Vigil for Life invites all pro-lifers to “come away” (Mark 6:31) and spend some time in prayerful silence with Christ Jesus on our 9th annual Respect Life retreat. Our Retreat Master will be Fr. Andrew McAlpin, O.P. (Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison). The retreat will run December 2 through December 3 at Durward’s Glen Retreat Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Anyone working to protect innocent life, or concerned about building a culture of life is welcome to attend. The cost of the retreat is $65 per person. Scholarships are available.

You can find the registration form for the retreat here:

vigilforlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Respect-Life_retreat_registration-form.pdf

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all who took part in this year’s 40 Days for Life campaign! You are all answers to prayers that have been prayed before this 40 Days for Life campaign and all of the way through it. Thank you for listening to God speaking in your hearts and for coming to the sidewalk to take part in this 40 Days for Life campaign.

This year there were 367 cities in the U.S. and around the world that took part in this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign. It was the first time that there was, at least, one campaign in each of the 50 states in the USA. Since the start of it, there have been 658 babies and their mothers saved from abortion (that we know of). On Oct. 19th, one of our prayer warriors called to let me know that a young woman who had an appointment at Planned Parenthood and who was considering abortion chose LIFE for her baby and for herself! She stopped her car by the side of the road to give our prayer warriors the good news. During this campaign, we also learned of a security guard who used to work at Planned Parenthood who got the courage from our prayer warriors on the sidewalk to stand up for life inside of Planned Parenthood. Due to this, his employment was terminated and he was freed from the chains of working in the abortion industry.

I would like to give special recognition to people without whom this 40 Days for Life would have fallen flat:

Mary Markielewski, our Vigil Captain coordinator. If an hour was not filled and we couldn’t find anyone to fill it, Mary did. At last count, Mary was at around 50 hours on the sidewalk during this campaign. God bless you Mary!

Our Vigil Captains: Olivia Bohn, Ken Pientka, Rita Endres, Katie Mueller and Kathleen Terry worked tirelessly to get hours filled by making a multitude of phone calls, sending out e-mails and filling some of the hours themselves.

John Bohn also really stepped up and filled hours when nobody else could be found. At last count, John was at around 29 hours on the sidewalk during this campaign. John was also the one who made sure that the daily sign in sheets were put in the binder for people to sign in for the vigil every day. Thank you so much ,John!

Others high up in hours:

Joe Nicosia gave his witness for 25 hours.

Ken Pientka -also was no stranger to vigil hours again this campaign – was out on the sidewalk for around 21 hours during this campaign.

Other individuals who stepped in and filled hours at the last minute or helped in other ways: Alan Mahinski, Bryan Kust, Bob Dorn, Sandy Baak, Karen Wagner, Marie Lins and Ben Yanke.

The parish with the most cumulative hours between its different groups was once again St. Joseph’s in Baraboo. Between their K of C, Daughters of Isabella and parish commitments – St. Joe’s filled 44 vigil hours.

Thank you all so much for the gift or your prayers and time. I also want to thank all of the spouses and families for their sacrifices of having one or more family members giving so much time to 40 Days for Life.
Of course, we will never really know how much difference our prayers and presence have made until we get to Heaven. We are assured on earth of the difference it makes when we hear the beautiful stories of the mothers who have chosen life for their babies and about security guards who got the courage to stand for life inside of Planned Parenthood like we heard about during this campaign. Vigil for Life is so grateful to God for all of you!

Though this 40 Days for Life campaign is over for this year we still have our 365 for Life presence that we must keep up as lives are at stake! We start back to 365 for Life tomorrow (Monday, 11/7).

Please continue to be involved and witness for LIFE!

OPEN HOURS

Monday, 11/7 – 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p and 2 needed at 2p.

Tuesday, 11/8 – 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 1p and 1 needed at 2p.

Wednesday, 11/9 – 1 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Thursday, 11/10 – 1 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 12p and 1 needed at 2p.

Friday, 11/11 – 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p and 2 needed at 2p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.

