40 Days for Life campaign starts on Sept. 28, more participants needed

Participants in the 2015 40 Days for Life midpoint rally hold pro-life signs on March 14 outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Indianapolis. (Criterion file photo by Natalie Hoefer)

Criterion staff report

40 Days for Life is an international campaign that seeks to end abortion through peaceful prayer vigils at abortion centers, and to raise community awareness of the consequences of abortion.

The campaign runs twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. During the 40-day campaigns, individuals silently pray during one-hour time slots in front of abortion centers around the world.

This year, the fall campaign runs from Sept. 28-Nov. 6, with Indianapolis and Bloomington participating within the archdiocese.

Cities participating near archdiocesan boundaries include Evansville, Ind. (Evansville Diocese), Louisville, Ky. (Archdiocese of Louisville) and Cincinnati, Ohio (Archdiocese of Cincinnati).

All campaigns are in need of volunteers to sign up to pray.

For more information or to sign up for a prayer time slot, log onto 40daysforlife.com and click on “Locations.”

For those without computer access, see each location below for a number to call for more information or to sign up.

Bloomington

The Bloomington 40 Days for Life campaign will take place on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood facility at 421 S. College Ave.

Contact: Monica Siefker, 812-330-1535.

Indianapolis

The Central Indiana (Indianapolis) 40 Days for Life campaign will take place on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood facility at 8590 Georgetown Road.

A kickoff rally will take place at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, 7575 Holliday Drive E., in Indianapolis, in the parish hall at 3 p.m. on Sept. 25, featuring guest speaker Father John Hollowell, pastor of Assumption Parish in Brazil and St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Greencastle.

A midpoint rally will be held on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood facility at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 15, and a closing rally will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the St. Luke parish hall.

Contact: Kelly Leszczewski, 937-903-3233.

Evansville

The Evansville 40 Days for Life campaign will take place on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood facility at 125 North Weinbach Ave.

Contact: Cathie Francis, 812-474-3195.

Cincinnati

The Cincinnati 40 Days for Life campaign will take place on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood facility at 2314 Auburn Ave.

There will be several events held at this location during the fall campaign:

Kickoff rally, 7 p.m. on Sept. 27, featuring Mercy Father Anthony Stephens, director of field education and pastoral internship year at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati.

United for Life rally, 7 p.m. on Oct. 6. This hour-long program will feature local leaders, members of the 40 Days for Life headquarters team, and speakers from the United for Life tour partners.

Midpoint rally, 7 p.m. on Oct. 21, featuring guest speaker Brad Mattes, president and CEO of Life Issues Institute in Cincinnati.

Friday evening group prayer vigil, 7-8 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.

Rosary Rally to end the campaign, 3-4 p.m. on Nov. 6, with guest speaker and prayer leader Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Binzer of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Contact: Mary Clark, 513-791-4039.

Louisville

The Louisville 40 Days for Life campaign will take place on the public right-of-way outside of the EMW Women’s Surgical Center at 138 W. Market St.

A kickoff rally will be held there at 3 p.m. on Sept. 24, featuring the personal testimony from a mother who chose life for her twins.

Contact: Laura and Adam Grijalba, 502-475-5403. †