ALTAMONTE SPRINGS | Alongside the noise of traffic on Maitland Avenue, a rosary led by Father Emmanuel Akalue, pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Casselberry, quietly initiated the fight for life for the unborn and their parents Sept. 23, 2026.
40 Days for Life is a national campaign that began in 2004. It seeks to end abortion through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion clinics.
At the official start of this year’s campaign, parishioners of several area churches gathered in front of Life Choices Medical Clinic, a pro-life clinic in Altamonte Springs that shares a driveway with an abortion clinic.
“It’s important for me to be here today to unite with my parishioners and other parishioners in the area in our Catholic principle of dedication to life,” Father Akalue said. “We are followers of Jesus, and Christ is the Lord of all life, particularly human life. And He wants us to relish life, to celebrate life.”
The pastor first went on a tour of and blessed the clinic and staff before going outside to lead other prayer warriors in a spiritual battle for hearts to be open to life. In the clinic he asked the Lord to bless those who enter there, to love them and guide them, and to help staff minister to them.
“Because unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain,” he said. “So, we are showing through this solidarity, that we depend on God for victory.” Quoting Zech 4:6 he added, “For it’s not by might, not by power, but my Spirit, says the Lord. And so that is why we are here, using prayer as the first response. Then we also follow up with action.”
Many assembled on the lawn answered the call to action long ago. Rosemary Hurley is a St. Augustine parishioner who joined St. Mary Magdalen parishioner Larry Scotchie more than 10 years ago on the sidewalk. This year St. Mary Magdalen committed to praying from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays of the campaign.
The veteran prayer warrior said many parents who terminate pregnancies never think about the legacy they are depriving themselves and their families. Hurley is one of six children who gave her parents 19 grandchildren and more than 25 great grandchildren.
“So that’s 50 people that would not be here if my mother or father wasn’t born,” she said. “Life is so precious. It breaks my heart whenever you see these girls going in there.”
It was Lorena Tursi’s first time participating in the campaign. She said her love for life and for her children compelled her to go.
“And knowing that I am a mom now. I’m a mom of five. We have three kids, one in heaven, one on the way,” said Tursi, whose children range from 10 months to 3 years old. “And I know the blessing children are to a mom’s life and to a family…. and knowing that I can possibly, with my prayers, help somebody that is going through that process.”
The coordinator for 40 Days for Life at the Altamonte location is Marion C. She said the pro-life cause has “been in her heart” since she was a teen.
She said it is her way of honoring “the greatest intention of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I would like people to know their prayers and their presence here on the sidewalk make a difference, even if they don’t see it. God is doing something because He’s faithful to hear our prayers. If we’re praying, He is moving in somebody’s life, whether it’s in front of our eyes or down the street or the next state over. He’s moving. He’s doing something.”
In the evening another group welcomed Ramona Treviño, a former Planned Parenthood leader turned national pro-life advocate for 40 Days for Life. A group gathered in vigil before the former clinic she worked for moved her to leave.
Treviño shared her story of how she flipped through radio stations one day and happened across a Catholic radio station. There she learned hormonal birth control could act as an abortifacient. She had no idea and had been contracepting for years. She returned to the Catholic Church and went to confession, where she was urged to quit her job. Soon after, she did. Now she is the outreach director of the national 40 Days for Life team.
Treviño travels the country encouraging sidewalk counselors and prayer warriors to keep the faith and affirms their efforts are bearing fruit.
If you would like to volunteer to pray for an hour or more at a location near you, go to 40DaysforLife.com.
Watch more of the 40 Days for Life here.
By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, September 25, 2026