nineteenth century, the American Supreme Court in a decision called the “Dredd Scott Decision” said the following “The property rights of Whites, of White landowners trump the liberty rights of Blacks.” That was a Supreme Court Decision. That was supposed to have settled the issue. People of conscience could not and would not accept that decision. They were considered initially “rabble rousers”, even in the North. They fought it. Eventually, after the Civil War it was overturned. You see, because again, liberty comes before property rights in the hierarchy eh?


Today we’re facing the abortion debate. What we’re saying is ( and I know there are many sad cases, but we’re not getting into that we’re talking here philosophically ) I know that many women have very difficult decisions to make, very difficult circumstances and all that, but that caveat not withstanding, ultimately the pro choice argument is that the liberty rights of the woman ( sometimes she is pushed into it, forced into it, cajoled onto it) but that right trumps the life right of the unborn baby.


LIFE COMES FIRST


So, Just as the nineteenth century decision of the Supreme Court made no sense, so the twentieth Century Supreme Court Decision also cannot hold up. And just as today we look upon those who fought the culture of their time, the nineteenth century in the United States, as being heroes, because then that spread through the world. It brought slavery down throughout the world. So I suggest to you, that barring the Second Coming of Jesus in the near future, down the road, people will recognize abortion for the evil it is and those who fought it will be recognized with pride and as being heroes.


We don’t remember those who fought for slavery eh, by the press and all that in the United States, in the nineteenth Century. We remember those who fought it.


Same with this. This is the issue which comes down to the fundamental dignity and reality of human beings. The right to life is not something which is negotiable. It’s something which comes to us from God Himself with no intermediaries

Forty Days for Life Ottawa, Fall 2010 Campaign

40 Days for Life Inaugural Mass 7:00 pm Tuesday September 21


The 40 Days for Life inaugural Mass took  place on Tuesday evening September 21st at 7:00 pm at Saint Patrick’s Basilica (220 Kent St. Ottawa). It is paramount that we start off the campaign on the right spiritual footing. Our struggle against abortion is, after all, mainly a spiritual battle. Father Richard Siok gave an excellent homily on the right to Life as being the most important and basic human right. Without the right to life all other rights are moot. The Mass was followed by a candlelight procession of about 200 people from the Basilica to abortion site at 65 Bank Street on Bank Street for a rally.

Vigil Signup

As of today, 12 days of the campaign’s 40 Days of the prayer vigil across from the abortuary have been reserved. Parishes have taken ten days; Couples for Christ and a Council of the Knights of Columbus have taken one day each.  We remain very hopeful that other parishes, and parish groups such as other Knights of Columbus Councils, Catholic Womens’ Leagues, prayer groups, etc will get involved in this life-changing/ culture-transforming initiative. As a member of the legion of Mary in Ottawa, I hope and pray that we partcipate as well.


The calendar also reveals that we have many vacancies between September 22nd and September 27th inclusively, just prior to our first parish commitment. We are encouraging everyone to consider registering for one of these vacant shifts early in the campaign .  It is important that we start the campaign with a strong presence.


Key dates:

September 21st: Kick-off Mass St. Patrick's Basilica at 7:00 pm followed by a candle-light procession to the Abortion facility at 65 Bank Street (Ground Zero).


October 14th: Mid Point Rally at Ground Zero
starting at 7:00 pm.


October 31st: Closing Rally - Celebrate another successful 40 Days for Life Campaign…. starts 07:00 pm at Ground Zero - more details to follow.


Resources:

Online info: http://www.40daysforlife.com/ottawa/

International Website: http://www.40daysforlife.com/

More info see your Parish Rep, or Campaign Life Coalition: 613-729-0379

or Email: Stan Siok 40daysottawa@gmail.com  English Parish Coordinator, 40 Days for Life


For information on Past Campaigns go to this link on my website
https://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/Home/40-days-for-life-in-ottawa-from-the-beginning

Video of the Spring 40 Days for Life Campaign

Amazing video of the Spring 2009 40 Days for Life Campaign.
Video of the Spring 40 Days for Life Campaign

Frances Wilkinson letter to the Ottawa Citizen

Letter-writer Frances Wilkinson draws on her own personal experience and her beliefs to urge women to reconsider their choice of having an abortion. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/vigil+abortion+clinic+help+women+life/1428592/story.html

Dr. Bernard Nathanson's film "The Silent Scream" referred to in the letter below can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNo_0cW-ek

The Gianna Jessen film can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ&feature=related

March 25th at the Abortion site in Ottawa

Yesterday, March 25 was the Feast of the Annunciation, and I wanted to pray at the abortion site ( 65 Bank Street) before attending Mass at 8:00 AM at Saint Pat's. I arrived there shortly after seven to see at least a dozen others there, most of them youth. It was bitterly cold and so I was glad I didn't pay any attention to the weatherman's forecast of a warm day. The wind blew the new sign down a couple of times so eventually one of the young women stood next to it to keep it in place. The young man standing next to me introduced himself as Dustin and said that he was a CCO member. He told me that the majority of the youth were from the pro life youth group at Ottawa University and every Wednesday morning they come to pray at the site. God bless them! I looked at their faces as they stood side by side shivering and praying silently. They all have such a look of peace and hope. There is no question about it!

