On a cool morning, more than 50 pro-lifers gathered with
Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge to pray the rosary in front of the Falls
Church Healthcare Center, one of the largest abortion clinics in the area. The
bishop’s witness April 4 inspired the many people who pray there throughout the
40 Days for Life.
Ruby Nicdao has led the Falls Church campaign for several years
and is often found doing sidewalk counselling outside the center. Nicdao, a
parishioner of St. Timothy Church in Chantilly, was impressed and excited that
the bishop joined the pro-life group. She knows the participation of the clergy
grows the pro-life presence outside abortion clinics.
“We believe that if we see the bishops and the priests in front
of these abortion centers it will bring more parishioners to the frontlines,
because it shows that they value life,” she said.
Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge leads the rosary as
part of the Falls Church 40 Days for Life campaign April 4.
As the group prayed, many faced the street and held signs that
read, “Everyone deserves a birthday” or “Pray to end abortion.” The bishop and others,
such as Peter Lucas, a student at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington,
took turns leading decades of the rosary.
Several students from the school’s pro-life club participated
along with the club’s moderator, Allison Lattie, and school chaplain Father
Gregory Thompson. The club hosts “baby showers” for local charities, prays monthly
at the abortion clinic and attends the March for Life. “If we don’t respect
life in the womb, we won’t respect it anywhere else,” said freshman Natalie
Archer.
After they finished the rosary, the bishop greeted the group.
“Thank you for what you do ... to transform the hearts of those in need,” he
told Catholics from around the diocese, including parishioners of nearby St.
James Church in Falls Church all the way to St. Veronica Church in Chantilly and
Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville.
A woman holds a pro-life sign facing S. Washington
Street while praying a rosary with other pro-lifers.
40 Days for Life is an international organization that encourages
people to pray outside abortion clinics. Since its inception, the group
believes many unborn babies have been saved from abortion due to the witness of
pro-lifers. “We believe 40 Days for Life is the beginning of the end of
abortion because we’ve seen a phenomenal rate of abortion centers close down
since it began. I do believe it's because Christians are coming out to pray,” said
Nicdao.
Mimi Fleury from St. James was happy to join the bishop in
prayer. “I’m 89 and I have been against abortion since forever.”
Learn more
Bishop Burbidge will celebrate a Respect Life Mass on
Saturday, April 22, at 8:30 a.m. at St. James Church in Falls Church, and then
lead a rosary at Falls Church Healthcare Center. To learn more about 40 Days
for Life activities, go to facebook.com/40DaysforLifeFallsChurch.