Many blessings and achievements have happened on the international front during Lent 2023 for 40 Days for Life

The Lent 2023 campaign got off to a great start with a report from Spain of a baby saved from abortion in Madrid. In 2022, Spain criminalized pavement counseling, meaning pro-lifers who try to talk women out of abortion could face prison time.

After a couple entered a Madrid abortion facility, the baby’s grandmother approached vigil participants, asking for prayer, even though she is not a religious person. Prayer warriors pleaded with God to save the woman’s grandchild and the couple decided to keep their baby! The expectant mother left the abortion centre smiling and wanted to have an ultrasound.

In Taiwan, leader Sister Maria Fidelis saw her first baby saved during a 40 Days for Life campaign. A woman came from the Philippines for an abortion. Prayers started for the woman, asking God to change her mind and heart, sadly she refused everything. At noon when she went to the clinic for an abortion she discovered she was already 24 weeks and she could not have the abortion (abortion is only legal before 24 weeks). She is continuing and seeking a way to deliver the baby as soon as possible. The team continue to pray for her and the little boy that she has. 

In Ealing, London, despite being outside the buffer zone, at least three women chose life during the Lenten campaign. One couple shared that they changed their mind about abortion. Another woman took two abortion pills that didn’t work before deciding to keep her baby and campaign participants overheard an argument in which a woman informed a man that she would not be having an abortion!

In Glasgow, Scotland, a truly epic campaign ensured outside the largest hospital in Europe: the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital. 107 volunteers led a candlelit vigil in front of placards created by pro-abortion activists desperate for national buffer zone laws. They maintained their peaceful prayer in face of many taunts and attempts to disrupt prayer. Dr Greg Irwin continued to heckle vigil participants with pro-abortion activism. 

Earlier in the campaign a woman stopped to pray with 40 Days for Life participants on her way into the hospital to give birth. The family returned to pray after the birth, and Mum, Dad, baby and big brother joined the vigil. Rose, the vigil leader was thrilled to see the little newborn girl. 

Vigil volunteers in Nottingham have made apologetics their lynchpin, having many grace filled conversations with passers by. One passerby was discussing abortion with his wife as a result of seeing their witness. She said it’s a woman’s right to choose. The man disagreed, saying there is a little man involved too. Another passer by was worried that his granddaughter wants to be a boy due to peer pressure and has started taking hormones.

In Croatia, over nearly 40 vigil sites across the country, 2 lives were saved from abortion. In Čakovec, a security guard working at the hospital testified that a woman who planned to have an abortion came, asked him for directions and they started talking. Through the conversation, the security guard found out the reason for her coming to the hospital, and in that conversation he encouraged the woman to keep the child. At that time, another woman was praying and standing in front of the hospital with her child. The woman looked at them and said: ’’You see, I would kill a child like that.’’ And decided not to have an abortion! When Croatians pray for the hospital staff, their prayer includes the security guards. 

In Austria it has been reported that one of the largest and oldest abortion facilities has closed indefinitely (this was the site of a previous 40 Days for Life campaign). The pro-abortion organization “Pro Choice Austria” released a statement on March 29 announcing that the “pro-woman” abortion facility in the centre of Vienna has stopped performing abortions and will be closed. The abortion facility was an important hub for Eastern European woman seeking abortions abroad. The abortion facility opened in 1979 and prayer vigils have been organized for decades outside its doors. 

We also received reports that an abortion centre had closed during this campaign in Spain where a 40 Days for Life vigil is present. The story is subject to confirmation. 

In Portugal, a 10 year old girl won the award for being the most committed volunteer. On average 79 abortions happen every week at the Dos Arcos abortion centre and many lives were saved in Portugal once again this campaign, with Lourdes Varela visiting the vigil site and speaking at the March for Life. Vigil participants recently had the opportunity to encourage a woman who was abortion minded, but at 16 weeks gestation was long past Portugal’s 10 week limit. Paula, the local leader said, “We had enormous joy of giving a hug to the woman."

Andrew in Brno, Czech Republic led a first time campaign for his country, and vigil participants received a welcome surprise from an American visiting the Czech Republic. The visitor said his wife is quite active with her local 40 Days for Life campaign in the United States and thanked the prayer warriors for their work, which greatly encouraged them. A campaign team member said, “I see this as a sign of the Lord telling us we are doing the right thing and that we are not alone even if it does feel very lonely out there on the street.”

In Uganda, Richard Masareka who runs a NGO for widows and orphans has helped to save the lives of at least 3 women. He said his campaign volunteers are motivated and proud to be reaching out to abortion vulnerable women. 

Maureen Aduba in Jos, Nigeria hold her campaign near a university where the team can do outreach to a particularly abortion vulnerable population. She said her public witness is winning hearts, and people where happy with what they are doing, not only saving lives, but making abortion unthinkable. 

Sean McGee has started a new 40 Days for Life campaign in Galway, Ireland. During a campaign visit, a procession witness outside the hospital is really powerful and many passers by have their eyes coming out of their sockets seeing a Catholic procession witnessing so beautifully. New volunteers are recruited, Sean is passionate and competent and likely to improve the quality and depth of his campaign over time. The vigil site is in front of a heavy intersection, with many hundreds of passers by every hour with strong feedback both positive and negative from passing cars. 

In Serbia, Adrian has upped the hours of the prayer vigil outside the state run hospital. His campaign is small, but doing well with plenty of ideas of how to improve his campaign. Outside the hospital in Novi Sad, a shop for baby clothes jokes that the prayer vigil is good for business. 

In Budapest, Levente and Magdi are leading the Budapest campaign. They have led a good effort. 

Levente met with a student worker who was asked to assist with abortions but had issues with conscience which prevented her from getting involved. It was a grace filled encounter. Also Susan, a volunteer had an experience of a turnaround (not directly associated with the campaign).

In Zambia, an abortionist repented from doing abortions. A young schoolgirl knew 4 friends who had died from abortion. She came from school with her friends and came direct to the vigil.

At time of writing, reports are still coming in. All in all, there have been many grace filled encounters at our vigils. These are just a small collection of the many hundreds of graces that have happened at international vigils. Many people are inspired, campaigns are growing, to God be the glory! 

Robert Colquhoun
Director, International Campaigns