The first ever 40 Days for Life in Dublin will commence on March 9th to April 17th, and will incorporate Youth Defence's Lenten Campaign. 40 Days for Life centres around two fundamental things - prayer and fasting to end abortion and bring about conversion. Participants of the 40 Days for Life are asked to participate in a public vigil at an abortion clinic.

These efforts have mobilized people in cities across the world, and the effort has produced many tremendous events including the conversion of abortion clinic workers, babies saved, abortion clinics actually shutting down and many women and their families suffering post abortion pain have come forward to speak out and seek healing.

Although abortion is illegal in Ireland, there are many abortion referral clinics that facilitate and encourage Irish women nearly everyday of the week to go to England. Each week, volunteers offer a prayerful presence outside of these clinics and participate in side walk counseling, and these are the efforts that have literally saved lives. These volunteers are from pro-life groups such as Youth Defence, Legion of Mary, and others.

Carolyn O'Meara, who is a chief organiser for the Dublin 40 Days for Life initiative, has years of experience as a sidewalk counsellor. "Just in the last month a girl who was 15 weeks pregnant was heading in for an abortion consultation and a volunteer was there to offer her information and a compassionate ear. She attended the clinic anyway and the volunteer continued to pray and when this girl left the clinic she approached her again. The girl spoke to her and they went for tea. That girl changed her mind and is now keeping her precious child all because a volunteer was there bearing the truth and in prayer," she says.

Inspired by this story, by the countless stories of women choosing to keep their child after meeting a pro-lifer outside of an abortion referral clinic, and the powerful impact that 40 Days for Life has had around the world – the first annual 40 Days for Life campaign is being launched in Dublin on March 9th.

A large number of volunteers are needed for something of this magnitude to be successful. 40 Days for Life means 40 Days of prayerful presence outside of Marie Stopes located on Berkley Road in Dublin 7. Please consider giving at least an hour of your time during this Lenten season. Also, a great idea is to get a friend, family member, fellow church member, or the like, to sign up for a slot with you.

Please this information on to everyone you know and encourage them to participate as well. This is bound to be one of the most powerful experiences of your Lenten season.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Carolyn on - 087 6729393 / 087 9253483