Fall 40 Days for Life campaign kicks off in St. Cloud

  • A woman prays the Rosary for the end of abortion during the rally, which began at 10 a.m. and lasted for an hour. (Gianna Bonello/Central Minnesota Catholic)

By Gianna Bonello

The fall 40 Days for Life campaign in St. Cloud kicked off on Sept. 25 with a prayer rally and gathering in downtown St. Cloud.

Over 30 people showed up to pray Saturday morning outside of the St. Cloud Planned Parenthood building. Sarah Musil led the group in a rosary for the unborn, and Allen Heck, a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, led a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

The rally ended with a potluck at St. Augustine Church.

“It was inspiring to see so many people who share the same faith and who are for the same cause to end abortion,” said Leah Wienhold, who attended the opening rally with her mother, Sue Wienhold. “Speaking from my own personal experience of having an abortion myself, I feel like it’s very personal for me, for one, and necessary to just get out in the open … and let your views be known.”

40 Days for Life is an international campaign whose goal is to end abortion through the efforts of a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and community outreach organized through local campaigns, according to the 40 Days for Life website.

“Catching people’s attention is a big thing to actually make them think about it … like myself back in the day. I didn’t even think twice about certain issues like that, so it at least forces people to recognize this is a topic that maybe I should look into a little bit more,” Wienhold said.

The campaign’s main stage involves praying and holding a peaceful presence outside local abortion clinics and facilities.

“Showing up to an abortion facility is probably the most effective way to shut it down,” said Brody Hagemeier, co-coordinator for the St. Cloud campaign.

40 Days for Life is present in 64 nations and in all 50 states. Minnesota alone has four campaigns, including in St. Cloud, where it has been present since 2007.

The St. Cloud campaign will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday on the public sidewalks outside the St. Cloud Planned Parenthood on East St. Germain Street. Anyone can participate in the campaign by joining in prayer and an onsite, peaceful vigil now through Oct. 31.

“If anyone wants to get involved, just show up,” Hagemeier encouraged.

Hagemeier said parking is not allowed in the Planned Parenthood parking lot but is available on nearby roads or at St. Augustine Church a block away.

“Signs will be provided. There’s a day captain there. Each day has its own day captain, so there’s going to be someone who’s there the entire time who can answer questions [and] provide some guidance, so that if you haven’t been involved before and you want to get involved, there are easy ways to do that,” Hagemeier said.

Hagemeier said that, while prayer is the focus of the campaign, there are no specific requirements volunteers need to follow.

“If you want to stand silently and hold a sign without praying, that’s fine. If you want to be there and not hold a sign at all but pray … having a physical, peaceful presence is most important,” Hagemeier said.

Vigil participants do not have to commit to a weekly hour, although it is highly encouraged.

Hagemeier said not to be intimidated by the expectations of the campaign.

“It’s probably the most flexible pro-life effort that you’ll ever find. You show up basically whenever you want, stay as long as you want, do whatever you want, as long as it is peaceful and prayerful and supports the mission of life,” he said.

Hagemeier stressed the importance of remaining peaceful, saying that if a volunteer wants to be officially affiliated with the campaign, they must sign a statement of peace to promise to “not engage in anything illegal, reckless, or violent that would misrepresent the pro-life movement or 40 Days for Life organization.”

“Be peaceful about it, don’t be confrontational with anyone,” Hagemeier said.

Volunteers can also participate in the efforts on their own through fasting and prayer.

The campaign ends with a closing rally Oct. 31.

40 Days for Life began in 2004 in Bryan, Texas. In 2007, the first national effort launched with over 89 cities in 33 states participating. Since then, it has grown to all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

All campaigns throughout the country “are built on those pillars of prayer and fasting, physically being present outside the abortion facility, as close to 40 days continuously as possible, especially starting and ending on the same day,” Hagemeier said.

According to the national 40 Days for Life website, since the campaign launched in 2007, more than 19,000 lives have been saved from abortion, 222 abortion workers have left, and 114 abortion centers have closed.

To sign up for a designated vigil hour or for more information about the St. Cloud campaign, visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/st.cloud.

Author: The Central Minnesota Catholic

The Central Minnesota Catholic is the magazine for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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