40 Days for Life fall campaign under way in Utah

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SALT LAKE CITY — The 2023 Fall 40 Days For Life kick off rally took place on Sept. 26 outside Planned Parenthood Metro in Salt Lake City.

The national campaign is meant “to draw attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program: prayer and fasting, constant vigil attendance and community outreach,” said Barbara Granja, Respect for Life committee president at St. Thomas More Parish, who is organizing the events in Utah.

Granja has been aware of 40 Days For Life in Salt Lake City since 2012.  

“A group of us signed up for an hour a week to pray and this became a rewarding experience,” she said. “You know when you are standing for the truth when people give you more thumbs up than thumbs down.”

While praying in front of Planned Parenthood, “I feel very protected by our Lady, Mother Mary because she knows we are doing her son’s work,” she said.

Praying, fasting and participating in peaceful protests against abortion is important because these “ultimately benefit the life within the womb from being aborted,” Granja said,. adding that it can also benefit a woman to carry the baby to term and be supported after the baby is born, and could also benefit the abortion workers “to have a change of heart in what God’s calling is for them.”

The length of the campaign is based on the fact that “God has used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities and nations to have a change of heart to build a culture of life; for example, Noah with the 40 days of rain, Moses with the 40 days on Mount Sinai, David taking up Goliath’s challenge after 40 days of taunting,” Granja said.

The 40 Days for Life participants usually sign up for an hour’s vigil at Planned Parenthood Metro, where they stand on the edge of the sidewalk praying in peace.

“We are expected to keep the public walkway always clear,” Granja said. “If other prayer warriors are already praying out loud, you may join in with them or stand on your own to pray silently.”

Materials such as prayer cards are provided if participants would like them. Participants also are encouraged to bring a sign to show their support for life.

After being involved with the 40 Days for Life campaigns for more than 11 years, Granja thinks that the Planned Parenthood Metro operating hours have diminished considerably.   

“Now they are only open four days a week for half a day,” she said.

This year’s fall campaign in Utah is sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 12181.

Granja encourages people to participate and come accompanied, if possible, to be “supported in your witness to life. If you do not have a buddy, look at the 40DaysForLife/SaltLakeCity vigil hours sign-up calendar. This calendar will let people know if others are at the PP Metro for a particular day/hour to pray with others.”

For information, contact Barbara Granja at SLC40DaysforLife@gmail.com or 385-799-5433.  

To sign up for a prayer vigil, visit 40daysforlife.com/SaltLakeCity