40 Days for Life Fall Campaign Supports Life Through Peaceful, Vigil Presence

During rush hour traffic on Government Street on October 16, a group of participants in the 40 Days Life fall campaign taking place outside of Planned Parenthood in Baton Rouge enthusiastically spread pro-life messages to passing motorists and pedestrians. They held up signs with messages in support of the life of the unborn, waved, and smiled.

40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.

“We believe all life is important,” said Susie Whitlow, who along with the other women in her group, is a member of the Respect Life Committee at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Baton Rouge. “We are praying for the mothers, the fathers, the conversion of the workers and everyone who enters the facility.”

The group’s prayers include the luminous and glorious mysteries of the rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet, as well as a prayer to St. Gerard, the patron saint of expectant mothers and children and mothers who are considering abortion.

Top right photo: Pictured in front of Planned Parenthood are 40 Days for Life participants, from left, Mary Steed, Tracy Alleman, Lucille Landreneau, and Susie Whitlow. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator 

“Babies are the most vulnerable and we should strive to do everything we can to protect them,” Mary Steed stated.

Even with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, and abortions being banned in Louisiana, the issue of abortion unfortunately is not over, the women noted.

“Now we have a pharmacy problem,” said Lucille Landreneau. “Women are having to do it at home. They are having complications and have to go to the hospital.”

“Abortion is not healthcare,” chimed in Tracy Alleman.

These 40 Days for Life participants chose to act to help protect the unborn.

“I decided I can either complain or do something about it, so I signed up to pray,” said Alleman.

Bridget Soileau, president of Baton Rouge Right to Life, noted that while abortion is prohibited in Louisiana, women still come to Planned Parenthood to receive information about facilities in other states/abortion pill providers so they can have one.

“We are providing them information to let them know they have options other than abortions,” said Soileau. “A lot of them are receptive and take the brochures.”

Soileau said participants receive a lot of attention from passing motorists and pedestrians.

“It’s a good way to open up a conversation about why we are pro-life, and that abortion and birth control pills are not God’s plan for them. It’s an opportunity evangelize for life,” said Soileau.

The women from Most Blessed Sacrament, who received honks and waves of affirmation from passing motorists as they were interviewed, said they have experienced this themselves.

They noted  that an employee of a business near the vigil site stopped and told the women that his mother had complications during her pregnancy with him and the doctor urged her to have an abortion. His mother replied, “I am going to leave it in God’s hands.” He and his mother were fine. He asked to pray with the women in thanksgiving for his mother’s decision to give him life.

“He was seeing our effort. The power of prayer works,” said Alleman. “He thanked us for being courageous to come out and to pray for the end of abortion, by any means.”

Steed noted that participants have to be at peace with not knowing if their prayers ultimately change the minds of the women seeking an abortion.

“But God hears it,” said Steed.

The fall 40 Days for Life Campaign ends on Sunday, Nov. 3. For more information and to sign up to pray, visit 40daysforlife.com/en/batonrouge or email Bridget Soileau at [email protected].