40 Days for Life Closing Rally

A special cake to thank all the volunteers who took part in the 40 Day vigil for Life.
The wall of fame - those are just some of the ~250 volunteers from all across New Brunswick who came to pray at the vigil site.

The pro-aborts tried to counter our vigil several times; they were able to gather about a dozen of people on one or two occasions, but they couldn't match our vigil. Today, in the vigil's last hours they gathered again - just to find over 30 people on our side.

(One of them later sent us an e-mail request to have their pictures removed. Not sure if we actually needed his permission to post the pictures, considering that the sidewalk by the hospital is a public space. But if they don't want their faces to be seen - I guess we can honor that request.)

To those, who had the courage to reject donuts and coffee when offered (because the 40 Day vigil meant not just praying, but also fasting) - an exquisite buffet.

After the dinner and the cake, it's time for a speech or two...

Speech by Peter Ryan, Executive Director of the New Brunswick Right to Life:

And the final part - the closing prayer:

40 Day Notes - Part 4: Pray For The Unborn - Rain Or Shine

Here are some more vigil notes by Rosalie:

All who do evil, hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed

(John 3; 20)

Tuesday, October 5^th. Day 14
Many believers at all times today, praying alone or in groups. We get some negatives but mostly positives. It is sunny and even too warm when the sun is facing us. We close tonight eight of us. The traffic still quite heavy by 7 pm.

Wednesday, October 6^th. Day 15.
Peter and Chuck from Fredericton pray with us for several hrs. Several new faces today. People are finding the courage to venture out and pray in public. A display of their convictions regarding the reality of the slaughter of the innocent. Eleven of us at closing time, certainly sending a strong message about the importance of this vigil.

Thursday. October 7^th. Day16.
Have no fear. Thaddee, Glenda and Regina from Fredericton are here. A light morning rain pushed by a vigorous wind, is knocking our chairs over. Mid day a car pulls over to tell us how upset he is that we are doing this!

Friday. Oct 8^th. Day 17.
Very very windy all day ,therefore fighting to keep our signs and items in place.

A steady continuation of prayerful folks come and go. At one point, a lady pulls her car in driveway by us and is very disturbed by our presence and not open to any other point of view. We pray for her.

Saturday October 9^th. Day18.
Very nippy morning but Denis and Tony and Sister brave the elements for a couple of hrs. The Saturday traffic is diminished from the weekday. But nevertheless the hospital staff and visitors alone are reason enough for our presence on Sunday, reminding everyone of the taking of innocent lives that goes on in this very building in front of us - the hospital.

Monday. October 11^th. Day 20.
This is a busy enough day traffic wise considering that it is Thanksgiving. Many come and go and rosaries are recited in chorus and individually. Quite a cold windy day till evening. Everyone feels that cold wind ,but just the same the praying seems more intense. A young lady walks confidently by, behind us and mutters, loud enough to be heard "I'm for abortion" We pray for her.

It may seem like things are calming down, but they aren't. The guys who made it their business to boo us come by every day (we can even recognize their cars now). The protesters that tried to counter our vigil in early October, took a long break, but came back in large number yesterday. (10-12 plus those that were driving around honking to their comrades on the sidewalk. With many vigil keepers choosing to stay past their time slot and many others coming, we succeeded in outnumbering them within an hour.) Only then did the CBC discover that there's something happening just a stones throw away from their building and only then did they send their crew to take a few pictures - mostly of the protesters.

40 Days for Life - A Few Pictures

40 Day Notes - Part 3: Speak Out For Those Who Cannot Speak

And that's what we do - in spite of a handful of protesters that tried to counter our pro-life prayer vigil:

Wednesday, September 29^th - Day 8.

Thus says the lord who made you, who formed you in the womb...

(Isaiah 44:3)

The morning starts off damp and cool but quickly warms up, accompanied by strong gusts of wind. Peter, Susan and Chuck from Fredericton join us at prayer site. Rosaries in private and in unisson are recited through the day as well as quiet reading and a little chatter on and off. With the continuous traffic sound, one has to really work hard at concentrating on prayer.

