Will You Host a Pro-Life Way of the Cross at Your Local Abortion Facility on Good Friday?

On Good Friday, March 25, pro-lifers across the country will take part in “A Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion” at their local abortion facility, and you’re invited to take part!

We’re calling on pro-lifers like you to join us in hosting a “Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion” at your local abortion facility.

And, we’re providing you with all the tools you need to make it happen in your area, including an ecumenical prayer service book, templates to promote your event through e-mail and in churches, advice on practical considerations and more!

Though the devotion of the Stations of the Cross has Catholic roots, the service we conduct is completely ecumenical. People of every denomination join us every year and there is no material in the book that would be offensive to non-Catholics to pray. Please feel free to join or host a Way of the Cross no matter what your denomination.

All the Tools to Host Your Own Way of the Cross

Hosting your own “Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion” may sound daunting if you’ve never organized something like this before, but if you follow these simple steps, you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful event that will be a blessing to everyone involved.

If you are going to host your own service, please e-mail the League with the time, date, and location including physical address of your service so we can add it to our list of sites below!

Get a complete list of all the resources listed in the instructions right here.

Choose Your Location and Time

Choose the local abortion facility where you’d like to hold your event. If there is more than one facility in your area, you will want to take into account practical considerations like whether there is enough room for people to safely stand outside the facility, parking and other issues.

If there are no abortion facilities in your area, you could host your Way of the Cross at a memorial for the victims of abortion (find one here) or at a local church.

We at the League have held ours at 10 a.m. because it fits well with our local churches’ schedules, but you’ll want to check with churches in your area to make sure you’re not conflicting with other services on Good Friday.
Recruit Clergy to Lead Your Event

It’s always a great help to have some clergy to help lead the prayers. You’ll want to get invitations out to priests, pastors or deacons as soon as possible. Good Friday can be a busy day for clergy with many services to conduct so you’ll want to give them plenty of notice.
Publicize Your Event

Get the word out about your event every way you can. Local church bulletins and pulpit announcements are great ways to let people know. Use this sample bulletin announcement to get started.

Church bulletin deadlines are typically the Monday before the Sunday you want it in the bulletin. That means if you want your event in the bulletin on Sunday, March 6, you need to have your announcement to the church secretary by Monday, February 29. For Sunday, March 13, get your announcement in by Monday, March 7. For Sunday, March 20, get your announcement in by Monday, March 14.

Once you’ve got your bulletin announcement set, get the word out through e-mail. You can use this sample e-mail as a starting point for a message.

Send an e-mail to all your personal contacts and ask around to see if any local churches, pro-life or other sympathetic groups might send an e-mail to their contacts as well. Be sure to post about your Way of the Cross on Facebook and other social media too.

Finally, contact your local media to let them know about your Way of the Cross service. We’ve had several local television stations out to our Way of the Cross in recent years.

Find the contact information for your local TV stations, newspapers and local news websites and send them a press release. Use this sample press release as a template for your own.

Note: When using all of these templates, be sure to find all the bracketed sections and fill in the correct information for your event.
Print Your Booklets

We’ve put together the ecumenical prayer service we use into an 8 page booklet that you can have printed at your local print shop. We’ve had great results going to Fedex Office, but any office supply shop or small print shop should be able to print them for you.

Download your Way of the Cross Prayer Book [PDF] and tell them to print the number of copies you’d like on white letter-sized paper, black and white, double sided and saddle-stapled. They should be very cheap to print.

Get a few more copies than you think you’ll need. You might be surprised by your turnout, and even if you don’t use them all, you can save them for future use.
Document Your Event

Be sure to take pictures and videos of your Way of the Cross event, and e-mail us the pictures and videos or links to them if you’re hosting them on Flickr, Youtube or other sites. We’d love to put together a slideshow and video playlist of events from around the country.
Other Concerns

You may have seen the video above that features us moving from station to station. That is completely optional. Feel free to move around to stations if you have them or stay in one place and simply pray through the book.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects your right to engage in this kind of public prayer witness. Should you have any concerns about this area, feel free to contact us.
Optional: Build Your Own Stations

