VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Campaign to offer continuous prayer vigil at abortion mill

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

The Diocese of Sioux City's Pro-life Commission is teaming up with the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for a huge project this fall, 40 Days for Life.

According to Mark Thomason, the diocese's pro-life contact person, because this project involves praying outside of Planned Parenthood 24 hours a day for 40 days many volunteers will be needed for the campaign. It will run Sept. 24 to Nov. 2.

"We need people to be out there praying every hour for 40 days," he said. "There are 168 hours in a week. We need a lot of people to make this happen - at least 1,000."

Anyone can volunteer to provide a peaceful, prayerful presence - children, teenagers, adults, families, youth groups, parish religious education or Catholic school classes. And it's not a Catholic-only effort; other faith communities have expressed interest and plan to participate.

He pointed out that the idea to get involved in this campaign came from the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW). It all started about six months ago when representatives of the DCCW met with Bishop R. Walker Nickless and the bishop encouraged them to become involved in a project that put their faith into action.

"He gave them a challenge and they responded," noted Thomason.

The DCCW discovered the 40 Days for Life campaign and brought it to the attention of Thomason in his role as head of the Diocesan Pro-Life Commission.

"This is a great program and I've known it to be successful in other places," said Thomason, who added that Bishop Nickless is also very supportive of this effort.

Thomason explained that this campaign ties in well with the efforts of the Diocesan Pro-Life Commission. The commission encourages fasting and prayer on the 22nd of every month, and fasting and prayer are among the components of the 40 Days for Life, which also focuses on a constant vigil outside of the abortion mills and incorporates community outreach.

The Diocesan Pro-Life Commission was only recently established in the diocese. He explained that one of the goals for the commission is to enhance networking and communication so that pro-life efforts may be reinforced and ideas shared.

"One of the goals of the commission is to solidify pro-life activities that are for long-term ministry and results," he said. "The nice thing is that the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has a network that we can model for this particular ministry."

The commission also likes the idea of sharing resources and ideas. That's another factor that makes the 40 Days for Life appealing. It's already been done in other places and there is already an action plan.

"There is a kickoff rally and a mid-way rally. We are going to follow the national program. They have done all of the hard work," said Thomason.

The first 40 Days for Life campaign was held in Bryan/College Station, Texas, in the fall of 2004. In 2005 and 2006, about a half-dozen communities held the campaign. Last year was the first nationwide - coast to coast - campaign with 80 cities participating in 30 states. A second nationwide campaign was held in about 50 cities during Lent of 2008.

Sioux City will be among about 140 communities throughout the country expected to participate in 40 Days for Life this fall.

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will organize the volunteers. Look for more information in the Aug. 21 issue of The Catholic Globe.

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