Washington D.C., September 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – For the seventeenth year, a pro-life coalition is encouraging all Christians to join in a week of prayer for an end to the culture of death from October 2-12.
The International Week of Prayer and Fasting Coalition hopes that by mobilizing Christians all over the world to pray, it will achieve its goals of “the conversion of nations, an end to abortion, and peace.”
The week of prayer and fasting this year focuses on an increased threat from terrorism across the United States. In a press release, Milagros Callao, one of the coalitions leaders, says, “As problems have accelerated in the world especially with global terrorism, and economic and moral decline, this global movement has grown.”
The Coalition is specifically focused on the end to abortion, which it says is one of the worst forms of terrorism. “In the past 37 years, we have allowed another form of terrorism, the killing of the innocent unborn child … Globally, we have allowed the killing of the Innocents and we now have US leaders who support infanticide.”
The Coalition, which is a grassroots movement that has worked together for over 17 years, encourages Christians to make time during this one week to perform spiritual acts for an end to the culture of death. Some suggestions the Coalition makes include fasting from the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., turning off the television for one week, and attending holy hour prayer vigils.
However, it has also organized a series of larger events across the nation to promote prayer. In Chicago the Coalition has set up prayer vigils at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic parish.
Also, the group plans to hold a number of talks and times of prayer in the Washington D.C. area. Events for the weekend include:
– Saturday, October 10: Journey: God's Plan for Life and Love Conference at the John Paul II Cultural Center, 9am to 6pm. Speakers include Chris Horn, Chris Padgett, Christina Condit, Kristan Hawkins, and Fr. Clement Machado. For more info, www.journeydc.org
– Sunday, October 11: God's Plan for Life and Love Awards Banquet at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 5:30pm. Reception and dinner with renowned speaker former US Senator Rick Santorum.
– Monday, October 12: Eucharistic Prayer Vigil at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 9am to 5pm. Speakers include Jennifer O'Neill, Dr. John Jackson, Fr. Clement Machado, Fr. Frank Pavone, Patty Fason, Melissa Ohden, and Dan Lynch.
For more information, please visit www.iwopf.org.