40 Days for Life Fatima Rosary Rally

We gathered outside Rochester's Planned Parenthood headquarters today to hold a Fatima Rosary Rally as part of 40 Days for Life 2010.

All 40 decades of the rosary, plus the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

There was construction in front of Planned Parenthood, so we moved across the street.

We stood beneath a pole that had a bar on it - forming a cross. That cross faces Planned Parenthood every day.

Many cars passing by with people honking, yelling out encouragement, or giving us a thumbs up. Alleluia.

A Sunday Morning 40 Days Vigil

7:50 a.m.

I get out the 40 Days for Life signs and set them up at the 40 Days site near Planned Parenthood.

Low 50s.

The moon is watching.

I say a few prayers to start.

For the babies.

For the women.

For the workers.

For the people driving by.

I read the prayers for the day from 40 Days.

I listen to the birds, and watch a couple of squirrels.

A rosary - 5 decades, then some more.

Cars continue to pass. I consciously try to smile, to look friendly.

A man in a van slows down, looks at me. Eye contact. He pulls into the Planned Parenthood parking lot. A staff member? A craftsman come to do a job? I say a prayer for him.

I begin to quietly sing my version of the John Lennon song. "All we are saying, is give life a chance."

My hand cramps a bit from holding the sign. My fingers are cold.

I think of Jesus. He was on the cross for three hours, in agony, for me. I can put up with a little cold and discomfort. I offer it up.

That man in the van gets me thinking. What about all the people who may not work for Planned Parenthood, but who help to support it through supplying materials like copy paper, toilet paper, or coffee, who tend the grounds, who repair the building and parking lot, who deliver supplies, and so on? What if they refused to service Planned Parenthood? Is that an indirect way to stop the abortions? I say a prayer for all those people.

"All we are saying, is give life a chance."

Traffic is increasing. Some people look dressed up, like they are going to church. More people walk by. I make a point of smiling and saying hello to them. A man on a bicycle passes me and give me a thumbs up.

I say a prayer for them. I pray that my standing there might get some people thinking. Maybe just seeing me will change even one heart?

I keep on smiling.

9:05. The moon is still there, but further down in the sky and fainter.

I put away the signs.

Thank you, Lord, this opportunity.

Heal our hearts and minds and nation.

Amen.

40 Days Haiku

40 Days for Life -

the moon keeps vigil with me

at Planned Parenthood

40 Days for Life underway!

The 40 Days for Life campaign has begun in 238 cities - including Rochester.

Last night, we held a kick-off at the Focus Pregnancy Help Cener, with a pot luck, music, a video of Abby Johnson (the former Planned Parenthood director who's now pro-life), and talks by various people, including a woman from Silent No More who'd has abortions (but now is bless with five children), and a great-grandmother who battled and saved two great-grandchildren from abortion - including one whose mother had begun the RU 486 regimen. The children were with us last night!

Now, to pray.

Go to http://www.40daysforlife.com/rochester/ for more information and to sign up for prayer times.

40 Days for Life Kickoff

The Kick-off Rally for Rochester's 40 Days for Life campaign is Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Focus Pregnancy Help Center at 86 University Ave.

There will be a pot luck dinner, live music, and inspiring speakers. Please, join us (even if you can't be there the entire time).

And don't forget to sign up to pray outside Planned Parenthood. The campaign runs form September 22 to October 31.

40 Days for Life in Rochester

We hold the first meeting for the 40 Days for Life fall campaign tonight. This year's campaign will run from September 22 to October 31.

I'm praying that more parishes, more diocesan representatives, more members of the Knights of Columbus, will join us this time.

It being an election season, maybe we can even get a politician to join us! That might draw attention. Tom Reed, the Republican candidate for the 29th Congressional District, is a Catholic. Pro-life? I don't know. But I do know his Democratic opponent has already declared himslef pro-choice.

40 Days - Midpoint Procession

We will be holding a 40 Days Midpoint Procession this Saturday, October 17.

The pro-choicers will apparently be there.