Before long more youth dropped by after attending 7:00 AM mass at Saint Patick Basilica. When I left for mass around 8:00 I counted at least 12 young people. I thank God for our youth! They are our hope for the future! As I hurried over to mass, I thought how my parish of the Annunciation has been blessed by the good work of our own young people. At the mid point rally on March 19 all of the members of our parish NET Team braved the bitter cold weather across the street from the coldest part of the city.

After Mass I stayed and prayed for a while and then went back to the site to pray. The crowd had dwindled but there were still a couple of others including the man who walks up and down the sidewalk praying the rosary in front of the abortuary. Usually he is with another man but yesterday he was alone. There was a man in a wheelchair who went up and down the sidewalk bearing witness as well, alternating between sides of the street. After I was there for a while, Liz from Saint Clement and Sue from my parish dropped by to pray so the three of us said the rosary together. I left around 10:20 with a feeling of hope and gratitude.

Prayer Initiative at St. Patrick Basilica, Ottawa, ON

40 DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
St. Pats has kindly reserved a special pew in the church for a 40 Day for Life prayer initiative. It is our goal during the time the church is open, which also coincides with the time the abortion clinic is open, to have continual quiet prayer in front of the BLESSED SACRAMENT for the intentions of the campaign.
Our special focus is that we might be faithful and pleasing to God by saving the physical lives of God’s precious infants through the spiritual conversion of their mothers and fathers, for the abortionist and their staff, for our politicians and for all who through indifference do nothing to try to stop abortion. Our prayers also provide spiritual and moral support for our sidewalk counsellors at the vigil site. Our prayers are also to provide a personal love to God’s infants who will die that day at 65 Bank Street.
It is our hope that the regular weekday parishioners of St. Pats, as well as those who are unable to be at the vigil site, or those taking part in the vigil but who want to spend some time before or after, in front of the Blessed sacrament, will help with this initiative. No sign-up necessary.
As Catholics, we believe the most powerful prayer in the world is EUCHARISTIC PRAYER, prayer during the sacrifice of the Mass, prayer after receiving Holy Communion, and prayer to our risen saviour in His real but hidden presence in the Blessed Sacrament.


WEEKDAY VIDEO AND DISCUSSION
1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. in Scavi
The battle against abortion is a spiritual battle. To be effective in this battle, we need to know the nature of the battle and follow the battle plan, using the weapons given us, while being aware of the strategy of the enemy. The victory is ours but we must take it. With this in mind, we will be offering a video daily during the weekdays at 1:00 pm in the Scavi. The focus will be on Mary, The Eucharist, The Rosary, Prayer, Fasting, Adoration, the Saints etc., linking these with the call to The 40 Days for Life campaign. See website for video schedule.

Maggie

Sunday Vespers before the beginning of the 40 Days for Life Campaign

I was at Vespers at Saint Patrick Basilica last night and it was very uplifting to see about 300 in attendance. Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast gave a terrific homily on prayer and repentance and the call to conversion

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

homily of his Grace Archbishop Terrence Prendergast
Sunday before Ash Wednesday
- Vespers—February 22, 2009
St. Patrick's Basilica—Ottawa, Ontario

Pregnancy Support Centers

To contact a pregnancy helping agency in your area please call 1-800-395-HELP (4357)

