A Catholic musical sensation will be headlining a pro-life
event in Vancouver.
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| A pro-life banner displayed promoting group prayer to convert hearts and end abortion. Photo taken from the 40 Days for Life Vancouver Facebook page. |
The spring campaign for 40 Days For Life will start with a kick-off
Mass and rally March 4. Set for the eve of the next six-week-long vigil, the
group is inviting supporters to Precious Blood Parish to celebrate Mass and
then listen to musical guest speaker Kathleen Dunn.
We are “definitely looking forward to bigger participation
numbers (this year),” says campaign director, Carmela Cruz. The campaign
expects more young people to become involved as 40 Days “open[s] up another
outlet for them to participate” in the pro-life movement.
With the Lenten season also coming up, 40 Days predicts that
more youth will become involved as part of their Lenten preparation. Cruz notes
that “being pro-life is almost taboo” and nowadays it is especially “hard to
fight for (abortion) in our society.”
Guest speaking and performing at the rally will be Catholic
musician, Kathleen Dunn. She is a successful singer-songwriter from Ancaster,
Ontario who uses her music to share the love she receives from Christ.
“She (Dunn) personally asked us how she can get her youth
group involved,” recalls Cruz. She’s “young, Catholic and actively pro-life.
That’s inspiring enough.”
Kathleen Dunn will be sharing about her work and experiences
with pro-life movements, such as 40 Days For Life and the National Campus Life
Network (NCLN). The NCLN is a national organization dedicated to supporting and
building up pro-life leaders in post-secondary institutions across Canada. The
NCLN seeks to form and assist pro-life groups through education,
networking, and support.
With a core team of nine hardworking individuals, “it’s
really a team effort for the rally,” says Catherine Ching, vigil coordinator
for 40 Days For Life.
This kick off event is important to supporters of the
pro-life movement because it reminds us, “that there are more people willing to
fight for life with us and to join us together as one”, comments Cruz. It
“helps not only get the ball rolling, but it’s to help inspire one another” to
keep praying for the end of abortion.
40 Days for Life Vancouver is part of the international
Pro-Life Campaign to End Abortion. According to their website, 40 Days uses prayer,
fasting, and community outreach in hopes to “seek God’s favour to turn hearts
and minds from a culture of life to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to
abortion.”
The kick-off event will consist of mass, celebrated with Fr.
Anthony Ho at 6:30 p.m. at Precious Blood Parish in Surrey at 17475 59 Avenue.
Even prayers will follow the Mass and then a reception with entertainment at
7:15 p.m.
The campaign will run from March 5 until April 13. For more
information on how to participate in the prayer vigils both on-site and
off-site, sign up for a time slot at 40daysforlifevancouver.blogspot.ca, and for
more information on Kathleen Dunn, visit kathleendunn.ca.