At our local Planned Parenthood, we’ve been blessed with a vacant lot across the street from the facility. As such, we chose to build some stations of our own which we stake into the ground around the lot so we can walk from station to station as one would in a church.To build your own stations, download the Way of the Cross images [PDF], or find others that you like, and get them printed at your a local print shop like FedEx Office. We recommend having them printed on tabloid paper (11″ x 17″)—in color if you can afford it—and laminated. If you print tabloid size, make sure the print shop knows you want the images blown up to fit the paper.Next, get 14 1×2 posts and cut them about 5′ tall with an angle on one end to stake in the ground, and nail an 18″ piece across the other end (see an example in the video, above). Finally, staple the prints to the cross beam on top of each station.At your location, pound each station into the ground with a hammer.We’ve found it helpful to bring some smaller stakes to use to pound pilot holes so you don’t have to pound directly on the station very much. If you’d like more information on building your own stations, feel free to contact the League by e-mail.
Social Media

You can also promote your Way of the Cross service on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. You can tweet in the days leading up to the event, make a Facebook event page and invite your friends, and you can tweet and post to Facebook with pictures and updates from your service while it’s happening.

Images to promote your service on social media will be coming soon.

Twitter: On the day of the event, tweet with the hashtag #ProLifeGoodFriday. You can use these sample Tweets to spread the word:

On the day Jesus was crucified, let’s remember all innocent victims, especially the smallest. #abortion #ProLifeGoodFriday

Jesus united Himself with all the victims of suffering. None suffer more innocently than the victims of #abortion. #ProLifeGoodFriday

On Good Friday Jesus died on Golgotha. His image is destroyed 1000s of times a day at OUR Golgotha, the #abortion clinic. #ProLifeGoodFriday

Good Friday, the day Jesus DIED, is the perfect day to stand up for LIFE! #ProLifeGoodFriday

Are you thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday? Then do something for your unborn brothers and sisters today! #ProLifeGoodFriday

Finally, after your Way of the Cross, post some pictures to the Pro-Life Action League’s Facebook page and we’ll share them with all our followers!

Now that you’ve got your instructions, you can get started on your plans for a Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion at your local abortion facility. If you have any questions about hosting your own event, feel free to contact us. We’re here to help!

Way of the Cross Resources

Here are all the resources you need to host a Way of the Cross for victims of abortion in your community:

Way of the Cross Locations

Alabama

Birmingham: Planned Parenthood, 1211 27th Place S., Birmingham, AL (Map), 10:00 a.m.

Alaska

Kenai: Bridge Access Road and Kenai Spur Hwy. (“Arby’s Corner”: Map), 3:00 p.m., preceded by a 12-mile “Cross walk” between Soldotna and Kenai

Alberta, Canada

Calgary: Kensington Clinic, 2431 5 Avenue NW, Calgary, Alberta (Map), 12:00 noon

Arizona

Glendale: Planned Parenthood, 5771 Eugie Ave., Glendale, AZ (Map), 11:00 a.m. (NOTE: The Rosary will be prayed at this location.)

Arkansas

Little Rock: Little Rock Family Planning Services, 4 Office Park Drive, Little Rock, AR (Map), 10:00 a.m.

California

Chico: Planned Parenthood, 3100 Cohasset Road, Chico, CA (Map), 3:30 p.m.
El Monte: Planned Parenthood, 4748 Peck Road, El Monte, CA (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Pomona: Planned Parenthood, 1550 N. Gary Ave., Pomona, CA (Map), 10:00 a.m.
Roseville: Planned Parenthood, 729 Sunrise Boulevard, Roseville, CA (Map), 8:00 a.m.
Sacramento: Family Planning Associates, 2322 Butano Drive, Sacramento, CA (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Sacramento: Kaiser Permanente Point West Medical Offices, 1650 Response Road, Sacramento, CA (Map), 11:00 a.m.
Sacramento: Planned Parenthood – B Street Health Center, 201 29th Street, Sacramento, CA (Map) 10:00 a.m.
Sacramento: Women’s Health Specialists, 1442 Ethan Way, Sacramento, CA (Map), 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Note: At this location, the Passion will be read, and the Stations of the Cross will be prayed along with other hymns and prayers.)
San Bernardino: Planned Parenthood, 1873 Commercenter Drive West, San Bernardino, CA (Map) 10:00 a.m.
San Diego: Procession to Federal Building beginning at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 4th Avenue and Beech Street (Map), 12:00 noon
Victorville: Planned Parenthood, 15403 Park Avenue E., Victorville, CA (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Vista: Planned Parenthood, 1964 Via Centre., Vista, CA (Map), 4:00 p.m.
Westminster: Planned Parenthood, 14372 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA (Map), 10:00 a.m.

