John Beckman, left, and his brother, Mark Beckman, both of Barkhamsted and members of St. Therese Parish, Granby, display a pro-life banner in front of Hartford GYN Center, an abortion facility, on the first day of the Forty Days for Life campaign in September 2009. Parishes in the Archdiocese are planning to fast, hold 24-hour eucharistic adoration and participate in a prayer vigil at the abortion facility. (Photo by Jack Sheedy)
MERIDEN – The Pro-Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford is planning its third 40 Days for Life campaign for the fall.
The campaign, which will take place from Sept. 22 through Oct. 31 throughout the Archdiocese, is a 40-day, around-the-clock prayer vigil. It involves educational outreach, prayer, fasting and keeping a vigil in a church or at an abortion clinic. Its goal is to end abortion in this country.
The campaign dates were selected to precede the November elections, with the hope that new, more pro-life legislators will be elected. The campaign also will highlight for the general public the negative impact abortion has on women, men, families and communities.
"This is an opportunity for all to participate in a campaign that truly does save lives and heal those hurt by abortion," said Mary Lou Peters, local director of the campaign.
Archbishop Henry J. Mansell supports the participation of parishes in the campaign. Each parish is being contacted with details on how to become part of this life-saving effort.
"Every day here in Connecticut and throughout the United States, the most defenseless human beings among us are being killed. These most innocent lives are taken by abortion," Mrs. Peters said. "Since the Roe v. Wade decision, more than 51 million babies have been aborted. Shamefully, Connecticut is one of the few states increasing in number of abortions performed."
Mrs. Peters said that during the Archdiocese’s 40 Days for Life campaigns in 2008 and 2009, people of all ages prayed outside of the Hartford GYN Center abortion clinic that mothers would change their minds about having abortions. Twenty-eight mothers did not have abortions, she said.
Participating churches register for a specific day to hold 24 hours of adoration, from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., in the church and 12 hours, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., of peaceful, prayerful vigil at the Hartford GYN Center abortion clinic at 1 Main St., Hartford.
Mrs. Peters said that the campaign is neither a demonstration nor a protest.
"It is critical to have volunteers praying outside the Hartford GYN Center every day of the 40-day campaign. This is how innocent lives are saved," she said.
Mrs. Peters is seeking more people who will participate outside of the abortion clinic in Hartford. She can be reached at (203) 745-7300 or
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Hartford Archdiocese’s efforts are part of a coordinated international campaign involving cities across the country as well as in Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland.