We've received word that the pro-choice side has heard about the procession and will have a counter protest to greet us when we arrive at Planned Parenthood.

The last time they tried that, they managed to gather 25-30 people loudly chanting, while more that 100 pro-lifer's prayed quietly.

But thanks to their presence, the local media finally paid attention to us!

So local pro-lifers, even if you have not been able to take part in the 40 Days campaign thus far, it's important for you to be there this Saturday!

For Catholics, there will be a Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church, 200 Pleasant Street, at noon. The marchers will gather in the parking lot next to the church at 1. We will then silently process down to Pleasant to Main Street, along Main Street to Gibbs Street, then to Planned Parenthood, where we will pray.

Don't let the usual Rochester apathy keep you away. And don't let fear prevent you from showing up. The police will be there to prevent any problems. And think of the witness we can send through the local media.

WE NEED A SHOW OF PRO-LIFE RESOLVE!

40 Days - Drawing a reaction

This video shows a group of 40 Days participants praying peacefully - and in the background you can hear the pro-choice side's loud, hostile, response. The pro-lifers continue just praying peacefully.

Who is more violent?

Apparently there has been an increase in the number the incidents this year, most involving verbal harassment. But there is one report of objects being thrown at 40 Days participants. No one has been hurt - thank God.

Who is more violent?

40 Days - Saturday Morning

I arrived for my first hour of prayer outside Planned Parenthood shortly before 7 a.m. yesterday - I am an early morning person. It was cool, but not unpleasantly cold. Traffic at that hour is light.

There was a sidewalk display at the site - a collection of stuffed animals and flowers.

Mixed in were slips of paper explaining what the display was.

I was soon joined by three other people - including a folks I've met only through blogging (good to place faces with names!). I was glad to meet them.

We prayed the daily reflection supplied by 40 Days, then a rosary (joined part-way through by Rick, who is coordinating 40 Days this year). I'm used to saying the rosary on my own; it was nice to say it with others for once. It enriched the experience for me.

After the rosary, we held signs. A couple of people had to leave early, but those who remained chatted about the campaign and the kick-off that I missed on Tuesday. One of the people who spoke at the kick-off was a man whose mother had attempted to abort him. Amazing, an abortion survivor right in our midst. I hope I get to meet him.

We also talk about sports - well it was three guys at that point, and I was wearing a Red Sox cap!
As we stood, a few cars drove by. We got a couple of supportive waves, and two ladies (Jehovah Witnesses?) pulled up to hand us Awake! saying that they agreed on the issue.

Nothing dramatic or profound happened - it was just a good experience. But nothing had to happen. We prayed - and the power of prayer will have its effect in God's good time and when the people for whom we prayed - the women and men facing choices, those who have lost their children, the employees and volunteers at Planned Parenthood, our society - are ready for God's love and grace to move them.

I will be back out there next Saturday - at 10 a.m. More traffic at that hour, and maybe a few more bloggers will join me to pray for an end to abortion and for all the people caught up in the tragedy of abortion.

40 Days for Life begins

The 40 Days for Life campaign has begun.

A while back I invited Rochester-area bloggers to join me. A few responded that they would (hooray!), but many of our more outspoken bloggers haven't.

Maybe they don't read this blog. Maybe they plan to go on their own. Maybe the first two times I picked don't fit their schedules.

Anyway, I'll be there outside Planned Parenthood this Saturday at 7 a.m., and again October 3 at 10 a.m. Bring your rosaries.

40 Days For Life - More Cities!

We had a meeting tonight of the Rochester team for 40 Days For Life.

Vigils are now scheduled for 212 cities from September 23 to November 1. Among them are Buffalo, Ithaca, Niagara Falls, Syracuse, and, of course, Rochester.

I invited fellow Rochester bloggers to join me for an hour of prayer down at Planned Parenthood. A couple responded that they would be interested. Would it be best if I just set a date and time?

40 Days - Another Baby Saved

The 40 Days for Life Campaign in Rochester has another reason to celebrate: Another young lady who ventured into Planned Parenthood came out, approached the members of the campaign praying there, and announced she was going to have her baby. They gave her literature, including information about where she can get help.

