Monday, October 12. Thanksgiving day today. So much to be thankful for, on this Day 20 – the half-way point on our 40 day pilgrimage of faith.
I am so thankful for the way people keep coming, day after day, hour after hour, to our vigil in Fredericton. They come in the rain, in the cold, morning, afternoon and evening. We’ve now done 20 days @ 14 hours = 280 hours of vigil for life! And do you know – there has not been a single hour when someone was not present! Thanks be to God.
The vigil has given pro-life tremendous public exposure. So many, many people have seen us. They have seen how composed, peaceful, prayerful and steadfast we are: that’s a good image of pro-life. Thanks be to God.
All who have participated at our vigil site are thankful, I know, for the many, many toots, waves and other expressions of support. It has encouraged us, and hopefully we have encouraged all those passersby who are for life. Thanks be to God.
We are thankful for the one or more lives that have been saved, thanks to our presence. At least one, maybe two, possibly three of the ones we know. There could well be others we are not even aware of – mothers with child passing by who were inspired to choose life rather than death. Thanks be to God.
For all the conversations we have had with passersby, for the positive thoughts we may have planted in others even without our knowledge, thanks be to God.
For those who have expressed anger, hostility or rudeness, who have given us an opportunity to pray for them one by one, thanks also be to God. Father, forgive them.
Lord, even as we give thanks our hearts continue to be heavy with the sorrow of the lives aborted these past 20 days, the hearts tainted by death. We commend them to your mercy. We bear also the burden of those whose lives remain endangered in the days ahead, here and at other abortion site in our province.
Lord, as we look to the remaining 20 days, we continue to look for your hand as you respond to our fervent plea for life through these whole 40 days – coming from all those at our vigil, and the many more praying at home or in church.
Lord, for what your loving Providence yet to come, we thank you and praise you, in the name of your Son, Jesus, Prince of Peace and King of Life.
Ever yours,
Peter Ryan
Day 19: Sharing the Good News about Life
Sunday, October 11. A lovely story today. As on previous Sundays Bernie was back at the vigil, for three hours, this time with Bill. A young couple stopped by to inquire what the vigil was all about. Bernie said that as he shared with the couple, the young woman especially seemed very interested and moved to hear about the vigil. “She kept smiling the whole time,” he commented. He said they must have chatted together for about 20 minutes.
It’s unusual to see such a level of interest from someone without them having some personal motivation. Bernie and I wonder if the young woman was perhaps herself pregnant, or had a friend pregnant, and needed to hear the affirmation of prenatal life that Bernie was happy to impart. We may never know. But it was, in any case, a happy story for sure. The Good News about Life was shared and well received.
Thanks be to God.
Peter Ryan
Day 18: The machinery of death
On my evening shift I noticed a man in a green jacket who arrived at the Mother and Child House and seemed to be getting ready to join our vigil. He was poking around where we collect the signs and sign in. But a moment later Johnny, who was with me, spotted him taking off down the street, without even speaking or acknowledging us. That seemed suspicious: was he maybe scouting out a vandal raid later? Since I operate the House I started to worry.
Right after the shift I related my concern to my son-in-law and his brother, who had just happened to do a shift earlier in the afternoon. As soon as I said "man in green jacket" it struck a bell. "Hey, we saw this guy in a green jacket too." From their description it was obviously the same guy. They said he seemed quite confused mentally. As they described him, I realized the guy was probably more harmless than malicious. Worry ended. Thanks, Lord!
My wife today noticed the "clinic" manager working away inside. A sign they’re getting ready for another "d-day" Tuesday? (d=death) Some of us were hoping that with the holiday Monday they might skip this week. It seems, however, the machinery of death grinds on.
Lord, hear our prayer. For the little ones being led to slaughter (cf. Pr. 24:11). And their poor mothers, who know not what they do (cf. Lk. 23:34).
Peter Ryan
DAY 17 - Real Love Does Not Take a Child’s Life
One of the women spoke about how several of her friends use to have the abortionist at Morgentaler’s as a family doctor when she practised in Saint John. They remarked how "caring" she was. I’ve heard the same of two other former abortionists who were ob-gyns: people said they were "caring." It’s amazing how otherwise caring people can have such huge blind spots. Abortionists think they’re doing the pregnant women a service. They just don’t seem to really see the innocent child whose life they take, nor the lifelong suffering they leave mothers with.
