40 Days For Life Vigil Information
HOW TO SIGN UP TO PRAY
There are three ways you can sign up to pray for an hour:
There are three ways you can sign up to pray for an hour:
1) via your local parish Respect Life Coordinator;
2) online at www.40daysforlife.com/montclair
LOCATION OF MATERIALS TO USE DURING PRAYER VIGIL
The vigil materials are brought to the site by the morning Vigil Shift Manager.
- rosaries and prayer cards (instructions for rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet)
- Helpers of God’s Precious Infants prayer books
- Pregnancy Center & Project Rachel brochures and referral cards, and
- 40 Days For Life approved signs of support for women and families.
2) online at www.40daysforlife.com/montclair
LOCATION OF MATERIALS TO USE DURING PRAYER VIGIL
The vigil materials are brought to the site by the morning Vigil Shift Manager.
- rosaries and prayer cards (instructions for rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet)
- Helpers of God’s Precious Infants prayer books
- Pregnancy Center & Project Rachel brochures and referral cards, and
- 40 Days For Life approved signs of support for women and families.
SIGNAGE
Signs are available with the other materials. Please ask the Vigil Shift Manager for a sign and/or materials. If you would like to bring your own signs, please limit them to gently worded signs, e.g. “we’re praying for an end to abortion” or those that offer help to the women going into the abortion facility and their loved ones, e.g. “We can Help: 1-800-395-HELP” or “Free Pregnancy Tests & Sonograms”. See http://bit.ly/40daySigns for more. Please, no graphic pictures or strongly worded signs.
STATEMENT OF PEACE
All prayer vigil participants are required to abide by the 40Days4Life statement of peace (e.g. to cooperate with local city authorities, to show compassion and Christ’s love to all whom we encounter; to avoid trespassing on private property, etc.) If you did NOT register online, please read and sign one of the blank statements in the Vigil Box.
PARKING
Parking is available on the southside of San Bernardino Street (accross the street fromFamily Planning Associates) or in the Alternate Avenues Parking lot at 9675 Monte Vista Avenue which is just a short walk to Famil Planning Associates.
WHERE TO PRAY
Family Planning Associates is on 5050 San Bernardino Street Montclair, California which is on the Northwest corner of San Bernardino Street and Fremont Avenue.
You can stand /sit /kneel on the public sidewalk on San Bernardino Street or Fremont Avenue. Please be careful to not block the sidewalk, e.g. step aside for any passerby, and please try not to “march” or walk rapidly: it telegraphs a message that you’re a protestor not a “pray-er”. You are welcome to bring a small chair or a kneeler cushion to avoid getting stiff standing.
IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY
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The police: Listen attentively to everything they say. Politely explain that you are here to pray peacefully, will not block the sidewalk and that we have a non-profit gathering permit (paperwork will be in the vigil box). If they ask you to move or do something, please obey promptly and courteously. If you are uncomfortable with the manner in which they interact with you, obey their directions. You can tell us later about the encounter (see contact information below). If you can do sotactfully, ask for the officer’s name and let us know.
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A passerby: Share the good news about the peaceful, prayerful 40 Days for Life campaign. Invite them to join us: give them one of the (ecumenical) 40Days4Life flyers from the box.
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A Donor: If they offer money, thank them and tell them we’ll give it to Alternate Avenues, which provides all its services (pregnancy tests, sonograms, material assistance for both mothers and babies) for free, and will make good use of the donation. Put donations in the envelope in the box and let one of us know (see contact info below.)
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A woman, family member, or friend of someone inside: provide appropriate resources
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Post-abortive Women: provide Project Rachel brochures, regarding counseling, healing retreats, and recognizing the symptoms of “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome:
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Local abortion minded women: Provide an Alternate Avenues referral card (includes a local “Hotline” number to connect them to the closest, open center). Stress that all services (e.g. pregnancy tests, sonograms, and material assistance for both mother and baby) are free of charge. You can offer to initiate the call, together, or offer to walk with them over to Alternate Avenues.
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Abortion minded women who are not from the local area ; give them an Option Line referral card (1-800-395-HELP); calling this number will connect them with a 24x7 national call center that will put them in touch with the closest pregnancy resource center anywhere in the country.
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If woman needs a place to live, e.g. at risk of homelessness, offer Gabriel Network info.
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An employee of Family Planning Associates: Offer to pray for them, and direct them to the Vigil Shift Manager, so that they can talk to them about helping to find them a new job.
IF YOU WISH TO AVOID BEING APPROACHED
Based on experience, if you don’t make eye contact, e.g. keep head bowed in prayer, it is very unlikely that someone will interrupt you. If someone insists on speaking with you, simply listen, and if possible, respond with a smile and “God Bless You...” or “I’ll pray for you...” This usually diffuses even the most agitated person. Veterans who’ve prayed up at Hillcrest for many years rarely have an unpleasant encounter.
Based on experience, if you don’t make eye contact, e.g. keep head bowed in prayer, it is very unlikely that someone will interrupt you. If someone insists on speaking with you, simply listen, and if possible, respond with a smile and “God Bless You...” or “I’ll pray for you...” This usually diffuses even the most agitated person. Veterans who’ve prayed up at Hillcrest for many years rarely have an unpleasant encounter.
SHARING THE MINISTRY
Please consider personally inviting colleagues, family, friends, fellow parishioners, to join this prayerful vigil, etc. By extending this invitation, you are offering them an opportunity for grace to work in their lives, too, and building an essential ministry to spread the Gospel of Life. Publicize this prayer vigil in your church bulletin, Facebook or on your parish or bible study website.
CONTINUING THE VIGIL
This 40 Days For Life campaign officially ends on November 6th, but until Family Planning Associates closes, the abortions will continue. If you can continue to help us maintain a prayerful presence -- even on a limited basis – please send an email to montclair40daysforlife@gmail.com.
Contacts: If applicable, first direct questions to your Parish Respect Life Coordinator | OR contact :
Mark Capalbo, Campaign Director
montclair40daysforlife@gmail.com