A car pulls up slowly by our site and a lady says in french "why don't you let people live in peace?" We say a special prayer just for her. Another lady driving by quickly on the other side of the street calls out "why don't you mind your own business?" So consciences are being stirred, but maybe a lot of hurt also. Many many things to pray for.

Friday, October 1^st - Day 10.
Feast of St. Theresa of the little flower

The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

(Psalm 5:6)

A gentleman from the Fisheries building just by our prayer site is busy already at 8am scrubbing some graffitti off their sign; probably aimed at us. Army, Estelle and Glenda arrive from Fredericton to reinforce our prayer army, in the rain and all. The traffic on the wet pavement makes for extra noise and therefore harder to concentrate on prayer.

By 5pm a young lady in a yellow raincape and carrying a huge handmade white cardboard sign appears on the opposite sidewalk. It reads "my mind my body my choice" in large red lettering. Twelve of us in togethrness pray for her. She stays for the remaining two hrs. By herself. The rain stops in the last hour and We go home dry. God is good and he looks after his own.

"My mind, my body" - what about the baby's body? Babies want to live; they don't "choose" abortion.

Saturday, October 2^nd - Day 11.

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!

(Philippians 3:2)

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and of the Guardian Angels. How appropriate as we pray for all the little victims of abortion.

By noon rain has stoppedand a cool wind follows, but it doesn't discourage the faithful. Then 7 young ladies arrive to take their post opposite us with their "pro choice" signs. Nancy, Diane, Brenda, Mario, Cathy, Tony, Norma, Cecil and myself are praying in unisson for enlightment and understanding is dis for they know not what they do. Margot and Karl and grandaughter visit and pray with us for a short time.

3:30pm and the sun peeks out for two minutes - "a kiss from god" says Cathy. A couple of beleivers, Bernie and Don arrive from St. John to spend 2 hrs. Praying. A woman coming by on her bike makes a point of stopping and questions what we really are doing. And then says that she is 5 months pregnant and is keeping her baby. In her next sentence she tells us of her friend who had an abortion at this hospital last year and remained quite "traumatized" but is pregnant again and will be keeping this baby. We talk with her of the help that is available to help her girlfriend heal from the trauma of the abortion.

Sunday, October 3^rd - Day 12.

Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

(Proverbs 31:8-9)

A sunny but very windy cool day. Rev. Buckingham stops by to give us his blessing. University girls come by wanting to take pictures for one of their projects. Prayer warriors come and go in good numbers all day.

4:30pm. Someone looks up directly above us and mixed in with blue skies and clouds is this lone piece of rainbow which many of us see. It is gone after 5 minutes - and we wonder about the significance?

R. Leblanc comes by to pray and later produces a stump of wood {which he has had for 10 years} an amazing sight,where the chainsaw made the cut, a very visible form of the fetus in utero is outlined. Jeannette shares with me that, when at home, she's sort of lonely and anxious to return to the 40day prayer site. So as you see god is working on us as well during this precious time praying for the unborn and all involved.

Monday, October 4^th - Day 13.

Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their parents.

(Deuteronomy 24:16)

The day starts off sunny, windy and a bit cool. Prayer warriors show up in numbers. The fisheries building behind us does their lawn for the second time in 12 days, so we move all our possesions back and forth, and impossible to pray for a short time. A lady walks by three of us praying approx. 11 am and makes sure we hear her saying "you guys are bullies". We pray for her. At noon time, a staff person from the hospital speaks to Mae "what have you against the French? Why not demonstrate in front of the English hospital? They do more abortions than us." Pierre walks by again and chats - still trying to figure us out and wants to talk politics.

By 4:30 pm, as we are reciting the rosary, a young lady running in spandex outfit, stops and in a high pitch perfect French tells us we have no buisiness being here like this and "excuse me but you are all old and it's us women who have the babies". When someone tries to say something to her.she promptly continues her run.

5:30 pm and cold wind is in our back. While we are praying a rosary together, a grey van slows down near us, opens his window, extends his right hand's "negative third finger" and makes sure that we all see him. We pray for him also surprisingly we do get a lot of prayers said through all these interuptions. We are eight and closing time sending our prayers heavenward.