Pregnancy Support Centers

Lent 2009 40 Days for Life Campaign

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Largest-Ever Pro-Life Mobilization Hits Toronto and Other Canadian Cities this Lent - Prayer, Fasting and 24-Hour Vigils Outside Abortuaries
TORONTO, January 9, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - This Lent, from Ash Wednesday, February 25 to April 5, 2009, a number of Canadian cities, including Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, will participate with more than 170 cities across North America, joining together for the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history - the 40 Days for Life campaign.40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign that has generated measurable lifesaving results in the more than 200 cities where it has been implemented. It has lead to a significant drop in abortions in almost all locations, and, in some places, such as the State of North Dakota, to the temporary closing of all abortion clinics.Jim Hughes of Campaign Life Coalition, which is helping organize the 40 Days For Life in Canada, said that the Ottawa campaign held this past Fall was a resounding success, with hundreds attending the opening and midway point rallies and closing ceremonies, and a constant presence at the abortuary vigil site."There were three confirmed saves in Ottawa alone - babies whose mothers changed their minds about having an abortion. In the Fall campaign across North America there were 614 babies saved in total that we know of. God only knows what other blessings will come from the 40 Days for Life as we plan for 2009!" Hughes said.The 40 Days for Life campaign is made up of three key components: - Prayer and Fasting - Peaceful Vigil: standing for life through a 40-day peaceful public witness outside abortion mills 24 hours a day/seven days a week.- Community Outreach: communicating a positive, upbeat pro-life message through media efforts, church presentations, petition drives, and public visibility.While all aspects of 40 Days for Life are crucial in the effort to end abortion, the most visible component is the peaceful prayer vigil outside the Morgentaler abortion mill in Ottawa, the Scott abortion mill in Toronto, the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, and the Clinique Morgentaler in Montreal.40 Days For Life Ottawa has confirmed a start up meeting in the Scavi (church basement) of St. Patrick's Basilica on Tuesday January 13 at 7 pm, a general meeting on Tuesday, February 3 at St. Pat's from 7 to 9 pm, and a Vesper service with Bishop Prendergast on Sunday February 22 at 7 pm at St. Patrick's.In Toronto, campaign organizer Nicole Campbell told LifeSiteNews that there will be a start up meeting on January 19 at 7 pm, and general meetings on February 2 and 17 at 7 pm, all at St. Michael's Choir School, 66 Bond St. A kick-off rally will be announced when particulars are confirmed.

40 Days Continues

At least 750 attended the closing Rally, and joined in the candelight procession to Saint Patrick Basilica for mass at 7:00 with Archbishop Prendergast. Thank you, your Grace for your support and encouragement throughout the campaign.

Its not over though and perhaps never will be. In fact, until eyes are opened and ears begin to hear and hearts begin to soften, the vigil will continue.

Melanie and I prayed for an hour at the abortion site Friday from 11:00 Am til noon. I arrived at approximately 10:40 and saw Doris praying near the door of 65 Bank so I joined her for a while. Around 11:00 I crossed the street to wait for Melanie who arrived a few minutes later .

We prayed the rosary and while doing so a young couple left 65 Bank st. The woman was very sick and vomited a number of times in the snow bank. She looked so weak and fragile, but the young man with her seemed in a hurry to get going so they continued down the street and past MacDonalds Restaurant. The woman continued to vomit. As I prayed I thought " They kill the baby and send the woman away sick to recuperate alone. I told Jennifer about this occurrence and this is what she said " I feel so angry, more so as a nurse, when I learn that 'patients' are sent out onto the street to recover. There is NO care at these places. It's such a paradox that they respect women and their bodies."

Doris left around 11:45 and Melanie and I left around noon. I had an appointment in the west end of the city for 2:00 PM so I decided to have lunch at 240 Sparks Street. After lunch I returned to the site and saw Frances holding her sign and praying alone. I stayed and prayed with her for a short time but had to leave for my appointment. I regretted that I was unable to stay longer.

It fills my soul with such hope and joy to see the courage and dedication of these faithful witnesses who return to pray several times a week. For me it was my first time back to the site since 40 Days officially ended three weeks ago but I pledge to return every week from now on for at least one hour. That's the least I can do.

Mid Point Rally

Mid Point Rally Sunday October 19, 2008



It was just an amazing turnout and I thank the organizers and all the participants who have been so faithful and generous with their time. God is surely blessing us and will continue to. I would guess that there were at least two hundred participants at the rally.

The coffee and hot chocolate warmed us up and was certainly appreciated.

Many tears were shed among the crowd as we listened to the speeches and testimonies. Nicole told us at the beginning of the campaign that we wouldn't be the same afterwards and she was right. I know I am not the same as I was. To see hearts being changed, babies being saved, families saved from a life of grief and sorrow just fills one's soul with hope overflowing. As Nicole said to save one baby is to save generations.

Our hearts too are being changed, in ways that we we would never have imagined.. Knowing that the ripple effect of what we have witnessed will continue forever just absolutely confirms that God is calling us to do this; to be His witnesses to the truth: to proclaim the Gospel of Life in all its beauty and Glory! He calls each one of us to be His voice in the world, to bring Jesus to the people, and to share in the mission of the Church which is the salvation of souls.