September 23, 2023

Couple devotes prayer, hours to 40 Days for Life campaign

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

 

SPRINGFIELD – Deacon Ted Tudryn and his wife Elizabeth spend many mornings out on the sidewalks near Planned Parenthood in downtown Springfield praying for an end to abortion. They are a visible sign to women in crisis and want to encourage others to join them during the upcoming 40 Days for Life campaign which runs Sept. 27 through Nov. 5 at the vigil site on Wason Avenue in Springfield.

“I am more committed down here now that I’m not a deacon attached to a church,” said Deacon Tudryn.

“I have more flexibility to spend down here and to spread the word to parishes and other people to participate,” he said.

The couple raised 4 children and are grandparents. Elizabeth is a nurse and said the pro-abortion argument does not follow science.

“They try to say it’s not a human, that it’s not a life. That is a life,” said Elizabeth Tudryn. She explained when she was busy raising her family, someone asked her to publicly witness for life. She said she put it off for a while until she felt a nudge to stand up for the unborn.

“I got a calling from Mother Mary for me to do this. That’s why it’s important to me,” she said.

The pro-life campaign is an ecumenical effort which relies on peaceful, prayerful witness in front of the abortion clinic.

According to the 40 Days for Life national campaign, 23, 525 babies have been saved from abortion since the launch of the international campaign in 2007.

“The 40 Days gives all of us an opportunity who believe in the importance of supporting life to do something very proactively in support of life,” said Father Daniel Pacholec, the director of pro-life activities for the Diocese of Springfield and pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield.

“For some, it may be intense prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, offering a rosary daily. For others, it’s an opportunity to standup and stand out for our faith and the belief that life is precious. If we don’t speak out who will,” he said.

The 40 Days for Life is a semi-annual campaign focused on changing hearts and minds on abortion through three components: prayer and fasting; peaceful vigil; and community outreach.

Individuals and parishes can sign up for hours to prayerfully witness at the vigil site. Parishes are encouraged to adopt-a-day. So far, four parishes have committed to the fall campaign: Christ the King Parish, Ludlow, Sept. 27; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Westfield, Oct. 12; St. Cecilia Parish, Wilbraham, Oct. 13; and St. John the Evangelist Parish, Agawam, Oct. 20.

“The power of prayer is so important. We just have to continue to pray for the unborn, for parents who are making these decisions,” said Caroline Zeszotek, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish. She just had her fourth baby. She said the life issue is an emotional one for her. She miscarried two years ago.

“If I could do anything to bring her back or change what happened, I would have. I would even give my life to have her back,” she said.

Zeszotek has participated in the 40 Days for Life.

“It’s just hard knowing how hard it was for me to lose. I couldn’t imagine making that choice because I would have done anything to change that,” she said.

She and the Tudryns are hoping to encourage expectant mothers who are alone. There are several pro-life centers in the Diocese which will “walk with moms” in need, to help them through their pregnancy and beyond. They include Bethlehem House in Easthampton; Clearway Clinic in Springfield, and New Direction in Pittsfield to name a few. All can be found on the diocesan Respect Life Page. https://diospringfield.org/Ministries/respect-life-office/

To sign up as an individual or to adopt-a-day as a parish, go to 40daysforlife.com

A video version of this story will be featured on the Sept. 24 edition of “Real to Reel,” airing at the temporary time of 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22NEWS.