That makes four lives saved here.

Hundreds have been saved nationally. Alleluia!

40 Days: Praying PP out of business

To mark the midpoint in the 40 Days for Life campaign (technically, last Monday) in Rochester, we celebrated a Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church, then processed to Planned Parenthood's headquarters.

The Mass was concelebrated by the parish's administrator, Father Ron Antinarelli, and Father Joe Catanise, who has been active in the 40 Days campaign. More than 100 people crowded into the church.

After the Mass, participants gathered outside the church where they were addressed by 40 Days coordinator Jose Rivera.

We then marched through downtown Rochester praying the rosary. Along he way we got a thumbs up from a bus drive wearing a tau cross.

At Planned Parenthood, vigil participants waited,

then were joined by the processors for prayers,

and final words from Jose (far right).

He announced that at least 3 babies had been saved locally because of the campaign.

Hundreds have been saved nationally.

Processing to Planned Parenthood

Tomorrow (October 18) to mark passing the midpoint in the 40 Days for Life campaign, we will meet at Our Lady of Victory Church at 200 Pleasant St. in Rochester for a 12:10 Mass, then to process to the Planned Parenthood offices at 114 University Avenue.

I sent out releases to the local media - it remains to be seen whether we will be covered at all. I hope to take some pictures and to write up something to post.

But the more important thing is praying for an end to abortion. Nationwide, a reported 268 babies have been saved.

268 lives that would likely have ended if not for the campaign.

40 Days for Life: Midway

Today marks Day 20 of 40 Days for Life.

I was down at Planned Parenthood this morning, praying with fellow vigil participants (three Knights of Columbus from Hilton), saying a rosary, then praying a version of the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.")

I also prayed individually for each person driving into the Planned Parenthood Parking lot.

So far in Rochester, two babies have been reported saved. The last number I heard nationally was 114 saved.

Yesterday a church choir was there praying and singing Gregorian chant! On Saturday, a girl who had an abortion and immediately regretted it received counseling and support.

This coming Saturday there will be a Mass to mark the midpoint, then a procession to Planned Parenthood. The Mass is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church, 200 Pleasant Street, in Rochester.

40 Days for Life: First shifts

My old friend Carol Crossed and I served our first shifts at Planned Parenthood this morning as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign.

7 - 9 a.m. Just in time to greet some of the Planned Parenthood staff as they arrived. It drizzled a bit - but not bad. Even my car "assisted."

Two of the coordinators joined us for prayers, including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Frank, one of the coordinators, reported that in addition to the woman in Rochester who changed her mind about getting an abortion the other day thanks to the campaign, a woman in Buffalo had also done so.

At least two lives saved in our two cities. More on the way? How many nationally?

We got a few honks and thumbs up from passing motorists. Otherwise, quiet - but it was early on a Saturday.

Interesting conversations between prayers - including life histories (Frank telling us about the abortion he'd been involved in decades ago and now deeply regrets, for example). And even though two of us had been involved with Democrats for Life, we wondered how any Catholic can vote for Obama with a clean conscience. We also thought that it would be great to buy a building for sale across from Planned Parenthood and open a pro-life coffee house to keep a presence there.

I think after two hours in the intermittent drizzle we had coffee on our minds!

(And life, of course!)

Bob George was smart, bringing a bar stool and some coffee of his own as he and Paul Duprey relieved us at 9.

40 Days stops an abortion

The local 40 Days for Life blog already reports a success - an abortion prevented:

Anne and Sue were quietly praying, After seeing several ladies going into PP, Sue felt it would be better to hold up the 40 Days for Life sign. A lady walked by and asked about the verse on the sign ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5). It turns out, this lady was on her way to PP to have an abortion! The lady felt that Anne and Sue were a sign to her not to have an abortion. She didn't go into PP and Sue drove her home!!! Praise be to God!!!

A life saved. Think of how many lives are being saved through this campaign.

http://www.40daysforlife.com/rochester/index.cfm?load=page&page=7