ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT:
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
17 Feb 2012
Hobart is the latest Australian city to join the annual 40 Days for Life prayer vigil for mothers and their unborn children.
From 21 February, on the eve of Ash Wednesday, many hundreds of Tasmanians as well as concerned men and women in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Tweed Heads, Adelaide and Perth will hold round-the-clock prayer vigils for the unborn and to raise awareness of the increasingly large number of abortions performed in Australia each year.
"The tragic reality of abortion continues on a daily basis, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of unborn children and causing untold suffering and pain for mothers, fathers, abortion workers and indeed our entire culture," says Bishop Julian Porteous, the Archdiocese of Sydney's Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation and Renewal and Patron of the city's 40 Days for Life campaign.
To launch this year's vigil for the unborn, Bishop Porteous will preside over Mass at St Peter's Catholic Church, Surry Hills, before leading a group of more than 400 including a number of priests and religious, on a candlelight procession along Devonshire Street to the Preterm Abortion Clinic on the corner of Elizabeth and Randall Streets.
The Preterm Clinic is the city's best known abortion clinic and as in previous years, participants in Sydney's 40 Day Lenten Prayer Vigil will gather on the corner opposite. Those taking part will operate in shifts so throughout the 40 days of Lent, there will always be a group keeping vigil and praying for the mothers and their unborn children.
In addition, trained counsellors from Family Life International, which hosts the event, will be on hand to answer questions from passersby and to offer support and comfort to those asking for help.
"Sometimes women who believe abortion is their only option will stop and talk and with patience, love and prayer we are able to show them that terminating a pregnancy is not the answer," says Paul Hanrahan, Director of Family Life International, pointing out that what many people don't realise is that counselling and support for a mother-to-be is ongoing and often includes financial help as well.
"Some women we help already have three children and with a husband out of a job, she is in a panic about how they will manage with the arrival of another child. But we help with finances when needed," Paul says. "We also have a large network of volunteers who assist the mother with baby- sitting, shopping and many other different ways not only during the pregnancy but after the baby is born."
Interestingly, while pregnant, a woman may be at her wit's end and see abortion as the only possible solution, when she is given the assistance and counselling needed to change her mind and to instead decide to continue her pregnancy and have the baby, the panic and fears disappears and she copes extremely well.
"None of the many 'turnarounds' we have had has regretted the decision to have their babies and are always overcome with joy when the infant arrives," he says. "They also find their worst fears are never realised and while it might be a strain financially, they realise they can manage."
During last year's 40 Days for Life Lenten Vigil in Sydney, five women about to enter the Preterm Clinic, spoke with participants in the prayer vigil, then changed their minds and by December 2011 had all given birth to healthy robust infants.
"To have that many decide against abortion is wonderful and particularly rewarding for all of us who believe in the sanctity of life," Paul says and hopes for even more success this year.
The 40 Days for Life Lenten campaign was founded in 2004 by a small pro-life group in Texas. Quickly spreading across the US, it is now a powerful international movement.
Since 2007, 422 cities across the US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Europe, Puerto Rico, Spain, Argentina, Armenia and Australia have held vigils, and this number keeps growing.
"As a society we cannot allow ourselves to accept the fact abortion is acceptable, because to take that view is to see human life as expendable," Bishop Julian Porteous insists and believes abortion will only end in Australia when enough people pray and fast to end it.
"The Lenten season calls us to make greater sacrifices than we normally might, so let us go in the name of Christ to Australia's oldest abortion centre to pray and reach out with charity to everyone there, especially the unborn who may never experience any love apart from our prayers."
In addition to the Shrove Tuesday, 21 February Mass and procession to the Preterm Clinic and 40 days of prayer vigils on the opposite corner, St Peter's Catholic Church in Surry Hills will be open for all night Adoration every Friday and Saturday throughout.
The 40 Days for Life Vigil culminates on Sunday, 1 April with a Mass at St Peter's followed by Benediction and a victory celebration for the many participants in the Church courtyard.
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012217_1697.shtml
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
17 Feb 2012
Candlelight procession and vigil for the unborn
From 21 February, on the eve of Ash Wednesday, many hundreds of Tasmanians as well as concerned men and women in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Tweed Heads, Adelaide and Perth will hold round-the-clock prayer vigils for the unborn and to raise awareness of the increasingly large number of abortions performed in Australia each year.
"The tragic reality of abortion continues on a daily basis, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of unborn children and causing untold suffering and pain for mothers, fathers, abortion workers and indeed our entire culture," says Bishop Julian Porteous, the Archdiocese of Sydney's Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation and Renewal and Patron of the city's 40 Days for Life campaign.
To launch this year's vigil for the unborn, Bishop Porteous will preside over Mass at St Peter's Catholic Church, Surry Hills, before leading a group of more than 400 including a number of priests and religious, on a candlelight procession along Devonshire Street to the Preterm Abortion Clinic on the corner of Elizabeth and Randall Streets.
The Preterm Clinic is the city's best known abortion clinic and as in previous years, participants in Sydney's 40 Day Lenten Prayer Vigil will gather on the corner opposite. Those taking part will operate in shifts so throughout the 40 days of Lent, there will always be a group keeping vigil and praying for the mothers and their unborn children.
Prayer Vigil Celebrates Life
"Sometimes women who believe abortion is their only option will stop and talk and with patience, love and prayer we are able to show them that terminating a pregnancy is not the answer," says Paul Hanrahan, Director of Family Life International, pointing out that what many people don't realise is that counselling and support for a mother-to-be is ongoing and often includes financial help as well.
"Some women we help already have three children and with a husband out of a job, she is in a panic about how they will manage with the arrival of another child. But we help with finances when needed," Paul says. "We also have a large network of volunteers who assist the mother with baby- sitting, shopping and many other different ways not only during the pregnancy but after the baby is born."
Priests and Religious join young Catholics to participate
in 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil
in 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil
"None of the many 'turnarounds' we have had has regretted the decision to have their babies and are always overcome with joy when the infant arrives," he says. "They also find their worst fears are never realised and while it might be a strain financially, they realise they can manage."
During last year's 40 Days for Life Lenten Vigil in Sydney, five women about to enter the Preterm Clinic, spoke with participants in the prayer vigil, then changed their minds and by December 2011 had all given birth to healthy robust infants.
"To have that many decide against abortion is wonderful and particularly rewarding for all of us who believe in the sanctity of life," Paul says and hopes for even more success this year.
Bishop Julian at the 40 Days for Life vigil last year.
Since 2007, 422 cities across the US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Europe, Puerto Rico, Spain, Argentina, Armenia and Australia have held vigils, and this number keeps growing.
"As a society we cannot allow ourselves to accept the fact abortion is acceptable, because to take that view is to see human life as expendable," Bishop Julian Porteous insists and believes abortion will only end in Australia when enough people pray and fast to end it.
"The Lenten season calls us to make greater sacrifices than we normally might, so let us go in the name of Christ to Australia's oldest abortion centre to pray and reach out with charity to everyone there, especially the unborn who may never experience any love apart from our prayers."
In addition to the Shrove Tuesday, 21 February Mass and procession to the Preterm Clinic and 40 days of prayer vigils on the opposite corner, St Peter's Catholic Church in Surry Hills will be open for all night Adoration every Friday and Saturday throughout.
The 40 Days for Life Vigil culminates on Sunday, 1 April with a Mass at St Peter's followed by Benediction and a victory celebration for the many participants in the Church courtyard.
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012217_1697.shtml
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