On Sunday, November 6 at 4:30 p.m. – Join Fr. Rick Heilman and the pro-life community on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood (3706 Orin Road, Madison, WI 53704) to celebrate the conclusion of this year’s 40 Days for Life campaign and its blessings…including a saved baby and a former security guard who left his job! Then, join us at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (5101 Schofield Street, Monona, WI 53716) for dinner. Vigil for Life will provide the entree — just bring a side dish or dessert to pass!

Contact Gwen Finnegan with questions at (608)393-8545.

Also – we still have many open hours for the remainder of 40 Days for Life!

Thursday, 11/3 – 1 needed at 12a (midnight); 1 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 7a; 2 needed at 7p and 1 needed at 11p.

Friday, 11/4 – 2 needed at 12a (midnight); 2 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 1p and 1 needed at 6p.

Saturday, 11/5 – 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 5p; 1 needed at 6p; 1 needed at 7p and 1 needed at 8p.

Sunday, 11/6 – 2 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 2a; 2 needed at 3a; 2 needed at 4a; 2 needed at 5a; 2 needed at 8a and 1 needed at 3p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.

One of the security guards that used to work at Planned Parenthood reached out to Dan Miller this past week and shared his story. He said that our witness was the reason he ended up getting out of there. Here’s the story in Dan’s words:

I’m not shy about proclaiming my pro-life convictions on Facebook. I don’t think anyone would argue with that statement.

I get friend requests almost every day from people from all over the world. If we have even just a few friends in common, I’ll probably accept your friend request.

Not long ago, a non-facebook friend private messaged me and said he saw one of my posts on his news-feed and thought we were doing some of the greatest work he has ever seen. Babies being saved left and right – he wanted to do more for the pro-life movement. I looked him up – and he lives in south-eastern Wisconsin – so I thought, “Why not?” and gave him my phone number so we could talk.

He didn’t call for over two weeks. But today – the feast day of St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes – HE CALLED. For his protection, I’ll just call him *John. After we were done with the pleasantries and had wrapped up a follow-up appointment to get him volunteering at Pro-Life Wisconsin – he mentioned that he was out of work. I asked him what he did previously. He said, “I used to be a security guard.” Where at? “At Planned Parenthood.” **JAW DROPS** Which one? “The one up near Stoughton Road in Madison.” **Jaw. Drops. Again** What made you quit? “I didn’t really quit. I was fired, but I gave them no choice. I knew I couldn’t do the work at Planned Parenthood anymore – and told my boss that when he called me into his office one day. I needed the job – but just couldn’t do it anymore.” He then went on to tell me of the many interactions with the pro-lifers on the sidewalks. “The one that affected me the most was this little old lady. One day we were talking, and I told her I was pro-life.” She said to me, “You’re not pro-life! Look at where you are earning a paycheck!” John said, “She tore into me pretty good – like no one else had ever done. It was on that day that I stood up to my boss and said, ‘no more.’” John continued, “I had struggled with the whole situation for a long time. Many of the pro-lifers tried to convince me to get out, but that little old lady really got to me! She helped me to stand up for myself. Now I’m free.”

We talked some more about my sidewalk counseling experiences. Because we were on the phone, I couldn’t be 100% sure, but I thought he was crying after some of the stories I shared. Then he shared some of his own experiences from inside the walls of PP – stories of how he encouraged women to leave and never come back – women who were really struggling with the whole notion of having an abortion. He said to one of their client’s support persons, “Hey – I believe in the right to choose, too – to choose the good always. It’s pretty clear to me she doesn’t want to have the abortion – so get her out of here!” The PP employees scolded him, “You can’t talk to our clients!” He responded, “First off – all I did was say ‘hi.’ Secondly, I was talking to her support person – NOT YOUR CLIENT.” They didn’t seem to care. Any encouragement from him was all some of them needed to pick up their things and leave. On more than one occasion, the pregnant moms were on the floor, sobbing, begging not to be forced to have an abortion. Some got out. Some didn’t. He saw the evil of PP up close and personal. The cold indifference of the employees always shocked him. He thought, “My God, what am I doing here?!”

