Young adults, members of Hartford for Life, pray to end abortion outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in West Hartford as part of a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil sponsored by the Archdiocese of Hartford. (Photo by Shelley Wolf/Archdiocese of Hartford)
Story by Shelley Wolf
WEST HARTFORD – Men and women of all ages stood on the sidewalk along busy New Britain Avenue. Some held rosaries and prayed. Others approached the curb with signs that read “Pray to End Abortion” and “Choose Life.” A nearby sandwich board read “Honk if You’re Pro-Life.”
As drivers slowed down, beeped their horns and sometimes waved, the pro-life advocates on the sidewalk waved back, encouraged that their presence and witness to the value of all life was making an impact.
“I’m here to be a witness to the goodness of life,” said Robert Starvish, one of seven pro-life advocates from Mary Gate of Heaven Parish in Windsor Locks, who attended the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil on Oct. 9 outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in West Hartford.
The prayer vigil was part of the 40 Days for Life campaign being sponsored in the Archdiocese of Hartford by its Respect Life Ministry. The fall campaign runs from September 22 through October 31, with vigil hours daily from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.
“It’s proven to be highly successful, it’s peaceful, and it’s prayerful. It’s a way for Catholics to tackle this big issue,” said Teresa Wells, coordinator for the archdiocese’s 40 Days for Life campaign. She stepped into the role in August.
“Abortion has become so insidious because it’s legal, so it’s become socially acceptable,” Wells said. However, those who are called to stand witness during this 40-day vigil aim to send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. “40 Days for Life is a way to bring it to light in a peaceful way.”
In past years, prayer vigils in the archdiocese were held on the sidewalk across from Hartford GYN Center on Main Street in Hartford. That abortion clinic moved out of town, Wells said. So the 40 Days for Life campaign moved to a new location as well, outside Planned Parenthood in West Hartford’s Elmwood section, a part of town abutting the city of Hartford.
As an alternative to abortion, Wells says her office partners with various pregnancy resource centers and can direct women with unplanned pregnancies to these non-profit agencies, which help women to keep their child. Catholic faith-based pregnancy centers never refer for abortions.
Parishioners from Mary Gate of Heaven Parish in Windsor Locks hold up signs and wave to cars as they pass by on New Britain Avenue in West Hartford. (Photo by Shelley Wolf/Archdiocese of Hartford)
A sandwich board elicited many beeps and waves, demonstrating solidarity, from passing drivers. (Photo by Shelley Wolf/ Archdiocese of Hartford)
Starvish said his mother chose to keep him when she could have done otherwise, and he’ll be forever grateful. Now he is standing on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic with signs, hoping to share the pro-life message and to convert hearts.
“My mother said I was the best thing that happened in her life,” Starvish said. “In 1965, before abortion was even legal, a social worker told my mother to get an abortion because we were poor and she already had six boys,” he explained, referring to the year his mother was pregnant with him. Fortunately for Starvish, his mother rejected the suggestion. In fact, his Catholic mother was indignant.
“Little did we know that my brother would be hit by a car,” he said. “The whole thing about life is you don’t know – you just don’t know what that gift of life will bring. My mother said I brought her so much joy.” Likewise, he said, “That’s why I’m here with my sign. You just don’t know what this prayer vigil will bring.”
Of those seeking abortion services he said, “It’s sad. People don’t have any hope. That’s why they’re here.” Starvish said he and the others simply want to point those women toward hope.
Shirley Plummer, another parishioner from Mary Gate of Heaven Parish, said making a statement about the sanctity of life by standing on a sidewalk along the busy thoroughfare might remind women of their other options. “We touch a lot of souls,” she said. “We’ve got to keep the pro-life movement going. Some women have abortions and regret it for the rest of their lives.”
Young adults also participated in the prayer vigil. Further down the sidewalk, members of Hartford for Life, a young adult chapter of Pro-Life Future, recited the rosary and held up signs that read “Choose Life” and “I Am the Pro-Life Generation.”
Although Hartford for Life is comprised of people of all faiths, members in attendance all happened to be Catholic. The five young adults arrived from as far away as Winsted and Woodbury and as close by as Berlin and West Hartford. At least two of them said their pro-life values were nurtured by the Catholic campus ministry at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
“I feel strongly we want to support 40 Days for Life and let people know that there are other options. I feel in some way that women will be encouraged to choose life,” said Michelle Reinert, 24.
“We can be out here loving women, but also the unborn at the same time,” said Alex Lavoie, also 24.
“There’s no more important issue in the country,” added Bernadette Beckman, another member of Hartford for Life.
Jim O’Boyle, a longtime advocate in the pro-life movement from Mary Gate of Heaven Parish, manned the sidewalk with one other parishioner as early as 7 a.m. He was especially heartened by the response from those who drove by as well as by the kindness of strangers, who made a special show of solidarity this year.
“A group of Irish Catholic workers stopped by,” O’Boyle said, “and brought us coffee and donuts, saying ‘We’re pro-life, too.’”
To schedule a day and time to pray: The Archdiocese of Hartford’s Respect Life Ministry welcomes all those who want to engage in peaceful prayer for the purpose of ending abortion. To join in the fall prayer vigil, text Teresa Wells at 203-314-9816 or email at twells@prolifeministry.org. Volunteers are assisting with scheduling for 40 Days, confirming hours and providing specific instructions about proper etiquette and signage. For more information, visit https://prolifeministry.org/40-days-for-life-campaign. For maps and parking, visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/hartford.
Other 40 Days for Life prayer vigils are also in progress in Norwich, Bridgeport and Danbury. To find campaign coordinators and details for those cities, visit 40daysforlife.com.
An adorable baby sign kept everyone focused on the positive, life-affirming choice. (Photo by Shelley Wolf/Archdiocese of Hartford)