Summary of Participation in the 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign
Many individuals from different churches and just about every parish took part in this fall campaign. They
answered the call to be prayerful witnesses as to what is going on behind the doors at 65 Bank (Ground Zero)….
what is being done to the lives of these the least of our brethren, the brethren who do not even have voices to
cry out.
Before we started these 40 Days campaigns, what was going at that location was largely unknown. There are no
signs indicating what’s taking place. This is the way the forces of darkness like to work: they want to keep their
deeds hidden, away from the light of day. Now, because of our presence during these campaigns, the bright light
of truth is breaking through this darkness, and showing that innocent lives are being snuffed out at Ground Zero.
The numerous people who work in the surrounding buildings, or who walk or drive by through this very busy
street, have become aware of what’s going on behind those doors. They also now know that there are individuals
unafraid and willing to stand up and pray for God’s mercy, and for His intercession to end this abomination. Of
course, the forces of darkness are not willing to give up so easily. The last week of the campaign saw some
nasty reactions. Make no mistake about it, the prayerful peaceful effort on our part is having a major impact on
our community, and the enemy does not like it one bit.
In this latest campaign we had 14 Parishes which formally registered for at least 6 consecutive hours which is
one more than the previous campaign. The ever faithful Parishes which registered or took a full 24 hour period in
both this and the previous campaign were: Annunciation of the Lord, Blessed Sacrament, St. Augustine, St
Hyacinth (Polish), St. John the Apostle, St Leonard in Manotick, St. Mary’s, St. Maurice.
These were joined during this Campaign in the 24 hour category by St. Patrick’s Basilica, and most remarkable
was Holy Korean Martyrs, one of the smaller Parishes in the diocese. They wound up taking a full 24 hours
largely through the zealous efforts of Esther Choi Brassard.
Divine Infant Parish in Orleans, initially signed up for 6 hours, but wound up covering 21 hours because of the
tenacious efforts of Marlene Holt and Diane Naipaul. It’s amazing what zeal for the Lord and the unborn can
accomplish.
Parishes which signed up for 6 hours were Paroisse Ste. Marie in Orleans (the 2nd such effort for this
Paroisse), St. Georges, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Russell, and of note, Our Lady of Divine Love in the
tiny rural municipality of Pendleton, perhaps the smallest Parish in the diocese.
There were also five inter-church groups or ministries that sighed up for an extended period at the Vigil site
(which is two more than the previous campaign). First and foremost, university students from CCO (Catholic
Christian Outreach) took a total of 36 hours, covering all the lively night shifts from midnight very Saturday to 6
am Sunday. And then there was NET, or National Evangelization Team, comprised of youth that took a full 24
hour day. The presence of so many youth at one time praying publicly was very uplifting. About 12 consecutive
hours were taken by Couples for Christ (their 3rd Campaign), and the Pieta Prayer Group. Bound for Life also
took a number of hours as they did in the previous campaigns.
The many individuals who did multiple shifts constitute the backbone of the campaign. There was 81 year old
Frank Barrett from Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, who did every morning shift from 7 to 8 am and more, for a
total of 50 hours. His example was followed by Helena Szakowski from St. Mary’s who did 42 hours during the
campaign, mainly by doing the 5 to 6 pm shift during weeks days. Per Olav Talgoy from St. Augustine, also
inspired by Frank did 36 hours during the midnight to 1 am shift.
These are just some of the individuals who demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the 40 Days for Life
Campaign. There are many more, including some that did not register for the shifts they came to do the vigil.
Please accept our humblest apologies for not mentioning everyone in this brief summary.
Stanley Siok
40 Days for Life English Catholic Church Coordinator