Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 13, 2001
Program urges prayer, fasting to end abortion
Intercessors for Life promoted by Respect Life Office
By Alwen Bledsoe
Intercessors for Life is an intercessory prayer and fasting campaign, like many that are moving throughout U.S. dioceses, to provide the pro-life movement with constant prayer support.
"In order to overcome the culture of death — the devaluation of human life with abortion and euthanasia — we need to have a firm foundation, a foundation which is prayer," said Mimi Eckstein, director of the archdiocese's Respect Life Office.
The campaign was formed in response to the Holy Father's first writings after the jubilee, in which he calls on Catholics to incorporate prayer into all aspects of life and ministry, said Eckstein.
"This is really a call to us now in the new millennium to look at prayer as a foundation for everything we do," she said. "He's reminding us that for whatever we do in the Church, we need this undergirding and this holiness to make sure that ministry programs are truly needed and are done effectively."
Parishes within the Archdiocese of Denver will receive pledge cards so parishioners can sign up to support the archdiocese's pro-life work through regular prayer and fasting. Specifically, the archdiocese is seeking prayer to support parish pro-life work, the Respect Life Office, and Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., who "speaks so forthrightly and frequently for life," said Eckstein.
Project Rachel and Gabriel Project are two Respect Life ministries which need a great deal of prayer support, said Eckstein. Project Rachel, a post-abortion ministry, counsels women, men, and sometimes even grandparents who have suffered the consequences of abortions and are seeking reconciliation with the Church, with themselves, and with their aborted children. Because it often delves into sensitive and painful areas, said Eckstein, the ministry needs a great deal of prayer.
Gabriel Project provides immediate practical, material, and spiritual help to expectant mothers. It is just in its infant stages, soon to start its pilot program at St. Vincent de Paul parish.
"We need a lot of prayer to get this implemented properly," said Eckstein.
Already two groups within the archdiocese have signed up with Intercessors for Life: Mullen Home and the Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry office.
Sister Jane Moyer, l.s.p., estimates that 40 of the 75 Mullen Home residents have filled out the commitment cards and have agreed to pray and fast regularly.
"They take it very seriously," said Moyer. "I think it's wonderful because without prayer and without turning to God and getting his support and getting direction from our faith, it can't survive."
She said that the campaign has given the residents a specific purpose in their prayers, making their prayers feel very meaningful.
"There are some holy, holy residents," she said. "They do pray a lot. They make sacrifices. This has given them something specific to work at through their prayers."
Those who fill out the cards are put on a list so that the Respect Life Office can update its supporters regularly — about three times a year — on what kind of work is going on as well as how prayers are being answered, said Eckstein, adding that the response so far has been very positive.
"So many people are looking for something to do and prayer is available for everyone," she said. "So it affords everyone the opportunity to really do their part in promoting the culture of life."
For information, contact the Respect Life Office, 303-715-3205.
Contact Us
