March 12, 2024

So far, this campaign, headquarters has recorded 130 babies saved from abortion, due to a 40 Days for Life world-wide campaign of prayer and fasting during Lent.

Some of you may have known Jim Pierce. He was a long-time pro-life activist who participated in many pro-life events, including the 40 Days for Life campaign. I’m sad to report that, after a few months of illness, Jim has passed away at 90 years of age. If you wish to pay your last respects, visitation is taking place this Friday morning, March 15, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at Kelly Funeral Home, 2370 St. Joseph Blvd.  At 11:00 am, a funeral Mass will take place at Annunciation of the Lord Parish, 2414 Ogilvie Road. This will be followed by a light lunch.

Last month I told you about a Project Rachel retreat for those suffering the loss of a baby through miscarriage or an abortion (April 19-21, contact by calling, 289-691-6840 or by email, projectrachel@stmarysrefuge.org) This is an English retreat.

I have since heard about a Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat taking place in French, in the Quebec City area, from May 3-5, 2024. For more information call Lise at 418-456-0743 or by email parle-moi-peurs@hotmail.com  More information is available at, www.vignederachelquebec.org  Please pass along this information to anyone who might be interested.

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Roe vs Wade decision of 1973 (which effectively legalized abortion in the U.S.A. by upholding that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment to their Constitution). This reversal is called the Dobb’s victory. It has caused great excitement not only in the U.S., but also in Canada.

As of 1988 Canada has had no law regarding abortion, it is neither legal, nor illegal, thus giving free reign to abortion-on-demand at any time during the entire nine months of pregnancy, with some provinces even funding abortions as a matter of health. Since when is pregnancy a disease?

Josie and Ruth are two Canadian women who have been inspired to bring about a change in our Canadian law and win a victory for the child in the womb. In an attempt to uncover the roadmap to a Canadian version of the Dobb’s victory, they began their journey at the Washington March for Life in January 2023 and ended at the Canadian March for Life in May 2023.

A documentary has been put together called, ROE CANADA (website, http://roecanada.com).  It’s being screened for the first time in Ottawa on Wednesday May 2, 2024 at 7:00 pm, at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa.

Let us continue to unite our prayers, sacrifices and fasting with all those around the world during this 2024 Winter/Spring 40 Days for Life.

Yours for Life,

Wanda

Wanda Hartlin

Co-Ordinator

40 Days for Life, Ottawa

wanda40daysforlife@clife.ca

February 26, 2024

After the first full week of 40 Days for Life Lenten campaign, 35 babies, that we know of, have been spared from the tragedy of abortion.

Many of us have seen the movie, Unplanned. It’s based on the true story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director. In the movie, we hear Abby’s story of how she joined Planned Parenthood with a sincere desire to help young pregnant girls. She thought she was doing a good thing, until one day, due to a staff shortage, she was asked to assist an abortionist by helping with the ultrasound. It was then that she witnessed a little child in the womb struggling frantically against the suction of the vacuum machine in its effort to stay alive. She watched in horror as the baby was totally dismembered and sucked into the tube. Immediately afterwards she ran to the bathroom to throw up. She had never realized what an abortion really entailed. This experience changed her life and converted her to a future of trying to help people who want to leave the abortion industry.

She now heads a group called, And Then There Were None. On their website, abortionworker.com, they write, “We help people in the abortion industry leave their jobs and rediscover the peace and joy they’ve been missing.” The website goes on to say, “We Understand. We understand the guilt. We understand the regrets. We understand the pressure. But we don’t have to live that life anymore. Together we can quit.”

It's amazing how God uses our experiences, whatever they are – for good. Here we have someone who was fully supportive of women/girls having abortions, seeing them as a good thing – and then having a complete turn around when she came into a full understanding of what abortion really entails. And now Abby Johnson uses these experiences, of being on the inside of Planned Parenthood, to help others who leave the abortion industry to start on a new track. 

Abby Johnson will be speaking in Ottawa this Spring at the National March for Life, Rose Dinner, on Thursday May 9, 2024. Both Abby and Shawn Carney, President/CEO of 40 Days for Life are keynote speakers at the Rose Dinner. To find out about purchasing tickets call Campaign Life Coalition, in Ottawa at 613-729-0379 or toll free at 1-800-730-5358. You can also check their website, campaignlifecoalition.com In the top right-hand corner you will find, MARCH FOR LIFE information.

A Novena of Masses, nine consecutive days of praying the Mass, is taking place from March 1 to March 9 (inclusive), all at 9:00 am at St. Mary’s Parish (Ottawa), 100 Young Street, with the intention, For the permanent closure of the Bank Street abortion facility and the conversion of all its staff.  Attend if you can, if cannot attend, unite your prayers at the time (between 9 – 9:30 am) for this same intention.

This week, let us pray for doctors and clinic staff who work in the abortion business, that they might have a change of heart so that they will stop practicing and promoting abortions.

Yours for Life,

Wanda Hartlin

Co-Ordinator

40 Days for Life, Ottawa

wanda40daysforlife@clife.ca

February 20, 2024

This year 40 Days for Life has its largest Lenten campaign with 656 cities worldwide participating in the campaign. From Montreal, the Campagne Québec-Vie office informed me that Paris France is one of the international cities participating!

Ottawa is not included in this number because we are doing a prayer-only campaign. The Ottawa website is not up. Since we are not holding an outdoor vigil, we have not paid the registration fee which gives us access to a local 40 Days for Life website.

I have wonderful news – you may have already heard, but I just found out at the end of last week that Canada has had its first abortion facility closure, Clinic 554. Thank you, Lord! My heart was jumping for joy!

If you haven’t heard of Clinic 554 in Fredericton New Brunswick, I’ll give you a little information – It opened in downtown Fredericton thirty years ago as the Morgentaler Clinic. In 2014 it changed hands, run by Dr. Adrian Edgar, and the name was changed to Clinic 554.

Edgar claimed that the provincial government was breaching the Canada Health Act by not paying for abortions at his facility.  The Canada Health Act was established to guarantee that basic health coverage is available in every province. Abortion is an elective procedure therefore it is not mandatory for one’s health. Premier Higgs received backlash from the Federal government because he has refused to fund private abortion clinics.

As in every other province, hospitals that perform abortions are funded, but this requirement does not hold for private clinics.

Edgar has been threatening to close the facility for the last two years, and, thanks be to God. It’s finally happened! The reason given, it’s no longer financially sustainable.

Let us pray that our own Morgentaler Clinic on Bank Street will eventually join Clinic 554 as one of the closed abortion facilities.

Yours for Life,

Wanda

Wanda Hartlin

Co-Ordinator

40 Days for Life, Ottawa

wanda40daysforlife@clife.ca