(Sent by Rosalie)

On Sunday, October 3^rd we also had the life chain. But the 40 Days for Life vigil continued uninterrupted.

40 Day Notes - Part 2: You Are Worth More Than Many Sparrows

Greenpeace is there to defend baby sparrows - we're here to defend baby humans. Here are few more 40 Day vigil notes from Rosalie:

Sunday, September 26^th - Day 5

Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

(Matt: 10 30-31)

Doris has her prayer warriors at their post; even the little puppy {she is babysitting for the weekend} a bit of wind but the sunshine is very welcome. Praying is continuous, but distractions galore as the football game taking place at the new university stadium creates much car and pedestrian traffic. A gentleman drives his big motorbike very close by to say "I want to commend you people for what you are doing". The respect felt from most walkers in front and behind us -- came via their silence as they passed and then resumed chatter at a distance. One energetic young man skipped sideways close in front of 8 of us praying as he called out "choice choice choice".

6pm and Shane and Rebecca and their 2 girls, on their return trip to Fredericton from Halifax, join us for an hour of prayer. During that time, a bit of commotion when a young fellow comes behind us quite angry and loud. "You people and your signs made me miss my bus." He figured the bus driver mistook him for one of us and therefore did not stop. When he was offered a ride home by Shane he walked away still angry. That was the last bus of the day and so, a good 45 minute walk. Another one on foot; starts talking behind us and when we turn says "you must have conviction" and then he blesses himself and keeps walking.

Monday, September 27^th - Day 6

Communion with Christ gives us our strength, our joy, and our love

(Mother Theresa)

4 Degrees this morning in Moncton and we find 7 souls, warmly dressed and reverently praying at 7am. Mid-morning Melissa, pushing a rather large baby carriage says "I can leave these 2 with you for the day, if you want" - the most beautiful 8 month old girls, and the mother shares how they are a joy to care for.

By noon we are praying under a warm sun and even though our chart has no names for a few hours, lo and behold angels appear from nowhere just when we need them it seems. A car drives by slowly. You never know what to expect but just then the window comes down and the driver says "god bless you for what you are doing". The parking meter man is very kind and warns us ahead of time re his next round!!!!

Tuesday, September 28^th - Day 7

My power is made perfect in weakness

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

18 degrees and fine spitting rain. Thank you lord. Wonderful to see the knights praying with us. By 10-11 am, Rogersville and Miramichi people arrive and a few stay till 5pm. Many approval honks today. Do hope these folks will also be praying for an end to the holocaust.

We are really appreciating and making use of the pro-life rosary intentions that Suzanne put together so beautifully for us.

We'll never know if there has been an appointment cancelled, if any of the Moncton babies has been been saved from abortion. Even if one of those involved gets a change of heart and quits, we're unlikely to find out. Again, we walk by faith, not by site. We're out there, joining thousands of people around the globe in prayer to end abortion.

Moncton Life Chain

About 50 people joined the Life Chain in Moncton yesterday. The 40 Days for Life vigil too went uninterrupted, with 7 people praying at the George Dumont Hospital during the Life Chain hours.

This time we also had a few protesters; a group of some 5 or 6 pro-aborts (apparently the same folks that countered the 40 Days on Saturday,) stood at the entrance to the Champlain Mall parking lot. Ironically, I found it quite encouraging to see them there, because with all the honks and thumbs up that we were getting, it almost felt like we were preaching to the choir.

But, of course, it wasn't the case; even those who agree with us, often don't know the whole truth. Some of those to stopped to talk to us at the 40 Days or at the Life Chain were surprised to find out that there's no legal restriction on abortions in Canada; somehow there's a common belief that abortions are only allowed until 13-17 weeks.

Some didn't even know that the George Dumnot Hospital (a Catholic hospital, by the way,) performs abortions; that it's been responsible for at least 1 in 4 slaughtered New Brunswick babies for over 4 years now. So we're getting the message out, whether the pro-aborts like it or not.