FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 3, 2016
Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Priests for Life is once again pleased to support and promote the International Week of Prayer and Fasting, taking place from October 2-10, 2016. This event implores the Lord, especially through the Rosary, for the conversion of all nations, the building of a culture of life, and for peace and mercy upon the world.
Father Stephen Imbarrato, Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life, will speak at the all-day Eucharistic Prayer Vigil on Monday, Oct. 10 that will be the culmination of the week. The vigil will take place in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 400 Michigan Ave. NE.
“No protest will be successful without prayer, so I am grateful to be speaking at this Eucharistic Vigil,” said Father Imbarrato, whose bishop gave him permission to do full-time pro-life work with Priests for Life in 2015. “Prayer is the cornerstone of the pro-life movement.”
Maureen Flynn, chairwoman of the organizing coalition, came up with the idea for a day of prayer when she saw a television news story about grandmothers who brought their grandchildren to a pro-abortion event. She spoke with a friend, John Down, who said a day of prayer wouldn’t be enough to counter the culture of death – a week of prayer and fasting would be necessary. The first event took place in 1989.
Priests for Life National Director Father Frank Pavone has been involved in the week since he was first invited to speak in 1996.
“This week of prayer and fasting – when we pray for our nation and our world and a culture of life – is particularly vital this year as we prepare to elect a new president,” Father Pavone said. “This election will deeply impact our pro-life efforts, so we must pray that all Americans vote, and vote correctly.”
Among the other speakers at the Eucharistic Vigil will include New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, who is a pro-life champion in Congress and with whom Priests for Life has collaborated on many projects. Marie Smith, his wife, is a member of the Pastoral Team of Priests for Life and heads up the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues, working with legislators worldwide to advance the culture of life.
For more information on this week’s events, visit www.iwopf.org
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.