Real love does not take a child’s life. Sooner or later many abortionists seem to come to realize this. Spiritual blindness can be healed. We pray this to come to pass for our "Dr. R." Lord, have mercy on her.
Peter Ryan
Day 16: Love the world does not see
Johnny reported how one guy, driving by, let out an abusive yell “from deep in his gut.” “That guy’s in pain,” he commented. The issue is abortion, for babies, for mothers, and for fathers too.
For life and love
Peter Ryan
Saturday, October 10. It’s marvelous how the Lord can protect us from needless worry. Friday, October 9. Encouraging to see people once again coming from afar. Lorraine and six other members of a Saint John prayer group took two shifts of several hours each. Jackie, head of the provincial CWL, and her husband from Perth-Andover. Walter and Jeanine from Quispamsis. Gordie and Daniel from Saint John. Three young people from Saint John; especially encouraging for us seeing the young people.
Thursday, October 8.
Just as Jesus came into the world not to condemn but to save, so we gather near an abortion site not to condemn but to save lives. We try to radiate God’s love for all - the unborn, their mothers, their fathers, those who perform or assist abortions, those who are "pro-choice" and take exception to people like us.
But just as Jesus as the Word of God "was in the world ... yet the world knew him not," (Jn. 1:10) so too the love we bear - which ultimately is Love itself - often is unseen, unrecognized for what it truly is. This is part of our suffering at the prayer vigil - knowing that we bear the Good News yet others sometimes see as "bad news."
"Don’t you have anything better to do?" It’s a comment we hear with some frequency. People just don’t see sometimes. Ours is the love the world does not see. We pray for these folks, and try to be patient with them. The Holy Spirit can open their eyes. Let us remember too: There but for the grace of God go you or I.
The young woman and I parted on good terms, wishing each other a good evening. Maybe some day she'll see what we're about.
Peter Ryan
Day 15: Heavenly tears. As I prayed at the vigil, a voice came from over my shoulder. It was a young woman passing by on a bike. "Don’t you have anything better to do?" The tone was not hostile so much as puzzled. After replying that "This is a really good thing to be doing," we chatted. She started talking about the poor girls that go for abortions. It became apparent that she saw us as condemning them. Which of course we do not.
Wednesday, October 8. Another rainy day. I joked with some vigilers: “Do you suppose God will mind if we ask for less rain?” Some soberly commented: “That’s not our priority.” Are these people focused or what?
Gracie, Georgina and Lorraine prayed together for an hour. A man came by and expressed interest in what’s going on. Georgina invited him to come back sometime and join them.
Berthe was called at the last minute to fill in with Gordon. She came, rain gear and all, and greeted me warmly when I arrived for the last shift. Fr. Gerry joined me again, as he had on Day 1. I was moved to see him spending most of the hour on his knees, in the rain, in the dark.
Surely heaven cannot be unmoved by such faith. Perhaps all the rain drops are heavenly tears, as someone was saying the other day. Lord, if offering you our discomfort with the weather helps in some spiritual way for the saving of lives and souls from abortion, let it rain.
Peter Ryan
Day 14: Blessed are those who believe without seeing (cf. Jn. 20:29)
Tuesday, October 6. It is wonderful when we see the fruit of prayer, as with the baby saved last week (Day 7), or the counselor who left the abortion unit at the VGH Hospital in Halifax (40 Days for Life International News Day 15). But sometimes in our spiritual life we pray without seeing immediate fruit. That can be much harder, especially in matters of life and death. At times like these we must persevere in faith, trusting that no sincere prayer is ever in vain.
Day 14 was one of those days. Abortions took place, in fairly high numbers – maybe 14. We saw no evidence of anyone changing their minds.
It was hard to see all this, and hard being there. Just my wife and I at the beginning of our daily vigil (7 am), although soon Tara came with her dog. Rhoda was there too, although not part of our Prayer Zone as she prefers to walk close to the abortion site. But the usual Tuesday a.m. group from Saint John could not make it. Nor did we have anything like the big vigil presence we had for abortion day last Tuesday. Susan did come after 8, and a few others after 9. But there was a bit of a lonely feel to the vigil this a.m.
It was also disconcerting to see some of the “clinic” antics. For an hour or more the manager kept shadowing Rhoda like a pesky fly. They also kept parking one of their cars on the sidewalk to impede Rhoda’s passage. The police were called, and a warning was issued for the manager to respect the “personal space” of others.
At one point an abortion-bound mother and father passed near me. It was a helpless feeling I felt.
