Dear Deacon John,
Like many people, I
was first inspired to get involved in the pro-life movement because of
courageous leadership from the clergy.
Countless pastors
from many churches have helped spread 40 Days for Life … and they all
need our prayers as they proclaim the Word of God in a hostile world.
Prominent
Evangelical, Catholic and Protestant leaders have endorsed 40 Days for
Life and encouraged the faithful to defend God's most vulnerable among
us. You can see these leaders – and their words of endorsement – at:
One of those
leaders is dominating the media this week, and he will be visiting three
major cities where 40 Days for Life vigils are taking place – Pope
Francis!
Pope Francis has
supported 40 Days for Life around the globe and was able to meet our
international outreach director, Robert Colquhoun, in Rome.
As Pope Francis
visits the United States, local 40 Days for Life leaders are reaching
out to those traveling to Washington, New York and Philadelphia. One
leader said, “If people are coming to town to see the pope, they’re also
invited to come pray at our vigil!”
No matter where you live, you can find your closest campaign location here:
Today’s update
starts with a report from Robert, who’s visiting team leaders and
volunteers in Slovenia … and ends with prayer for all of our shepherds.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia is hosting
its second 40 Days for Life campaign. Matjaz Venta, the local leader,
has a very deep faith and is passionate about prayer and the pro-life
cause.
Abortion was
legalised during the communist era. Although communism came to an end 25
years ago, it still pervades the country’s mentality. There are 4,000
abortions a year among the two million population.
Their prayer vigil
is outside the local hospital, where abortions are performed in three
different locations inside. Nada, one of the volunteers, tells me they
received spiteful responses from some members of the public following
their first campaign, although there were positive comments too.
Around the corner,
we prayed in a church which was confiscated by the communists and turned
into a film studio. Also during that era, abortions were performed in
the Jesuit house. The abortion room is now a chapel. It is a telling
story of the spiritual journey of the country.
I look forward to what God has in store for Slovenia!
Thanks to Robert Colquhoun for this update from Ljubljana.
White Plains, New York
This 40 Days for
Life campaign kicked off with a rally in front of Planned Parenthood – a
building featuring a big pink banner with the words, “health care
happens here.” Gerald Yeung, the local leader, told the group that God
is always doing something good – and it often involves 40 Days for Life.
Fr. Thomas
Kallumady, pastor of St. John the Evangelist / Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Parish, thanked the attendees for witnessing to their faith and their
“love for the unborn and the living.” Maria Teresa Rueda prayed in
Spanish for God's protection over the unborn and their parents.
Sister Shirley Ann
of the Sisters of Life prayed that God's mercy, grace and strength would
“overtake every woman that comes to this Planned Parenthood.”
Today’s devotional is from Rev. Clenard Childress of Life Education and Resources Network.
Day 2 intention
Day 2 intention
Let us pray that pastors may not be distracted from the priority of caring for human lives.
Scripture
In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
— Acts 6:1
Reflection by Rev. Clenard Childress
More folks learning left some yearning.
It is the dawning of a new day. There is much excitement in Jerusalem. Many who dedicated themselves to the faith became disciples (the word disciple means learner).
The unprecedented church growth was miraculous and undoubtedly brought much satisfaction to the new leadership. The apostles, however, were about to experience growing pains in their master plan of evangelism.
Projects that engage the community, especially those that are evangelistic in nature, are high on the list of priorities for every duty-bound pastor.
Church attendance is a constant concern for every pastor and often his or her worth is measured by it. Unfortunately, just as the original twelve pastors in Acts, they can be so focused on getting people in that they inadvertently end up pushing some people out.
Murmuring is a deplorable deterrent to a harmonious fellowship, yet God used it to get the disciples attention. Those that needed daily attention due to their age and social status were being neglected.
This neglect of the Hellenist widows during the daily distribution of food was causing undue grief and needed to be corrected by the leadership. By God’s grace the problem was dealt with, but the lesson remains.
And during these 40 days, let us pray that today's church not make the same mistake of forgetting the contributions of our seniors, or the needs of the weakest among us, the unborn.
Prayer
Father, in the Church’s desire to engage our communities with the Gospel let her not disengage from those who need their care and company the most.
Let us gain wisdom from those who have gone before us and cherish their experiences and perspectives. Help us to appreciate every soul in the body of Christ and minister properly to everybody. Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
More folks learning left some yearning.
It is the dawning of a new day. There is much excitement in Jerusalem. Many who dedicated themselves to the faith became disciples (the word disciple means learner).
The unprecedented church growth was miraculous and undoubtedly brought much satisfaction to the new leadership. The apostles, however, were about to experience growing pains in their master plan of evangelism.
Projects that engage the community, especially those that are evangelistic in nature, are high on the list of priorities for every duty-bound pastor.
Church attendance is a constant concern for every pastor and often his or her worth is measured by it. Unfortunately, just as the original twelve pastors in Acts, they can be so focused on getting people in that they inadvertently end up pushing some people out.
Murmuring is a deplorable deterrent to a harmonious fellowship, yet God used it to get the disciples attention. Those that needed daily attention due to their age and social status were being neglected.
This neglect of the Hellenist widows during the daily distribution of food was causing undue grief and needed to be corrected by the leadership. By God’s grace the problem was dealt with, but the lesson remains.
And during these 40 days, let us pray that today's church not make the same mistake of forgetting the contributions of our seniors, or the needs of the weakest among us, the unborn.
Prayer
Father, in the Church’s desire to engage our communities with the Gospel let her not disengage from those who need their care and company the most.
Let us gain wisdom from those who have gone before us and cherish their experiences and perspectives. Help us to appreciate every soul in the body of Christ and minister properly to everybody. Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
For life,
|
SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
|
