'40 Days for Life' campaign of prayer in Lent
to begin Feb. 17
By Herald staff
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From Feb. 17 to March 28, the nationwide ecumenical campaign called “40 Days for Life” will be held in the Sacramento area and Placer County, where participants will aim to end abortion through prayer, fasting, outreach and vigils.
During a “40 Days for Life” campaign, members of the community pray outside a local abortion clinic for a total of 40 days. The Sacramento 40 Days for Life will be held at the Pregnancy Consultation Center, located at 53rd and F Streets. Vigil hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The Roseville 40 Days for Life will be held at Planned Parenthood, located at 729 Sunrise Ave. in Roseville. Vigil hours will be from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
A Gethsemane vigil will be held every Thursday night during the 40 Days for Life campaign at Presentation Church, located at 4123 Robertson Ave. in Sacramento. The vigil will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will follow the Mass with eucharstic adoration throughout the night in the parish chapel. On Friday mornings, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will begin at 6:15 a.m. followed by Mass at 6:30 a.m.
During the campaign a day of recollection will be offered on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, presented by Trappist Father Paul Jerome. (Space is limited and interested persons can call Jan England at (916) 749-6719.)
The Roseville 40 Days for Life will end its campaign with participants gathering for the vigil Mass of Palm Sunday on Saturday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, located at 615 Vine Ave. in Roseville, followed by a potluck dinner.
Jan England, one of the organizers of 40 Days for Life, told The Herald that participants in the campaign are drawn to the sidewalk counseling and prayer ministry “to bring the light of Christ to people lost in darkness, so that they may experience God’s love and call to conversion.”
“We go in hope of preventing our brothers and sisters from committing this sin,” she said. “We try to offer any type of assistance they feel they need in order to help them choose life for their child, for themselves and truly for the whole world.”
In a letter of support for the “40 Days for Life” campaign, Bishop Jaime Soto called it “a praiseworthy, ecumenical effort that gives prayerful witness to the sanctity of life and works for an end the practice of abortion in our nation.”
“I encourage Catholics to participate in this effort,” the bishop added. “From the moment of conception to natural death, all human life is sacred and must be reverenced. We, the followers of Christ, must bear witness to this truth, especially in the case of those who are innocent and most vulnerable. We do so through education, advocacy, prayer and care for those in need.”
For more information about 40 Days for Life in Sacramento, call Wynette Sills at (916) 955-1577 or Julian Woodruff at (916) 451-2402, or visit the Web site at www.40daysforlife.com/sacramento.
For more information about 40 Days for Life in Roseville, call England at (916) 749-6719 or Gloria Burgett at (916) 966-2232 or visit the Web site at www.40daysforlife.com/roseville.