Lord, you know how hard it is, times like these. We see not your presence yet in faith know you are close by. We humbly renew our trust in you, and confide all these lost babies and their parents to your mercy.
I heard that once again last Friday a small group gathered in front of the abortion hospital in Moncton, while others prayed inside. Lord, hear and answer their prayer.
Peter Ryan
Day 13: Peaks and Valleys. Hanging in There.
Monday, October 5. Spiritual life is full of highs and lows, peaks and valleys. So with this campaign. We have had so many blessings all the days so far, one of the main ones being all the people that have come to the vigil at the abortion site, enabling us to fill our 14 hour a day schedule.
Today seemed a bit of a low, as we struggled more than ever to fill the many empty spots in the schedule for tomorrow. Monday itself was a challenge. Elaine - our traffic coordinator - wasn’t feeling well either (cold) so that made it harder. There was confusion over who was covering when, the need to call in people at the last minute, and a couple times when only one vigiler was present - the first time I’ve noticed this problem. I felt bad for those who were alone, but they took it well and carried on. Thanks Doris and Faye.
Nice to see Lynda, Cynthia and Ron again from Saint John. Seasoned pro-lifers.
The evening was a real plus, as about 20 came for the Mass and eucharistic devotions at the House, even as others prayed outside in the Prayer Zone.
Peter Ryan
Day 12: The people are tested. But carry on.
Monday, October 12. Thanksgiving day today. So much to be thankful for, on this Day 20 – the half-way point on our 40 day pilgrimage of faith.
I am so thankful for the way people keep coming, day after day, hour after hour, to our vigil in Fredericton. They come in the rain, in the cold, morning, afternoon and evening. We’ve now done 20 days @ 14 hours = 280 hours of vigil for life! And do you know – there has not been a single hour when someone was not present! Thanks be to God.
The vigil has given pro-life tremendous public exposure. So many, many people have seen us. They have seen how composed, peaceful, prayerful and steadfast we are: that’s a good image of pro-life. Thanks be to God.
All who have participated at our vigil site are thankful, I know, for the many, many toots, waves and other expressions of support. It has encouraged us, and hopefully we have encouraged all those passersby who are for life. Thanks be to God.
We are thankful for the one or more lives that have been saved, thanks to our presence. At least one, maybe two, possibly three of the ones we know. There could well be others we are not even aware of – mothers with child passing by who were inspired to choose life rather than death. Thanks be to God.
For all the conversations we have had with passersby, for the positive thoughts we may have planted in others even without our knowledge, thanks be to God.
For those who have expressed anger, hostility or rudeness, who have given us an opportunity to pray for them one by one, thanks also be to God. Father, forgive them.
Lord, even as we give thanks our hearts continue to be heavy with the sorrow of the lives aborted these past 20 days, the hearts tainted by death. We commend them to your mercy. We bear also the burden of those whose lives remain endangered in the days ahead, here and at other abortion site in our province.
Lord, as we look to the remaining 20 days, we continue to look for your hand as you respond to our fervent plea for life through these whole 40 days – coming from all those at our vigil, and the many more praying at home or in church.
Lord, for what your loving Providence yet to come, we thank you and praise you, in the name of your Son, Jesus, Prince of Peace and King of Life.
Ever yours,
Peter Ryan
Day 19: Sharing the Good News about Life
Sunday, October 11. A lovely story today. As on previous Sundays Bernie was back at the vigil, for three hours, this time with Bill. A young couple stopped by to inquire what the vigil was all about. Bernie said that as he shared with the couple, the young woman especially seemed very interested and moved to hear about the vigil. “She kept smiling the whole time,” he commented. He said they must have chatted together for about 20 minutes.
It’s unusual to see such a level of interest from someone without them having some personal motivation. Bernie and I wonder if the young woman was perhaps herself pregnant, or had a friend pregnant, and needed to hear the affirmation of prenatal life that Bernie was happy to impart. We may never know. But it was, in any case, a happy story for sure. The Good News about Life was shared and well received.
Thanks be to God.
Peter Ryan
Day 18: The machinery of death
On my evening shift I noticed a man in a green jacket who arrived at the Mother and Child House and seemed to be getting ready to join our vigil. He was poking around where we collect the signs and sign in. But a moment later Johnny, who was with me, spotted him taking off down the street, without even speaking or acknowledging us. That seemed suspicious: was he maybe scouting out a vandal raid later? Since I operate the House I started to worry.