At the tail end of our conversation, I said, “John – you know, it would really mean a lot to the pro-lifers if you went up there and held a sign with them on the sidewalks. Let them know that you finally got out. They’ve been praying for you for a long time – they’d really appreciate it.” He replied, “I’m kind of broke – but I would love to do that.” How about we go together, sometime? I’ll drive – so you don’t have to worry about gas money and I might even buy you lunch! “Sure! I would be happy to!”

I have a feeling John & I are going to become fast friends! Praise God!

Dan Miller – State Director – Pro-Life Wisconsin

OPEN HOURS

Monday, 10/31 – 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 7p and 1 needed at 8p.

Tuesday, 11/1 – 2 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4a; 2 needed at 6p; 2 needed at 7p; 1 needed at 8p and 1 needed at 11p.

Wednesday, 11/2 – 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 12p and 1 needed at 1p.

Thursday, 11/3 – 1 needed at 12a; 1 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 7a; 1 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 7p; 2 needed at 9p; 1 needed at 10p and 1 needed at 11p.

Friday, 11/4 – 2 needed at 12a (midnight); 2 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 6a; 2 needed at 7a; 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 4p; 2 needed at 5p and 1 needed at 6p.

Saturday, 11/5 – 2 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 5p; 2 needed at 6p; 1 needed at 7p and 1 needed at 8p.

Sunday, 11/6 – 2 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 2a; 2 needed at 3a; 2 needed at 4a; 2 needed at 5a; 2 needed at 6a; 2 needed at 7a; 2 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 12p and 1 needed at 3p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.

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40 Days for Life Closing Prayer Vigil led by Fr. Richard Heilman will be on Sunday, Nov. 6th at 4:30 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood. After the prayer vigil, there will be a light supper provided by Vigil for Life. Location is still TBD however will be in the area. Please RSVP for the meal to info@vigilforlife.org.
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Prayer for Changing the Culture
by Fr. Frank Pavone, M.E.V.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come into your presence in His name.

We have heard the voice of your Son,
And therefore we can make our voices heard.

We have been justified in the blood of your Son,
And therefore we can oppose every form of injustice.

We have repented of our sins,
And therefore we can lead the sinner to repentance.

We have done battle with the power of evil,
And therefore we can have compassion on those still within its grip.

We have been freed from the kingdom of darkness,
And therefore we can bear witness to your Kingdom of Light.

Lord, as we come before you today, we repent, we resolve, and we rejoice.

We repent of every instance in which fear has made us silent when we should have spoken.
We repent of the ongoing bloodshed in our land,
And for ever daring to think that we can deprive the unborn of protection but keep it for ourselves.

We resolve that we will work more generously to advance your Kingdom.
We resolve that we will advance the cause of righteous candidates for public office,
And that we will be more afraid of offending you by our silence
Than of offending the IRS by our speech.

We resolve that we will declare boldly to our people that no public official who fails to respect the life of a little baby
can be trusted to respect our lives.

Father, today we rejoice, because we are not simply working for victory – we are working from victory.
The victory of life, truth, and grace has been won by your Son’s death and Resurrection.
Today we hear his voice again.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I hold the keys of death and of hell.
Behold, I make all things new.”

Father, we rejoice that we have been made new,
And as we work to renew our culture
We look forward to the great day of his coming,
When every eye will see him, even of those who pierced him,
And every knee shall bend, and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father,
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

In his Blessed Name we pray. Amen!

We are still looking for prayer warriors to witness at Planned Parenthood for this 40 Days for Life campaign this weekend:

Saturday, 10/29 – 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 6p and 1 needed at 7p.

Sunday, 10/30 – 1 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 2a; 2 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 5a; 2 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 9p and 1 needed at 11p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org.

Am I wrong to wonder especially about the toxic effect that the unlimited abortion license has had on the Republic founded on self-evident truths, and the right to life? When what should be nature’s safest sanctuary, the mother’s womb, becomes the most perilous place for the most innocent and fragile life, should we be shocked when any life deemed “in the way” is in hunting season?

– Cardinal Timothy Dolan

After knowing the will of God in regard to a work which we undertake, we should continue courageously, however difficult it may be. We should follow it to the end with as much constancy as the obstacles we encounter are great.
– Saint Vincent de Paul

Please courageously continue your peaceful witness for LIFE on the sidewalk this week!

Open Hours

Tuesday, 10/25 – 2 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4p and 1 needed at 11p.

Thursday, 10/27 – 1 needed at 12a; 1 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 5a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 7a; 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 7p and 2 needed at 9p.

Friday, 10/28 – 1 needed at 12a; 1 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 5p; 1 needed at 6p and 1 needed at 7p.

Saturday, 10/29 – 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 6p; 2 needed at 7p and 2 needed at 8p.

Sunday, 10/30 – 1 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 2a; 2 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 5a; 2 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 7a; 1 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 9p and 1 needed at 11p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.
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40 Days for Life Closing Prayer Vigil led by Fr. Rick Heilman will be held on Sunday, Nov. 6th at 4:30p.m. on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Rd., Madison, WI
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Prayer for Life
Father and maker of all,
you adorn all creation
with splendor and beauty,
and fashion human lives
in your image and likeness.
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of life.

Grant this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.
Amen

BABY AND MOTHER SAVED FROM THE GRIPS OF ABORTION!

Just received a call from one of our sidewalk counselors that a young woman who had an appointment today at PP and who was considering abortion chose LIFE for her baby and herself today! She stopped her car by the side of the road to give our prayer warriors the good news. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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We still have some open hours for this week:

Thursday, 10/20 – 2 needed at 12a (midnight); 2 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 4a and 1 needed at 9p.

Friday, 10/21 – 2 needed at 12a (midnight); 1 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 5a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 4p; 1 needed at 5p and 1 needed at 7p/

Saturday, 10/22 – 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 5p and 2 needed at 8p.

Sunday, 10/23 – 2 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 2a; 2 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 5a; 1 needed at 6p; 2 needed at 9p and 1 needed at 11p.

To sign up go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood actually started out in 1916 as the American Birth Control League. The American Birth Control League was started by Margaret Sanger in New York City. It was renamed Planned Parenthood in 1942. As we all know, it has evolved into the largest provider of abortions in the United States. The fact that Planned Parenthood has been around for 100 years is a somber reminder of the work we still have to do to bring about a culture of life. Approximately 1/6 of our nation is not with us today because of abortion. That’s a sobering fact.

While there is still much work to do, since the inception of 40 Days for Life, 75 abortion centers have closed – many of them have been Planned Parenthoods. Also – 133 abortion workers have quit and over 12,004 lives have been saved from abortion. 40 Days for Life has a proven track record of saving lives and closing abortion centers! This is because the foundation of 40 Days for Life is built on prayer.

We need your prayers on the sidewalk this week!

OPEN HOURS

Monday, 10/17 – 1 needed at 2a; 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a and 1 needed at 5p.

Tuesday, 10/18 – 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 5a and 1 needed at 8p.

Wednesday, 10/19 – 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 9a and 1 needed at 10a.

Thursday, 10/20 – 2 needed at 12a (midnight); 2 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 4a; 2 needed at 5a; 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 7a; 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 7p and 2 needed at 9p.

Friday, 10/21 – 2 needed at 12a (midnight); 2 needed at 1a; 1 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 5a; 1 needed at 6a; 2 needed at 7a; 2 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 4p; 2 needed at 5p; 1 needed at 6p and 1 needed at 7p.

Saturday, 10/22 – 1 needed at 6a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 5p; 2 needed at 6p; 2 needed at 7p and 2 needed at 8p.

Sunday, 10/23 – 2 needed at 1a; 2 needed at 2a; 2 needed at 3a; 1 needed at 4a; 1 needed at 5a; 2 needed at 6a; 2 needed at 7a; 2 needed at 9p and 2 needed at 11p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.

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Prayer by Rev. Rob Schenck, President, Faith and Action

God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help. Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother’s womb. Amen.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

The 40 Days for Life UNITED tour bus will be coming to Madison for a statewide rally on Thursday, October 13 at 6p.m. on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Rd. in Madison. Greet members of the 40 Days for Life national team as well as hear from Bishop Robert Morlino and Fr. Eric Nielsen. Have your chance to sign the bus!