Connecticut

Danbury: Planned Parenthood, 44 Main Street (Map), 10:00 a.m.

Delaware

Newark: Planned Parenthood, 140 E. Delaware Street (Map), 11:00 a.m.

Florida

Fort Myers: Planned Parenthood, 8595 College Pkwy., Fort Myers, FL 33919 (Map), 12:00 noon
Jacksonville: A Woman’s Choice of Jacksonville, 4131 University Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32277 (Map), 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. (three services, each beginning on the hour)
Orlando: Planned Parenthood, 726 S. Tampa Ave., Orlando, FL (Map), 4:00 p.m.

Georgia

Atlanta: Feminist Women’s Health Center, 1924 Cliff Valley Way, Atlanta, GA (Map), 24-hour prayer vigil beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Good Friday

Idaho

Boise: Planned Parenthood, 3668 N. Harbor Lane, Boise, ID (Map), 3:00 p.m. (Note: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed at this location. Park only at the Idaho Athletic Club parking lot next to Harbor Lane and walk to the public sidewalk between PP and State Street.)
Meridian: Planned Parenthood, 2112 E. Franklin, Meridian, ID (Map), 12:15 p.m. (Note: Park only at the empty Stanton lot, and gather on the public sidewalk parallel to Franklin.)

Illinois

Aurora: Planned Parenthood, New York Street and Oakhurst Drive (Map), 10:00 a.m.
Chicago: Albany Medical Surgical Center (now closed), 5086 N. Elston Ave. (Map), 5:00 p.m., preceded by the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 4:30
Chicago: Blessed Sacrament Parish, 3528 S. Hermitage Avenue (Map), 3:00 p.m.
Glen Ellyn: Aanchor Health Center, 1186 Roosevelt Road, (Map), 9:30 a.m.
Wood Dale: Advantage Health Center, 203 E. Irving Park Road (Map), 10:00 a.m.

Kansas

Wichita: South Wind Women’s Center, 5107 E. Kellogg Drive (Map), ongoing witness from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Massachusetts

Fitchburg: Planned Parenthood, 391 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA (Map), 12:00 noon

Michigan

Ann Arbor: Planned Parenthood, 3100 Professional Drive, Ann Arbor, MI (Map), 10:00 a.m.
Grand Rapids: Heritage Clinic for Women, 320 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, MI (Map), 9:30 a.m.
Southfield: Northland Family Planning, 24450 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI (Map), 10:00 a.m.

Minnesota

Duluth: Building for Women, 32 E. 1st Street, Duluth, MN (Map), 11:00 a.m.
St. Paul: Planned Parenthood, 671 Vandalia Street, Saint Paul, MN 55114 (Map), 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Missouri

Columbia: Planned Parenthood, 711 Providence Road, Columbia, MO (Map), 10:00 a.m.
St. Louis Planned Parenthood, 4251 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108 (Map), 6:30 a.m. (start time of 24-hour prayer vigil)

Montana

Billings Heights: Procession to Planned Parenthood beginning at St. Bernard Church, 226 Wicks Lane (Map), 12:30 p.m.

