Prayer warriors are needed to stand up for life during Lent, and can do so by participating in the Spring 40 Days for Life peaceful prayer campaign in Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota. The prayer campaign opened on Ash Wednesday Feb. 18, 2026, and will continue through Palm Sunday, March 29.
40 Days for Life is an international 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion mills. This year’s campaign is the biggest Lenten effort yet, with prayer vigils planned in 660 cities. In the Diocese of Venice, there are opportunities to stand and peacefully pray during vigils in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota. Thanks to the leadership of Bishop Frank J. Dewane, the Diocese of Venice was one of the earliest to participate in the national campaign which began in 2006.
A kick-off event for Sarasota took place on March 16, at the offices of Community Pregnancy Clinics Inc. The clinic is in the shadow of a Planned Parenthood. Rich Owens, who has led the sidewalk campaign in Sarasota for many years, spoke about the success of the sidewalk prayer campaign with six babies saved in recent months, and at least 124 since 2019.
“Your presence makes a difference, and this year we are trying to go bigger as we pray to seek the closure of the Sarasota Planned Parenthood,” Owens said. The Central Avenue location was once the regional headquarters for Planned Parenthood in the southern half of Florida; those offices are now in West Palm Beach and the Sarasota building is now mostly empty. “We are trying to follow the recent closing of the flagship Planned Parenthood, the Margaret Sanger facility in Manhattan, as well as one of the largest in the country in Austin, Texas. This den of evil must close. This building is half-empty, so let us make them sell it and leave Sarasota,” Owens said. To encourage the closing, Owens led everyone in two prayers, a Prayer for the Conversion of Planned Parenthood and the Prayer for the Closing of an Abortion Facility.
Also speaking at the Sarasota kickoff event was Jack Prietsch, a sidewalk advocate from Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Lakewood Ranch, who emphasized the importance of presence on the sidewalk in front of abortion facilities. He gave an example of a woman who had been abortion-minded but was unsure if she wanted to go through with killing her unborn child. She told Prietsch she was looking for a “sign from God” to change her mind. The people holding placards and praying for her and her unborn child outside the facility were the “sign” she needed. “These women just want to know someone cares and is praying for them. That is a powerful thing,” Prietsch said.
Karen Mattox, who coordinates the prayer schedules for the Sarasota campaign, said there are several days in the first few weeks of the 40 Days where no one is currently scheduled to stand vigil. While most Parishes do have scheduled days, Mattox explained that there are gaps that need coverage, particularly in the early morning and evening hours. The Sarasota prayer vigil is daily from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., at 736 Central Ave. If you are interested in standing in prayer for the unborn, please register for an hour or more https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/sarasota.
The Fort Myers prayer vigil is 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, at 6418 Commerce Park Drive. A kickoff rally took place on Ash Wednesday and featured Elise Rose, a longtime pro-life advocate, educator and sidewalk counselor. For more information and to register for this prayer vigil, visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/fortmyers.
The Naples prayer vigil is 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, at 1425 Creech Road. A kick-off event took place Feb. 19, with guest speaker Dr. Haywood Robinson, former abortionist and now 40 Days for Life Director of National Affairs and Education, Bryan Kennedy, Chief of Operations for the Florida Citizens Alliance, and Scott Baier, Director of Community Pregnancy Clinics. For more information and to register for this prayer vigil, visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/naples.
Since 40 Days for Life began, more than 26,114 mothers have chosen life for their children; 275 abortion workers have quit their jobs; and 184 abortion mills have gone out of business where 40 Days for Life vigils have been held.
To learn more how to support or participate in 40 Days for Life in the Diocese contact Tavia Ames, Diocese of Venice Respect Life Director, at 941-441-1101 or ames@dioceseofvenice.org.
