Sunday, Nov. 1.
The 40 Days for Life prayer vigil campaign to end abortion will come to a close on Sunday, Nov. 1, with a procession from the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville to the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
“We’re going to meet at the Cathedral of the Incarnation at 2 p.m.,” said Kathleen Rickards, the leader of the Nashville campaign. “From there we’re going to have a procession to Planned Parenthood.”
The Planned Parenthood clinic is located at 412 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd. in Nashville, about three quarters of a mile from the Cathedral.
“Once we’re there we’ll pray the Stations of the Cross,” Rickards said.
The 40 Days for Life campaign in Mt. Juliet also will close on Sunday, Nov. 1, by praying the Stations of the Cross. The closing event of the Mt. Juliet campaign will be held at 5 p.m. outside the carafem Health Center abortion clinic at 5002 Crossings Circle in Mt. Juliet.
During the vigil, which began on Sept. 23, people were praying outside the abortion clinics every day. Although there were fewer people signing up for long stretches more than one day a week, there were more volunteers overall, said Rickards, a parishioner at the Church of Assumption in Nashville. “I feel that’s a step in the right direction,” she said.
While praying outside the abortion clinic, some of the reaction from the public is negative, but the number of positive comments far outnumber the negative, Rickards said.
“We have great conversations with people when we’re out there,” she said. People ask why the they are there, Rickards said. “People are very misled. We’re there to help these women. We’re not there to yell at people, harass people. We’re there to offer help and support.”
Those praying offer pamphlets to women interested with information about organizations that can provide them with help, including the Pregnancy Care Center in Old Hickory, Mulier Care’s Pregnancy Help Center mobile unit, and the Hope Clinic for Women in Nashville, Rickards said.
The next 40 Days for Life prayer vigil will be held in the spring of 2021, opening on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, and ending on Palm Sunday, March 28.
For more information about 40 Days for Life, visit www.40daysforlife.com.
