We're already past the halfway mark for this latest edition of the 40 Days for Life in Montreal, and, so far, 156 people have signed up for email updates for the 40 Days for Life and / or have signed up for the vigil. That's 156 people more than before the 40 Days for Life began... bit by bit, Montreal is turning towards Life.

Now we need you to spread the word about how Life is taking hold in Montreal and in Quebec at large:

• Forward this message to friends and family: let them know that there are people out there, people like you, who are praying to end abortion, and invite them to join you.
• If you've received this message from a family member or friend, sign up here to receive these email updates straight to your inbox, for the latest news on the 40 Days for Life and other Quebec Life Coalition news.

Also, don't forget to sign up for vigil hours today! There's not much time left, so might as well go ahead and join us at the vigil right away. Here's how:

• Simply show up at Park Lahaie, located across the street from the Morgentaler Abortion Clinic at 30 St. Joseph E. in Montreal, between 7 am and 7pm.
• Sign up online
• Email us
• Call (514) 344-2686

Don't wait too long, these 40 Days will be over before you know it!

p.s. Stay tuned for more info on the closing rally set for Sunday, March 28. Here's a link to some pictures from last fall's 40 Days for Life closing rally.

We've just begun the third week of prayer and fasting to end abortion in Montreal. Hard to believe we're already almost half-way done! 

One of the blessings of these 40 Days for Life is realizing that God works in small ways, using little people like us, to make big changes. There are days when you wish that things could happen more quickly, that your prayers could be answered and that the people of this city would just "snap out of it" and decide to give the unborn the protection and respect they deserve. Why can't it happen over night, why must we wait so long?

Being out there in the wind and sleet, watching people go in and out of the clinic and knowing what happens behind those walls, can make you feel pretty small and powerless, almost as powerless as a God who died crucified.

And that's the point: if God thought it necessary to die powerless on the cross to redeem humanity, we who love him must do the same, renouncing worldy ways to bring about change and choosing peaceful ways instead.

I'm convinced that the pain Christ felt on the cross was more mental than physical: his human condition had to fight with all its might against the temptation to "come down from the cross" to set things aright, like a "true" messiah. By praying in front of these abortion facilities, we're doing the same thing: putting aside our worldly ideas about how the evil of abortion should end, and letting God show us the true path to ending the evil of abortion in this city and the world at large.

To Join the 40 Days for Life Vigil

• Simply show up at Park Lahaie, located across the street from the Morgentaler Abortion Clinic at 30 St. Joseph E. in Montreal, between 7 am and 7pm.
• Sign up online
• Email us
• Call (514) 344-2686

Another good job by 13-year-old Lia from Toronto. Last year she hit the nail on the head on abortion, this year she ably tackles euthanasia.

It's already been a week of prayer and peaceful vigil to end abortion in Montreal! That's 84 hours of prayer, multiplied by the number of participants per hour.... that's a lot ! And it's only begun. 

Names are starting to come in from the churches we've reached, and people are signing up. Have you?

If you've thought of coming out to the vigil, but haven't already, it's really simple. Just contact us with your name, phone number, and time during the week when you can come between 7am and 7pm (one, two hours, etc.) You can contact us:

• Online
• by email (40daysforlifemontreal-at-gmail-dot-com)
• by phone: (514) 344-2686

Also, I highly recommend you sign up to the daily updates and prayer intentions from David Bereit, head organizer of the international 40 Days for Life campaign. Every day David forwards absolutely inspiring stories about how the 40 Days is turning the tide against abortion world-wide, and each day includes a prayer intention for the day.

To sign up to receive up this inspiring daily devotional and update, go the the 40 Days official site and fill in the box in the top right portion of the page entitled "Get the Latest".

See you at the vigil !

This poem authored by a 16 year old girl was written in the days leading up to the appointment to abort her unborn child. After the abortion the girl gave the poem to her mother, who has kept the poem in her purse ever since (quite a few years now). This poem has been given to me in the course of our outreach activities for the 40 Days for Life in Montreal. The mother hopes that this poem, written in the midst of pain in regret, will touch the hearts of both women and men who are considering abortion, and help them choose life for their precious child. There being no title, I have entitled it "Innocently you wait". 

Innocently you wait

Today was the day I found out you're alive
I felt a joy, yet it made me cry.

I suppose it hasn't hit me yet,
But I know you're there.
This I cannot deny.

You are inside of me,
Yet the man I love is in you.

Innocently you wait, growing off me,
For you do not know the destiny which awaits.
I wish it did not have to be this way.

I regret being so selfish.
If only I could have used my mind
To admit that you could happen.

It is not your fault,
You did not ask to be,
Yet you will pay the price.

I haven't even seen you yet
And I don't know if I will,
But I love you more than life
And don't want to do this to you.

Sometimes I secretly wish
That this option didn't exist.

