First off, as of today, the bishops from 6 out of 19 Quebec dioceses will be participating actively in the Vigil for all nascent human life. I am still playing telephone tag with 7 dioceses. Three others are relaying the info to their parishes and leaving things up to them. All the details are here (in French).

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have announced the vigil on their website; John Pacheco of Socon or Bust thanks them in his special way (scroll down).

Like Mr. Pacheco, I hope that the new pro-life approach that the Bishops will elaborate in the coming year will help the Church better live out its committment to coherently proclaim the Gospel of Life. I would say that prominently announcing, in a timely fashion, important initiatives like this Vigil for all nascent human life is part of what it means to announce the Full Gospel to our fellow Canadians who are hungry for the Truth.

I think that a real change in attitude is required of all Christians; we are not in Christendom any more. It is time to evangelize, with all the means the Holy Spirit gives us, what has become an agressively secular West. Being pro-life is part of the truth we should be delivering as we evangelize, because without the truth (about life, family, marriage, etc.), charity is undermined.

The diocese of Montreal has provided liturgical aids (PDF) for the Vigil for all Nascent Human Life to be celebrated in dioceses around the world on November 27.

I want to let you know about an important prayer vigil which Pope Benedict XVI asked all dioceses and all parishes around the world to celebrate with him this November 27: the "Vigil for all nascent human life".

For more information on what is being called an "unprecedented" request by the Holy Father, please look here at the USCCB site.

I have gotten the impression by talking to some priests and others that this vigil is not well known. Which is why we at Quebec Life Coalition are promoting this in the hopes that our information will give all concerned enough time to prepare for the vigil on the 27th of November. Also, I am asking everyone to please spread the word about this wonderful initiative.

I have called the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' communications office and they said that they were a bit behind but that information was forthcoming on the CCCB website. Also, I called the nuncio in Ottawa and he said (through the secretary) that all the info has been sent to the dioceses directly.

Also, because we at Quebec Life Coalition are the unwitting leaders of the pro-life cause in Quebec, we have taken it upon ourselves to send a registered letter to 17 dioceses in Quebec asking them if and how they will participate in this Vigil for nascent human life. So far, 3 dioceses have answered that they will participate in some way. For more info on the answers I have received and an update on the answers I receive as they arrive, see here (in French).

Finally, below are the posters we have designed (11" x 17", in English and French) for anyone who wishes to announce this vigil. We will be happy to customize this poster for anyone who wishes to add the place and time info for their particular parish. Just contact us. 

Thanks for spreading the word about this important vigil, and God bless!