Photo Caption: A Fourth Degree Honor Guard from the Knights of Columbus were among a crowd of 100 people who prayed the rosary with Bishop Jenky outside Peoria’s abortion facility on Oct. 30.

By: By Tom Dermody

More than 100 persons joined Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, for prayer outside Peoria’s abortion facility on Oct. 30 as the “40 Days for Life” campaign drew near to its close.

The ecumenical time of prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigils to end abortion opened Sept. 26 and concluded Nov. 4 in cities around the United States, including Peoria, Champaign, and the Quad Cities.

“Deliver us from the scourge of abortion,” prayed Bishop Jenky after leading a rosary for the group that gathered with him at 6 p.m. on the sidewalk of the National Health Care, Inc., 7405 N. University St. Bishop Jenky asked that God “change hearts and minds” of people who seek abortions or provide them, and to “help us to be your good servants in the Gospel of Life.”

More than 30 churches participated in the Peoria campaign, according to Karen Guth, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish and a lead organizer.
She thanked Bishop Jenky for his support of the campaign, calling his visit to the clinic — accompanied by several priests, deacons, women religious, and a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard in addition to faithful of all ages — “a dream come true.”

Also speaking briefly after the prayer time were Sister Ana Pia Cordua, SCTJM, president of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria, and Brian Elsasser, a member of the Peoria County Board and of Peoria’s Apostolic Christian Church.

Father Patrick Riordan, pastor of St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Princeville, said he canceled the parish’s evangelization class for the evening and told participants if they wanted to evangelize they should join the bishop that night along Peoria’s busy University Street.

“This was wonderful,” he said after the prayer hour. “Our bishop has been very brave.”