A biannual effort to bring an end to abortion through peaceful prayer, vigil, fasting and community outreach will begin again on Ash Wednesday, March 1.

The campaign, called 40 Days for Life, is held nationally in the fall and during Lent. Volunteers are asked to pray and fast for an end to abortion. And volunteers are sought to keep vigil outside a local clinic where abortions are performed.

Ed Harpring, pro-life coordinator for the Archdiocese of Louisville, said in an announcement about the event that public prayer and witness are important in promoting “a culture of life.”

“Over the years, I have received comments from many parishioners who have had a very powerful spiritual experience and a better awareness of the sanctity of life after they spent an hour in prayer at the abortion site,” Harpring said. “I encourage all of our parishioners to give an hour for life during the upcoming campaign. In fact, many of our parishioners are making 40 Days for Life part of their Lenten fasting ritual.”

Harpring said he believes that during last year’s vigil about 30 mothers planning an abortion changed their minds and chose to give birth.

The prayer vigil will be kept 24-hours a day outside the EMW Women’s Surgical Center, 138 W. Market St., through April 9. Volunteers are asked to sign up for shifts throughout the vigil. At least two volunteers are needed to pray each hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A signed “statement of peace,” pledging to be respectful of clinic escorts and workers and to show compassion to the women entering the clinic is required of all volunteers.

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz has written a special prayer for 40 Days for Life, which has been distributed to parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville and is printed below.

For more information, visit 40daysforlife.com/louisville or contact Laura Grijalba at 475-5403 or la.grijalba@att.net.