Right after the shift I related my concern to my son-in-law and his brother, who had just happened to do a shift earlier in the afternoon. As soon as I said "man in green jacket" it struck a bell. "Hey, we saw this guy in a green jacket too." From their description it was obviously the same guy. They said he seemed quite confused mentally. As they described him, I realized the guy was probably more harmless than malicious. Worry ended. Thanks, Lord!
My wife today noticed the "clinic" manager working away inside. A sign they’re getting ready for another "d-day" Tuesday? (d=death) Some of us were hoping that with the holiday Monday they might skip this week. It seems, however, the machinery of death grinds on.
Lord, hear our prayer. For the little ones being led to slaughter (cf. Pr. 24:11). And their poor mothers, who know not what they do (cf. Lk. 23:34).
Peter Ryan
DAY 17 - Real Love Does Not Take a Child’s Life
One of the women spoke about how several of her friends use to have the abortionist at Morgentaler’s as a family doctor when she practised in Saint John. They remarked how "caring" she was. I’ve heard the same of two other former abortionists who were ob-gyns: people said they were "caring." It’s amazing how otherwise caring people can have such huge blind spots. Abortionists think they’re doing the pregnant women a service. They just don’t seem to really see the innocent child whose life they take, nor the lifelong suffering they leave mothers with.
Real love does not take a child’s life. Sooner or later many abortionists seem to come to realize this. Spiritual blindness can be healed. We pray this to come to pass for our "Dr. R." Lord, have mercy on her.
Peter Ryan
Day 16: Love the world does not see
Johnny reported how one guy, driving by, let out an abusive yell “from deep in his gut.” “That guy’s in pain,” he commented. The issue is abortion, for babies, for mothers, and for fathers too.
For life and love
Peter Ryan
Thursday, October 8.
Just as Jesus came into the world not to condemn but to save, so we gather near an abortion site not to condemn but to save lives. We try to radiate God’s love for all - the unborn, their mothers, their fathers, those who perform or assist abortions, those who are "pro-choice" and take exception to people like us.
But just as Jesus as the Word of God "was in the world ... yet the world knew him not," (Jn. 1:10) so too the love we bear - which ultimately is Love itself - often is unseen, unrecognized for what it truly is. This is part of our suffering at the prayer vigil - knowing that we bear the Good News yet others sometimes see as "bad news."
"Don’t you have anything better to do?" It’s a comment we hear with some frequency. People just don’t see sometimes. Ours is the love the world does not see. We pray for these folks, and try to be patient with them. The Holy Spirit can open their eyes. Let us remember too: There but for the grace of God go you or I.
The young woman and I parted on good terms, wishing each other a good evening. Maybe some day she'll see what we're about.
Peter Ryan
Day 15: Heavenly tears. As I prayed at the vigil, a voice came from over my shoulder. It was a young woman passing by on a bike. "Don’t you have anything better to do?" The tone was not hostile so much as puzzled. After replying that "This is a really good thing to be doing," we chatted. She started talking about the poor girls that go for abortions. It became apparent that she saw us as condemning them. Which of course we do not.Day 13: Peaks and Valleys. Hanging in There.
Sunday, October 4. A very rainy day. But spirits were not dampened: there was a good turnout for the vigil. John and Brenda, cheerful even at 7 a.m.! Peggy, Ann, Geraldine and Delina came from Saint John for 2 hours, brave souls. Then came Moira and daughters Abigail, Mary and Hannah,also from Saint John, for 2 hours as well. Brook and Andrea came by; Andrea is expecting and they are also getting ready to adopt two! Fr. Aaron came by too, again.
It was also the annual Life Chain day. So just down the street from our vigil were another 40 people, plus another 4 further up the street, all silently holding pro-life signs in the pouring rain. A number were there for the first time ever. When you combine the Life Chain folks with the 10 or so 40 Days vigilers, you get a pretty eloquent witness for life on a miserable Sunday afternoon.
Two pro-lifers were present when our vigil’s most offensive occurrence to date took place: an act of indecency by a young male passenger in a car. I’ll spare you the details. Faye said she just laughed when she saw it, it did not bother her at all; she only thought of how misguided this poor young man must be. Meanwhile John was so busy praying that he didn’t even notice!
So if the fellow was trying to make an impact on our people, he utterly failed! It brings to mind the biblical word verse, "Those who strive against you shall be as nothing" (Isaiah 41:12).
