by Steven Hardy, MCFL Member, Boston

The 40 Days for Life Bosto 2020 Campaign Launch was held at Saint Catherine of Siena parish in Norwood on February the 23rd. A Mass was celebrated by Fr. Michael McNamara, followed by a powerful talk from Patricia Sandoval, known as the primary voice for the preborn, and women healing after abortion, in Mexico.

At the Mass, Fr. McNamara delivered a homily in which he touched on our responsibilities towards those in need, particularly the preborn, as well as the need to show love towards our friends and neighbors who believe abortion should be legal. 

Following the Mass, Patricia Sandoval shared the heart-wrenching story of her upbringing, which lead to three abortions, a brief stint working at a Planned Parenthood facility, and a rock-bottom in drug use and homelessness. It was at that bottom, feeling utterly lost, that she recalled a childhood memory, and began to pray.

She then recounted how  the answer to that prayer -- one stranger -- changed everything for her.

While crying and praying with her eyes closed and her head downcast, she all of a sudden felt a firm and warm embrace. She opened her eyes to see a waitress from a restaurant across the street who had seen her and felt compelled to help. This proved to be the turning point for Patricia. The waitress helped her to reunite with her mother, who had also been praying for this for some time.

Mrs. Sandoval’s incredible story is a testimony of the power of how the actions of one person can have an enormous impact. That waitress not only saved Patricia’s life by acting out of love for a stranger in distress, but by sharing her story, Patricia is likely saving the lives of countless others by inspiring us to be that one stranger who acts out of love for a woman in distress about to enter an abortion facility. 

Have you joined the MCFL-sponsored 40 Days Vigil in your community?

SIGN UP FOR YOUR HOUR: 40 Days in Boston

Look up Boston, Worcester, Beverly, and Springfield here.

Be the one who makes a difference -- Join MCFL today.

Support our work.

Sofia Infante, Communications Intern

[Director's note: 40 Days began as a religious campaign, and we invite all of our religious members to join on that basis. But the act of abortion is a human rights issue, not a religious one. Many of our secular advocates also participate, and we encourage everyone and anyone to follow their passionate example of outreach and vigil, with or without prayer, during a 40 Days Campaign.]

This year I am looking forward to participating in my first 40 Days for Life, and am grateful MCFL has sponsored the campaign in Massachusetts.

This mission-based campaign reaches women-in-need at ground-zero, and directs people’s attention to the impact of abortion in their own communities. The 40-day campaign, including vigils and witness at an abortuary, highlight the need and offer a life-affirming solution. Here are five reasons why I am already counting down the days until next year’s 40 Days for Life:

• 40 Days fosters a greater sense of community and a shared feeling of responsibility for our neighbor’s well-being

By Rita Russo, Coordinator of 40 Days for Life campaign, Boston

Our third Friday night Candlelight Vigil will be on March 2 and led by Fr. Jurgen Liias and the seminarians from Pope St. John XXIII Seminary.

We are looking for 40 parishes to Witness for Life this Lent, one for each day of the campaign. A participating parish signs up to dedicate a particular daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration at the parish. All-day adoration would be great or a Holy Hour, if that’s what you can do.

We invite those who are able to come to the Vigil location, outside Planned Parenthood, 1055 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. Learn more by visiting 40daysforlife.com/boston.

Things are going will in our Witness for Life Initiative. I received this lovely email yesterday from Sister Carmen Christi of the Daughters of St. Paul:

Dear Rita,

Count all our community, 70 strong, united in prayer for the 40 Days for Life Campaign, with special prayers throughout this day of Eucharistic Adoration.

God bless you. 

Here is the current list of participating parishes: