Spring 40 Days for Life set

With a successful participation rate in the fall for the Baton Rouge 40 Days for Life Campaign, plans are being made to host a spring campaign, according to Darryl Ducote, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and Charles Carpenter of Baton Rouge Right to Life.
There were approximately 1,400 people who participated in the fall campaign during Sept. 26 – Nov. 4, fasting and praying outside of Delta Clinic in Baton Rouge, Carpenter said.

The dates will be March 2 – April 10, which is during the Lenten season.
“I think it’s great to do it in Lent because people are focused on repentance during that season,” Ducote said. “And doing anything we can to help women rethink their decisions during a season of repentance seems appropriate.

“It also is a means for faithful Christians to do something positive in terms of their faith during the Lenten season.”

He added, “The spiritual practices that the church encourages during Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving that can be applied to 40 Days for Life. Because it includes prayer, especially as a group at an abortion site, it can include fasting, individually or as a group on the day participants attend the campaign and almsgiving, in the sense of giving time.”

Ducote said Baton Rouge Right to Life has been especially supportive of the 40 Days for Life Campaign and continues to do so. He furthermore expressed appreciation to Danielle Van Haute, who was respect life coordinator for the diocese before being appointed associate director of evangelization. Ducote expressed thanks for Van Haute’s work through the years to spearhead the campaign. 

The campaign also receives strong support from the church parishes, the Knights of Columbus, Catholics schools and Catholic Daughters of the Americas and other Catholic organizations, noted Ducote.

He and Carpenter emphasized that 40 Days for Life is an ecumenical community effort to call for the end of abortion.

“It really does include the body of Christ. You have Catholics, evangelicals, protestants, everyone gets along well,” said Carpenter. “40 Days for Life is a time set aside and the churches themselves – the number of people (praying at Delta) will increase dramatically.”

For more information and to register, visit 40daysforlifebr.com or call Bridget Bridget Soileau at 225-773-4727.

If you are interested in coming out to pray year round at Delta abortion facility, please contact Charles Carpenter at 225-954-4875 or [email protected].