Today our people were tested. By the weather. By human adversity. But with God's help, they carry on. Thank you, Lord.
Peter Ryan
Day 11: The Word of Life is alive
Saturday, October 3. I continue to be impressed by how many of our vigilers I don’t know. I know probably hundreds of pro-life supporters in this province. Many of them have been taking part in the 40 Days campaign. But lots of people I’ve never heard of or met before are also taking part: that’s exciting! It indicates to me that the Word of Life is alive, moving in our midst.
I look at the schedule of those who’ve taken part in Day 11: Candice, Adam, Noah, Amanda, Andrew, Alice, Brandon, Jan, Chantal, Melanie, Melissa, Emily, Janelle, Sarah, Tony, Shawn. And I say to myself: who are all these people?! Answer: these are the people the Lord has of Life has brought to join you in this campaign of prayer.
We heard today through one of our vigilers of a young woman about 18 weeks pregnant, with important needs and in need of prayer. Lord bless her and her little one, supply her needs at this time, in the name of Jesus.
Peter Ryan
Day 10: Old wine, new wine
Friday, October 2. The old wine at our vigil are the vigilers - regardless of age - who’ve been there before and keep coming back. Like Raymond, who came back twice this day! There an hour in the a.m, was back again in the afternoon. For a man who moves with a walker, this was not easy. But Raymond’s young in spirit; we are so blessed.
Then there’s Thaddée and Estelle. Every single day they come, 11 am - noon. I think the title “pro-life stalwarts” belongs to them. Estelle minds the cold, and it’s not warm today; but there she is, all bundled up.
Then there’s Faye - she’s there every day, and did 4 hours this day! John from Oromocto was there again too - for 3 hours. Some people are so wonderful. The old wine tastes superb!
But the new wine is a treat too: the first time vigilers. Four women from
Gordon from St. Dunstan’s (
Cindy and Fr. John from
Our vigilers keep noting how visible reaction from passersby is more positive than negative. The positive kind is quieter: a little nod or wave, a thumb up, a soft “God bless you.” The negative kind tends to be louder in tone. Thank goodness it’s not too frequent. We pray for them all, friends of life or not.
In the love of Christ,
Peter Ryan
Day 9: Babies make the world go round. The one who makes our schedule go round.
Thursday, October 1. We were blessed with several wee ones joining us. My daughter Rebekah and baby granddaughter Felicity came. My assistant Elaine had her two little ones, Xavier and Hope, come by with their grandparents. It was a real treat to have the little ones themselves bear witness to our love for God’s littlest ones.
The little tots were a reminder how babies make the world go round. As a wise person once said, each child born is God’s way of saying the world should go on. If only more people would respect (not interfere with) that!
Meanwhile, the one who makes our prayer vigil schedule go on is that very same Elaine! Do you have any idea what it’s like filling some 2,000+ one-hour prayer commitments? Elaine spends hours each day, trying to make sure we have two or more vigilers at a time. Keep her in your prayers, her role is indispensable, I can assure you!
Elaine’s challenges are non-stop. People don’t show up, somehow we need to find someone else to fill in. Or people’s plans change - they can’t make it or want to change their times. Some times of day, and some days of the week, are harder than others to fill in. It’s not as if we have tons of people to call on to take the empty spots: there’s a lot of head scratching, phone calls made, etc., day by day, hour after hour. It can be a struggle just to get through each day. But we do! The people do come! Individuals, couples and families make sacrifices to keep our vigil going. And along the way there are many nice surprises, as some people show up unexpectedly to join us.
As I arrived for my own prayer time in the evening I wondered if anyone would still be around at 8 pm in the dark. Lo, I found several candles lit, with maybe 8-10 good souls on hand! Some folks from Sussex, others from Lincoln including a couple high school girls, plus a number of “regulars” who just keep coming back. It all really warmed my heart.
Wishing you the peace of Christ,
- Peter Ryan
Day 8: “Fear not, for I am with you”
Wednesday, September 30. As we stand at the prayer vigil near the abortion site, one of the things we may need to work through as we pray is our natural fear of adversity.
It is not easy to stand there, knowing many disagree with us. And when some people express their displeasure, as a small minority will do, it can make us pretty queasy.
At times like these it is good to root ourselves ever more in the presence of the Lord, and to recall the encouragement he gave His people over and over when He visited them (e.g. through angels and His word): “Fear not, for I am with you.”
