40 Days for Life campaign moves to new home

“This is a great time to be on the front lines of the pro-life movement,” says Father Larry Lynn, pro-life chaplain for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Father Larry is calling Catholics in the archdiocese to attend this year’s 40 Days for Life Campaign, which this year moves to a new location, the St. Joseph's Residence for retired priests at West 32nd and Willow.

The campaign starts on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, but gets a spiritual launch the night before at 11 p.m. at Holy Name Church on Cambie Street. It runs till Palm Sunday, March 25.

Father Lynn quoted Pope St John-Paul II, who wrote, “A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world.”

Father Lynn said he believes Catholics are finally waking up to the fact that the culture around them is eroding their basic rights of conscience and religion. “The ‘kerfuffle’ raised over the Summer Jobs Grant application form has exposed the nature and the plan the government has in store for faith in the public square,” said Father Lynn.

The 40 Days for Life Campaign is an annual peaceful prayer vigil for an end to abortion and offers “an immediate way to show solidarity with the unborn, the elderly, and all who are being affected by this culture of death,” he said.

“This is a great time to manifest our resistance to the suppression of our beliefs.”

The vigil has traditionally taken place outside B.C. Women’s Hospital, but this year is moving to the front of the nearby priests residence, adjacent to the John Paul II Pastoral Centre. “We’re on home turf!” said Father Lynn.

He urged Catholics to contact their pastor and choose a day to represent their parish at the prayer vigil. For more information contact your parish representative or visit 40DaysforLife.com.