By Dave Jolivet
ATTLEBORO — In what feels like an never-ending battle against the culture of death, the Attleboro Pro-Life community is making plans for its 14th annual 40 Days for Life campaign, this year running from September 22 to October 31. Nationally, this is the 27th campaign.
The 40 Days for Life campaign is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.
Ron and Angela Larose, the Attleboro coordinators, told The Anchor, “We are looking forward to seeing all our faithful supporters who have joined us in witness and prayer as we begin our 14th year of prayer and fasting.
“We stand united for life in our small corner of the vineyard at the last remaining abortion clinic in the entire southeast region of Massachusetts. Recent legislative initiatives at the state level across the country demonstrates the resolve of the Pro-Life movement to protect mothers and babies from this terrible affliction in our land. Please consider spending time in prayer and fast with us this campaign as we continue our faithful witness to the Gospel of Life.”
The Attleboro chapter now has an active website, www.40daysforlife.com/attleboro. The site includes a vigil calendar where faithful can sign up for a specific hour during the campaign. It also includes campaign flyers and information about the national campaign.
The Attleboro flyer for this year’s campaign implores people to “Help save lives in Attleboro!” It indicates that all can help save mothers and children by joining the worldwide mobilization to pray and fast for an end to abortion.
The vigil location in Attleboro is Four Women Clinic, 150 Emory Street in Attleboro. The vigil hours are daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Statistics show that because of the prayers and fasting of Pro-Life advocates over the last 26 years, nearly 19,000 babies were spared the horror of being aborted; 221 abortion workers converted; and 112 abortion clinics were closed.
Locally, a Memorial Service for Aborted Children will take place tomorrow, September 18, at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Towne Street in North Attleboro from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
On this day, Pro-Life Americans across the country will gather at memorial sites such as St. Mary’s Cemetery for the ninth annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.
Prayer services are held at these sites to commemorate the more than 60 million innocent lives taken by abortion since 1973. The services are also a reminder to all of the humanity of the unborn child.
Also tomorrow (September 18) St. Catherine of Siena Church in Norwood, 547 Washington Street, will host the Pro-Life Prayer Launch for the 40 days.
A 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated with Father Michael McNamara. Steve Karlen, the North American Campaign Director, will speak at 7 p.m. (There is no opening ceremony in Attleboro this year.)
After volunteering to lead the campaign in Madison, Wisc., Karlen successfully led the fight against opening a late-term abortion center on the campus of his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. He documents the story in his book, “This is When We Begin to Fight.” All are welcome and there is no charge for the ceremony.
On September 23 there will be an Abundant Hope Virtual Fundraiser at 7 p.m. Folks can register for this at ahprc.ejoinme.org/2021celebratelife. For more information or questions call 508-455-0425 or email director@ahprc.org.
For local information about the Attleboro 40 Days for Life, contact Ron or Angela Larose at 508-736-9813 or email 40dflattleboro@comcast.net.