I don't want to lose you,
But others want me to.

Why am I listening to them?
What do they have to do with you and me?
I don't know.

Innocently you wait, growing off me,
Not knowing the destiny which awaits.

I will never forget you
For as long as I live,
But only a vague memory you will be.

I try to convince myself it'll only take a second;
It won't hurt you,
But I know it's not true.

All you want is a life,
But I'm not worthy to give it to you.

I am sixteen and a murderer
And the victim is you, my own child.

Very soon you'll be gone forever
And I won't be able to look back.

I don't want it to be this way,
But I have no choice.

I wish we could have met someday.
I would have fed you, cherished you, loved you
And held your little hand
To let you know everything was all right.

But I know this could never be.
I'm so sorry, Baby.
I love you for life.

-Anonymous

The kickoff to the Montreal 40 Days was a success, with 30 people coming out to pray in Lahaie park and to sign up for the vigil (pics below).

And yesterday was the first day of the vigil, with the full 12 hours being covered. Already 12 hours of prayer for an end to abortion: imagine the impact this will have up above!

Now it's time for you to sign up! All we need is people like you to sign up for 1-2 or more hours per week. Just 2 hours a week will make a huge difference for the unborn and for countless families in our community!

Prayer and fasting is the best thing you can do right now to get our will aligned with God's in this spiritual battle. Here's how to sign up to the vigil, it's easy: 

1. Figure out when during the week you can pray for an hour, between 7am and 7pm. Try to find time for at least two hours a week, either consecutive or apart (example: Mondays at 5pm-6pm, and then Saturdays from 10am-11am).

   If you want a better idea at which times your help at the vigil site is most needed, check out the schedule online here.

2. Contact us with your name, phone number, and hours. You can do this
   • Online
   • by email (40daysforlifemontreal-at-gmail-dot-com)
   • by phone: (514) 344-2686
3. That's it! Just arrive at the time you signed up, and watch the graces flow for the unborn, their mothers, and for the community!

Remember, the 40 Days for Life depend on people like you! You can do it! Sign up today!

Here's a before and after of our map of the churches around the Montreal 40 Days for Life site at Lahaie Park across the street from the Morgentaler abortion centre on 30 Saint Joseph Boulevard East.

Before:

After:

53 churches in a day!

People's Church has also graciously accepted to put our 40 Days insert in their 400 print run of Sunday fliers.

And Trinity Pentecostal have graciously invited us on Sunday night to give a presentation. Here are a few pictures:

See you all tonight for the kickoff of the 40 Days for Life in Montreal!

McGill University's pro-life club just averted being banned for life in a narrow vote the other night. Here's a press release from Choose Life President Natalie Fohl:

McGill Undergraduates Vote Against Motion to Ban Pro-Life Groups

Choose Life calls on student union to restore full status

MONTREAL, QC - On Wednesday, February 10th the undergraduates at McGill University voted against a motion that would ban the current club, Choose Life, and any future pro-life club on campus. The vote happened at the Student Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) General Assembly (GA).

While this result prevents Choose Life from being permanently banned, the club is still unjustly suspended from a motion SSMU voted in favour of on November 12th due to past events such as hosting the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and Jose Ruba from the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Recently, SSMU’s Equity Committee had met with Choose Life in order to impose sanctions on the club following what they claim to be misconduct. Despite some councillors’ opposition to Choose Life sharing their pro-life beliefs on campus, this vote clearly demonstrates that McGill students continue to support freedom of speech.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this vote,” expresses Natalie Fohl, president of Choose Life, "Clearly the message is that McGill students recognize that a university is where values and beliefs will be challenged with opposing ideas and that this is exactly where those ideas should be explored. We hope and expect SSMU to acknowledge the same and restore Choose Life’s club status. It is time that we are treated like all the other clubs on campus.”

For More Information: Natalie Fohl, President of Choose Life: 716-796-5946 or chooselifemcgill@gmail.com

Next week we're reaching out to the churches in the immediate vicinity of the 40 Days for Life site at Parc Lahaie. The itinerary (Parc Lahaie being at spot "H") is mapped out below (each red dot being a church):

Busy few days!

(Click for English text below)

Les 40 jours pour la vie - de retour ce printemps !

Chers défenseurs de la vie,

Les 40 jours pour la vie sont de retour, et j'ai hâte de vous retrouver parmi nous en grand nombre pour prier et jeûner pour la fin de l'avortement.

Comme vous le savez, la campagne 40 jours pour la vie a 3 facettes:

• la prière et le jeûne pour la fin de l'avortement pour 40 jours, du 17 février au 28 mars;
• une vigile de prière pacifique devant la clinique Morgentaler, de 7h00 à 19h00, du 17 février au 28 mars;
• une campagne de sensibilisation: interventions auprès des médias, porte-à-porte, et distribution de circulaires, du 17 février au 28 mars

Ce printemps, 163 villes du monde entier (dont Montréal, bien sûr!) participeront simultanément à cette campagne!