Nebraska

Bellevue: Abortion and Contraception Clinic of Nebraska, 1002 W. Mission Avenue, Bellevue, NE (Map), 12:00 noon
Omaha: Planned Parenthood, 3105 N. 93rd Street, Omaha, NE (Map), 12:00 noon

New Jersey

Englewood: Procession to Metropolitan Medical Associates beginning at the Englewood train station parking lot, Demarest Ave. and Dean St., Englewood, NJ (Map), 9:30 a.m.
Marlboro: Memorial to the Unborn at the Church of St. Gabriel, 100 N. Main Street, Marlboro, NJ (Map), Start Time TBA

New York

Goshen: Planned Parenthood, 7 Coates Drive, Goshen, NY (Map), 1:00 p.m.
Monroe: Women’s Urgent Care, 600 State Route 208, Monroe, NY (Map), 8:00 a.m.
Newburgh: Planned Parenthood, 136 Lake Street, Newburgh, NY (Map), 10:30 a.m.
Rochester: Procession to abortion facility beginning at McQuaid Jesuit High School, 1800 S. Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14618 (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Spring Valley: Planned Parenthood, 25 Perlman Dr., Spring Valley, NY 10977 (Map), 12:00 noon (start time of 24-hour prayer vigil)

North Carolina

Asheville: Planned Parenthood, 68 McDowell Street (Map), 12:00 noon

Ohio

Akron: Akron Women’s Medical Group, 692 E. Market Street (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Cleveland: Preterm abortion facility, 12000 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH (Map), 12:00 noon
Cleveland: Preterm abortion facility, 12000 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH (Map), 3:00 p.m. (NOTE: At 3:00 p.m., in lieu of the Way of the Cross, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary will be prayed.)
Sharonville: Beginning at St. Michael Parish, processing to Women’s Medical Center, 11144 Spinner Ave., Sharonville, OH (Map), 9:15 a.m.

Oregon

Eugene: Planned Parenthood, 3579 Franklin Blvd., Eugene, OR (Map), 10:00 a.m.
Portland: Lovejoy Surgicenter, 922 N.W. Lovejoy Street, Portland, OR (Map), 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. (three services, each beginning on the hour)

Pennsylvania

Greensburg: Planned Parenthood, 125 Nature Park Road, Greensburg, PA (Map), 12:00 noon
Norristown: Planned Parenthood, 1221 Powell Street, Norristown, PA (Map), 11:00 a.m.
Philadelphia: Planned Parenthood, 2751 Comly Road (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Pittsburgh: Planned Parenthood, 933 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (Map), 8:00 p.m. (start time of 12-hour prayer vigil)
Scranton: Planned Parenthood, 316 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA (Map), 11:15 a.m.
Warminster: Procession to Planned Parenthood beginning at Nativity of Our Lord Church, 625 S. Street Road (Map), 9:30 a.m.

South Carolina

Charleston: Charleston Women’s Medical Center, 1312 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC (Map), 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Tennessee

Bristol: Bristol Regional Women’s Center, 2901 W. State Street (Map), 12:00 noon
Nashville: The Women’s Center, 419 Welshwood Drive, Nashville, TN 37211 (Map), 12:00 noon

Texas

Dallas: Planned Parenthood, 7989 W. Virginia Drive, Dallas, TX (Map), 12:00 noon (Note: This Way of the Cross service will be prayed in Spanish.)
Dallas: Southwestern Women’s Options, 8616 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX (Map), 12:00 noon
Houston: Planned Parenthood, 13169 Northwest Freeway, Houston, TX (Map), 12:00 noon
Houston: Planned Parenthood, 4600 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77023 (Map), 9:00 a.m.
McAllen: Whole Woman’s Health Clinic, 802 S. Main Street, McAllen, TX (Map), 9:00 a.m.

Virginia

Falls Church: Falls Church Healthcare Center, 900 S. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA (Map), 12:00 noon
Newport News: Peninsula Medical Center for Women, 10758 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA (Map), 10:00 a.m.
Virginia Beach: Planned Parenthood, 515 Newtown Road, Virginia Beach, VA (Map), 12:00 noon

Washington, DC

District of Columbia: West Lawn of U.S. Capitol (Map), 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Note: This service will be a time of personal contemplation and prayer for the healing of our nation.)

Washington State

Seattle: All Women’s Health North, 9730 3rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA (Map), 10:00 a.m.

Wisconsin

Appleton: Planned Parenthood, 3800 N. Gillett St., Appleton, WI (Map), 9:00 a.m.
Madison: Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Road, Madison, WI (Map), 9:30 a.m.
Milwaukee: St. Rita Parish, 1606 N. Cass Street, Milwaukee, WI (Map), 9:00 a.m.