There are many ways to contribute to the pro-life movement – political action, education, fundraising – but these would not be possible without prayer. In his book I’m Still A Radical, the late Father Ted Colleton wrote: “Prayer and sacrifice … must be the foundation which underpins all other activity.”

Enza Rattenni, executive director of Aid to Women, a Toronto-based organization that helps women with unplanned pregnancies, knows the importance of prayer. Aid to Women is located directly beside the Cabbagetown abortion facility, where Rattenni spends her workdays sidewalk-counseling women about abortion alternatives, and offering post-abortive care. To Rattenni, “prayers are essential for a conversion of heart.” When she and the other sidewalk counselors are supported by people praying across the street, Rattenni says she notices a difference: “I feel more uplifted, bold … more hopeful.” Rattenni also spoke of an increase in activity, such as passersby offering words of encouragement and more frequent cases of women who are considering abortion stopping to talk to her about alternatives.

Though it is not required, praying with a pro-life sign is especially effective. With the injunction zone around abortion facilities, it is difficult for sidewalk counselors to approach women. Someone praying while holding a pro-life sign can be the last offer of help that women receive. For Rattenni, it is also a powerful witness for Christ because it shows the women how much they are loved.

Since the abortion facility is open during working hours, most of the people who come to pray are students and retirees. This was not the case for Emidio Galea, however, when he first started 20 years ago. Galea, responding to an advertisement put out by Aid to Women in The Interim, which called for volunteers, and began to take time out of his work day to pray outside of the Cabbagetown abortuary. Now retired, he still volunteers at least once a week.

As a Christian, Galea feels that it is his obligation to stand up for women and children by protesting the injustice of abortion. Enduring the bitter cold of winter, and sometimes abuse and vulgar language, while out on the street, Galea continues to pray peacefully, holding his sign with pride, and even hand out pro-life pamphlets.“Even saving a few lives is worth it,” he said.

Lives have been saved. Galea recounted a time when a woman on her way to have an abortion stopped, saw his sign, and began weeping. She approached a sidewalk counselor for help and did not go through with the abortion. Galea added that we must also trust in the other positive effects of prayer that we do not witness personally.

In 1999, Galea was imprisoned for refusing to leave the injunction zone while praying outside of the Scott abortuary in Toronto. An immigrant from Malta, he wanted his prison sentence to raise awareness amongst people belonging to the Maltese community in Canada, in the hopes that they would join him in praying outside of the city’s abortion mills. His invitation still stands for all. “We are always in need of people because with our help we are having babies saved. You don’t even have to carry signs, you can come here and pray,” he said. “Whatever time you can afford will always be of help.”