All life is sacred! This fact draws hundreds each fall to gather in front of abortion facilities in the Diocese of Venice to pray that unborn children can be saved from the scourge that is abortion.
The 40 Days for Life fall campaign began Sept. 23, 2026, and concluded on Nov. 1, with local efforts taking place in Naples, Sarasota and Fort Myers. 40 Days for Life is an international 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and peaceful all-day vigils in front of abortion mills. This year’s campaign is the biggest effort yet, with prayer vigils in more than 650 cities across the country.
During the 40 days this season, prayer warriors from Parishes and Diocesan Catholic schools stood faithfully in front of the three local Planned Parenthood abortion facilities. One participant in Fort Myers from Our Lady of Light Parish said she participated in the prayer vigil for the first time “because I want to save the unborn babies.”
The Fort Myers campaign concluded with a closing prayer rally on Nov. 1, All Saints Day, with Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., offering the opening and closing prayers as well as encouraging the participants to keep strong for they are bringing God to the sidewalk when they pray. Bishop Emilio also had the opportunity to inspect a mobile ultrasound van, operated by Community Pregnancy Clinics Inc., which goes to areas of the diocese where women have limited access to prenatal health care.
In Sarasota, an annual Jericho Walk closed the 20th fall 40 Days for Life campaign, which included taking seven laps around the former regional headquarters of abortion giant Planned Parenthood, which is currently up for sale and will be relocating.
The Walk was a representation of what Joshua and the Israelites did to bring down the walls of Jericho, by circling the regional headquarters of Planned Parenthood seven times in silent prayer. The prayers were directed to God to bring down the walls around hearts to end abortion in Sarasota, in Florida and in the U.S. The Sarasota prayer vigil recorded two confirmed “saves,” meaning a woman who had been abortion minded changed her mind.
The Diocese of Venice has participated in each 40 Days for Life campaign since 2007, first starting in Sarasota, then to Fort Myers and Naples in later years. Since 40 Days for Life began, 26,716 mothers have chosen life for their children; 279 abortion workers have quit their jobs; and 187 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils have been held, have closed.
While the fall 40 Days for Life prayer campaign has ended, the effort to save the unborn from abortion does not end. Prayer warriors are still needed to stand vigil in front of the abortion facilities in the Diocese, specifically on days when abortions are done.
If you are interested in participating, contact Diocese of Venice Respect Life Director Tavia Ames at 941-484-9543, ames@dioceseofvenice.org, or visit www.dioceseofvenice.org/respectlife.
