By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
In this file photo from 2012, archdiocesan volunteers are shown standing in prayerful vigil outside an abortion clinic as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign which begins Ash Wednesday and ends Palm Sunday.
MIAMI | On Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday - volunteers from throughout South Florida once again joined the 40 Days for Life campaign, 40 days of prayer and peaceful vigil outside local abortion facilities. The campaign coincides with the 40 days of Lent and concludes March 29, Palm Sunday.
"We pray that, with God’s help, this will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our city — and beyond," said Joan Crown, archdiocesan director of the Respect Life Office.
The local prayer vigils are taking place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in the public right-of-way outside an abortion facility in Miami-Dade County and another in Broward. All vigil participants sign a "statement of peace" and pledge to conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner at all times.
The campaign began in Bryan/College Station, Texas, in 2004, and has reached 559 communities throughout the U.S. More than 650,000 people representing 17,000 local churches have committed to pray and fast, said Shawn Carney, national 40 Days for Life campaign director. She said the lives of "at least 9,699" unborn children have been spared from abortion because of the campaign.
"We know 40 Days for Life has made a difference in Miami," said Kathy Weissinger, director of the Respect Life Office's South Dade Pregnancy Help Center and coordinator of the Miami campaign. "Our volunteers have made extraordinary sacrifices to expose the abortion industry and to protect children and their mothers from abortion."
Those interested in taking part in 40 Days for Life can sign up to become a "prayer warrior" at one of two locations:
- A Choice for Women, 6660 S.W. 117 Ave., Miami and
- South Dade Planned Parenthood, 263 North University Drive, Pembroke Pines.