Day 8 was a day when our people received a certain amount of abuse from abortion supporters. I felt that, after our spiritual surge on Days 6 and 7, perhaps the other spiritual side was pushing back. For we contend with spiritual powers, and they are unsettled by our presence and our prayer campaign.
One manifestation is the verbal slam we’ve heard a number of times, including today: “You people should be ashamed of yourselves!” Imagine! Showing our love for babies, moms and God and we should be ashamed??? We need to realize that people who rant like this live in a deep shadow. We need to pray for them. The woman who spoke those words today, to Suzie and Faye, referred to a friend who had an abortion after being raped. There is pain there, and darkness. Lord, heal their wounds and their spirits.
The last thing we should do in the face of such abuse is to just disappear. That is exactly what the prince of death would like. We need to stay the course with our vigil, in love and peace toward all.
There was a blessing today: two men – one a Muslim, the other Hindu – spoke to Chuck (Protestant) and me (Catholic) and we found ourselves all agreeing: God gives life, life is sacred, innocent life should not be taken.
We saw the “clinic” manager at least three times today. She doesn’t seem happy with our presence. Please remember her in your prayer. Her name is Simone.
- Peter Ryan
Day 7: Baby saved! Maybe two!
With all the prayer the past six days of our vigil, I was wondering if we might see some fruit of that on Day 7: abortion day at Morgentaler’s. We did!
There were about a dozen of us present as our vigil began at 7 a.m. The rain began just then and would come down steady for the rest of the morning.
There were 7 or 8 “escorts” outside the abortion site. It wasn’t long before women began arriving for abortions. Over the next three hours we noticed at least 12 going in (they normally stop going in about 10 a.m.)
But two of the 12 soon came back out! In at least one case a change of heart was apparent.
This one couple walked down the street and went in the front door between 8 and 9. I took note of them because he was a big young man. Of course we were praying hard for each and every one we saw going in.
They couldn’t have been in there more than 20-25 minutes. To my pleasant surprise out they come the front door and walk away up the street! They weren’t in there long enough for an abortion, for sure. It’s unusual to see someone come out again so soon and leave. Usually that would signify a changed mind. Did this one? Maybe! They didn’t look our way or speak to anyone so it wasn’t clear. God alone knows, we entrust them to Him.
The other one was more clear. Between 9 and 10, as most of us stood in the rain across the street from abortion site, Marti, who has much experience counseling pregnant mothers at the Women’s Center next door, stood a short distance from the “clinic.” I prayed that she would somehow get a chance to speak to a woman going for an abortion. I left the prayer site about 9:45 and went in our pro-life centre.
Not long after 10 I met a beaming Marti in the kitchen. “A baby was saved!” she said. She recounted how this mother and daughter (the baby’s grandmother and mother) passed by her going toward the abortion site. Marti was able to speak a few kind words about how they didn’t need to go in there, help was available next door etc. Marti said she felt an “unctioning of the Holy Spirit” as she spoke. The two women, however, continued on and entered the “clinic,” with escorts gathered around.
But 5 minutes later they re-emerged! The escorts seemed a little flustered to see them leaving. They passed by Marti’s way again. The older woman looked at Marti intently and said, “Thank you.” It was obvious something had happened! The Holy Spirit had gotten through! They proceeded into the nearby parking garage. When their car came out and passed by, the young woman looked Marti’s say and smiled. The power of prayer and love made manifest.
A child saved, maybe two! Who can even begin to measure the value of this? Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness. And thanks to all who prayed.
It was a most blessed day at our vigil site in more ways than one. There was the group of regular Tuesday pro-lifers (3) who came up from Saint John; five from the same church who were so numerous at our Day 6 vigil; a group of 6 from the Moncton area; a group of 7 from the Rogersville area including a priest; another priest; the past head of the NB Knights of Columbus and his wife; a family of 7 and their friend; various other individuals and couples.
Then there was the man from a nearby café who brought two free carafes of coffee in the rain; the same man spoke to my wife the day before and said “I was adopted.” A “pro-choice” young woman from
- Peter Ryan
Day 6: Explosion of prayer. Four stories of life triumphing over death.
Today witnessed an explosion of prayer, especially in the evening, leading up to Tuesday morning which is normally abortion day at the “clinic.”
A Mass for life took place at our pro-life center, literally only a few yards from where abortions are done next door. This was followed by a holy hour of eucharistic adoration, with over 20 attending. At the same hours adoration was occurring in
God’s pro-life hand was revealed today in 4 separate stories.