Depuis 2007, cette campagne a réussi à sauver 2168 enfants à naître de l'avortement: C'est 2168 bébés sauvés, et 2168 mères qui ont aussi évité de justesse les blessures spirituelles, psychologiques et corporelles de l'avortement--et ce ne sont que les mères qui ont laisser savoir aux participants à la vigile qu'elles ont décidés de garder leur enfant.

Pour vous inscrire à cette campagne, ou pour nous donner vos disponibilités pour la vigile vous pouvez:

• Écrire à l'adresse suivante : 40jourspourlaviemontreal@gmail.com
• Visiter le site www.40daysforlife.com/montreal
• Nous appeler au (514) 344-2686
   

Réunion générale le mardi, 9 février

Pour ceux qui veulent en savoir plus sur les 40 jours, et pour ceux qui veulent en FAIRE plus (bénévolat, sensibilisation publique, vigile dans le Parc Lahaie) vous êtes invités à participer à une RÉUNION GÉNÉRALE le mardi, 9 février à 19h00 à la Librairie Ville-Marie (5173 Côte-des-Neiges, local 5, Métro Côte-des-Neiges).

Nous présenterons les 40 jours pour la vie, nous discuterons des différents rôles que vous pourrez remplir tout au long de la campagne, et nous répondrons à toutes vos questions.
 

Lancement officiel des 40 jours pour la vie le 16 février

Le lancement officiel de la campagne printanière des 40 jours pour la vie à Montréal aura lieu le mardi 16 février à 19h00 dans le Parc Lahaie, situé en face de la clinique d'avortement Morgentaler, sise au 30 Saint-Joseph est.

Le déroulement de la soirée :

19h00 - 19h15 Rencontre dehors, vigile avec chandelles, cours discours, et prière

19h15 - 19h25 Procession au 60 Laurier est (quelques minutes de marche)

19h25 - 20h00 Présentation faite par invités spéciaux

20h00 - 20h40 Musique et détente, nourriture, session d'inscription à la vigile des 40 jours pour la vie.

Joignez-vous dès maintenant à cette campagne unique : c'est vraiment le début de la fin de la tragédie de l'avortement à Montréal, au Québec et dans tout le pays !

Georges Buscemi
Organisateur principal des 40 jours pour la vie à Montréal
 

40 Days for Life are back this Spring !

Dear lovers of LIFE,

The 40 Days for Life are back this Spring, from Feb. 17 - March 28.

As you know, 40 Days for Life has 3 great components:

• 40 Days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, from February 17 to March 28
• 40 Days of peaceful and prayerful vigil in front of the Morgentaler abortion facility for 12 hours a day, 7am to 7pm, from February 17 to March 28
• 40 Days of community outreach, door-to-door canvassing, flyer distribution, letter-writing, from February 17 to March 28

This spring, 163 cities (including Montreal, of course!) will be taking part in this massive pro-life effort.

Since 2007, the combined efforts of all 40 Days for Life campaigns have saved 2168 unborn children from abortion, and 2168 mothers from a lifetime of pain and regret.

To sign up to this unique and powerful pro-life campaign,

• Email 40daysforlifemontreal@gmail.com
• go to www.40daysforlife.com/montreal-english
• call us at (514) 344-2686
   

40 Days for Life General Meeting

To learn more about the 40 Days for Life here in Montreal, or to help you discern your role in this unique campaign, we've organized a general meeting on Tuesday, February 9 at 7PM at 5173 Côte des Neiges street, unit #5 (Cote-des-Neiges Metro). If you have questions, we'll answer them; and if you were wondering if you could do more for the campaign (volunteering for the vigil, or for the canvassing campaign) we'll be able to tell you how you can help spread the word.
 

40 Days for Life Official Lauch on February 16

Montreal's 40 Days for Life spring campaign will kick off at 7PM on Tuesday February 16, at Lahaie park, across the street from the Morgentaler abortion facility located at 30 St. Joseph Blvd East.

Here's the schedule:

7PM - 7:15PM Meeting outside in Lahaie park across the street from the Morgentaler abortion facility: brief speeches than prayer.

7:15PM - 7:25PM Candle-lit procession to 60 Laurier street East (a couple minutes' walk)

7:25PM - 8PM Presentations and speeches indoors by special guests

8PM - 8:40PM Music and refreshments, food, sign-up session for the 40 Days for Life vigil, a chance to meet other pro-lifers from across the city.

Be sure to come out to the kickoff !

This is going to be an amazing 40 Days. It really will be the beginning of the end of abortion in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and beyond!

Georges Buscemi
Head Organizer of the Montreal 40 Days for Life