2024 was a superb year for 40 Days for Life: Here are some of the highlights:

January

A workshop was conducted on January 13 in Patronage du Bon Conseil in Paris. Dr Maria Pilar Calva shared her experience of working with Dr Jérôme Lejeune, a world famous geneticist. The workshop clarifies that 40 Days for Life is legal and legitimate in France as many think a prayer vigil is illegal. Following witness at the French March for Life, a first ever French campaign is held by the busiest abortion centre in Hôpital Cochin in Paris’ 14th District during the Lent. Meanwhile, the French government put abortion into the French constitution.

February

200 people from 25 countries gather in Rome for an international conference of leaders who seek to end abortion where they live. Leaders from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, Mexico, Colombia and most of Europe attend this epic event full of spiritual fruit. 3 female leaders receive awards for service to the pro-life movement.

The Roundtower association’s conference in Galway shows that worthwhile pro-life witness is working in Ireland despite rampant secularism.  A talk at Cambridge University explores the trials and endeavors of being pro-life at University: https://bit.ly/4foi8y8. Stockport NUPAS abortion centre closes.

March

A mission trip to Jamaica sees 6 babies saved in a first time campaign, in the face of threats and the abortionist pulling out a gun on the volunteers on the first day. Despite attacks, the leader sets a new paradigm for the region with his zeal and passion getting ministry off the ground. News of the mission trip is held on the front page of the national newspaper https://bit.ly/4hI5Wd5 https://bit.ly/3YPqY0C

April

A sixth international pro-life conference was held in Zagreb
Rachel Guy conducts a successful mission trip to Uganda
A  European Parliament vote calls for European institutions to include a fundamental right to abortion. https://bit.ly/48NmGvk
Strong witness is held at the March for Life in Munich with 6,000 people, a blessed day full of optimism and hope. 

May

Tomislav Čunović is one of eleven experts at a public hearing at the German Bundestag to comment on a draft law for buffer zones in Germany.

A Rally outside the British Houses of Parliament sees hundreds of pro-life activists opposed a proposed law of abortion up to birth. Speakers from all main organizations share their testimony and witness to oppose the law

June

A successful mission trip to Uganda, the pearl of Africa with Dr Haywood Robinson with pro-life ministries of Uganda cements relationships and purpose partnership with pro-life activities and ministry in Uganda, as a result 13 campaigns register for the Autumn campaign. Abortion is illegal in Uganda, but there is meaningful and effective pro-life outreach conducted.

40 Days for Life attend a pro-life youth conference at the Collegium Bobolanum Catholic Jesuit Academy in Warsaw. The foundation of a new apostolate and association is important in Poland because it remains at the crossroads and heart of Europe, and needs to be ready for a battle in order to retain her pro-life laws. Pro-abortion plans are already underway to undermine Poland’s pro-life laws and to try to bring abortion centres to the country.

July

380 pro-life leaders met in Nashville, Tennessee from July 12-14 for a post-Roe symposium to enable and equip leaders to lead their best local campaign ever. Sister Mary Madeline Todd O.P., Dominican sister of the congregation of St Cecilia reflected profoundly on what it means to be pro-life. Kathy Forck from Columbia, Missouri is given leader of the year, praying outside a local abortion centre for 15 years where the abortion rate has plummeted. Shawn Carney provided a detailed analysis of post-Roe America.

August

The 13th national meeting of Croatian 40 Days for Life teams in Zagorje and Zabok celebrates 10 years of 40 Days for Life in Croatia. A strong sense of camaraderie pervaded the meeting with a sense of unity and belonging to a cause greater than oneself. Croatia is a country where the pro-life movement is alive, on fire and passionate for life with the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

September

Dr Haywood Robinson, Director of medical affairs and education for 40 Days for Life concluded and epic mission trip on 7th September to the United Kingdom with a keynote speech outside the Houses of Parliament in front of nearly 10,000 people. He told the audience that the killing of children is not real healthcare because pregnancy is not a disease. He said he was involved in the heinous abortion industry, seduced by a lie but now has regret for his crimes against humanity after his conversion. Haywood referred to a multitude of historical figures as examples of freedom and liberty, relevant for the abortion debate today.

40 Days for Life participate in Europe’s largest pro-life event with 40,000 pro-lifers in Košice, Slovakia on Sunday 22 September with the theme, “Love is pro-life.” The Slovakian March for Life was meticulously and professionally organized with intense mobilization and preparation by the Catholic Bishop’s conference of Slovakia.

A conference is held in Pforzheim with the theme, “Life as a gift from God: Between the right to life and abortion.” Nikolina Coric speaks on the development of the life of a child along with a translation of the book, “What to say when” which is now translated into a multitude of European languages. Serbia also organize a conference in the Diocese of Subotica along with a Spanish national conference.

Feminists attack a prayer vigil in Bogota, Colombia 

October

A mission trip to the Netherlands held to spread seeds that will blossom into a nationwide campaign. Prayer vigils have been organized in Arnhem and Heemstede, outside the largest abortuary in the country. 35,000 leaflets were distributed.

A Congress of Latin American leaders in held in Mexico, celebrating 10 years of the first vigil in Mexico. Now almost all the countries of the region are praying during 40 Days to end abortion. Father Van Allen Hager, a priest of the Consulate Missionaries passed away on October 10, leaving a profound legacy for the pro-life movement in Colombia.

November

A workshop is held in Malta for the first time to share the message of 40 Days for Life. Malta is one of the last remaining countries in Europe where abortion is illegal.

40 Days for Life attends a prolife event in Modena and Bologna, where the book Cosa dire quando is presented.

December

On December 1, applications open to run a Lent 2025 campaign for 40 Days for Life.