As Suzie was praying she heard a voice behind where she stood, a gentleman passing by who said he had been watching the vigilers the past few days and he wanted to wish them well. He noted, with some gravity: “I was adopted.”
Neil helped organize the 30+ people from his church at the evening vigil. “My mother almost aborted me,” he said. Living in rural
Also at the vigil were Melanie with her baby Harmony, and Crystal with her baby boy. When both Melanie and Crystal were pregnant, they had to resist doctors who repeatedly suggested they have an abortion. They chose life! What a smile our God must have had to see them and their precious little ones witnessing to the gift of life.
- Peter Ryan
Day 5: “I wasn’t supposed to be born”
I’ve seen Gordon coming every day to the vigil. I was curious about his motivation. Today he shared his story.
His mother wasn’t supposed to have children. The lower part of her body was badly burned in a fire. The doctors said she would never be able to have children. She had 10! With #7 there were complications, and she was told that would definitely be it: no more. Well, wasn’t Gordon #8! Born on July 16, a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, his mother attributed his birth to Mary’s help and thereby imparted in her son a lifelong devotion to the Mother of God and a deep respect for unborn life.
Arriving from Riverview in their camper vehicle were Mario and Rosalie. They are with us now for three days at our vigil. What an enormous blessing to see them hour after hour. Thanks be to God!
- Peter Ryan
Day 4: Worth their weight in (spiritual) gold
Where do we find all these terrific people who keep coming to our vigil hour after hour, day after day? They’re worth their weight in gold! Spiritual gold, I mean.
God! That’s where we find them.
Day 4 was a day for couples and families to join us. Five members of the Beaulieu family from Tay Creek. Danny and Colleen from Oromocto, for 2 hours. Thaddée and Estelle again – they come every day! Mike and Myriam from
Helen and Ann were also here from
Judy said she’s never done anything like this and was nervous about it. “Well, God sure has a sense of humour,” she remarked. “Who does He put me with, but the woman who’s been arrested!” She was referring to my wife Suzie, a pro-life veteran arrested a couple years ago for holding a pro-life sign. She comes in each day at 7, opens things up at our House and does the first shift – or two, as on this Day 4.
Then there was Faye and Glenda - regulars we see often. Plus Janet and
Thank you, Lord for each and all, they are so precious – to you, to us, to our cause. And I haven’t even mentioned all those praying at home with us each day! See your servants, Lord, gathered in your name for life. Hear their prayer, Lord, we beseech you. We entrust our cause to you.
- Peter Ryan
Day 3: The Spirit of the Lord among us
A cold, wet, windy day. But the Spirit of the Lord was alive and well among us. A full contingent at the vigil: 2 or more all the time. Again, new people taking part who’d never done anything like this before. “I’m not sure what I’m doing here,” commented Jennifer with a smile. She came because a friend invited her.
In
On Thursday, I also heard that a very dear nun in
Back in
Another guy driving by stopped to offer coffee tomorrow a.m. “How do you want it?” he asked. Seemed a little disappointed to learn we’re fasting!
- Peter Ryan
Day 2: Father forgive them, they know not what they say
Thank goodness for the out-of-towners! We Frederictonians couldn’t do this campaign vigil without them, and yesterday they came in force. Two women from Rothesay. Five good folks from
This was a day for some verbal barrage from passersby (though overall, much more positive than negative reaction). One biker went past, and seeing our signs, declared, “God does not exist!” While I was vigiling in the evening, one young man taunted, “They’re doing abortions tonight, are they?” Father forgive them, they know not what they say.
Another good day!
Peter Ryan
Campaign Director
Day 1: A Blessed Beginning
When we started to organize this, our first-ever 40 Days campaign I as campaign director felt unequal to the task. How to fill all those prayer shifts?
And He has. The prayer shifts have been filling up. Churches previously lukewarm about pro-life are showing interest. A long-time divide in our pro-life movement here is being overcome, as Protestants join with Catholics. People all over the province unable to travel here for the vigil are praying and fasting at home and church. Special masses for life (rare in these parts) are being offered.
So with His grace yesterday we began, Day 1. I was impressed to see how many vigilers brought friends along with them. Quite a number of people who had planned to take part couldn’t or didn’t; but somehow others took their place, we always had at least two present, most times more. Lots of folks taking part who’ve never done anything