Join Bishop in thanking Our Lady of Guadalupe for life

March 25, 2024

Holy Hour at Saint Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines

Bishop William Joensen will hold his weekly Monday holy hour at 5 p.m. on April 15 at St. Ambrose Cathedral in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, thanking her for protecting the unborn through the closure of a Planned Parenthood clinic and praying for her continued intercession.

 All are invited to join in the prayer. 

In 2012, Iowa had 26 Planned Parenthood clinics. Today, it has six clinics in Ames, Iowa City, Sioux City, Des Moines and Urbandale. A Cedar Rapids clinic is temporarily closed but expected to reopen this summer. 

On Feb. 8, a sign was found on the doors of the Rosenfield Center clinic on Army Post Road on the south side of Des Moines saying it had been closed. 

“The closing represents a culmination of years of prayers by faithful pro-lifers at this very location,” said Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, in a newsletter to supporters. “Hundreds, maybe thousands of people, stood and prayed with us over the years for the closing of this very abortion mill.”

And last year, the Planned Parenthood clinic in Council Bluffs closed. 

Prolife advocates attribute the closing of the clinics to intercession from Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 2012, a team of volunteers asked the Apostolate of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe for a visit to Iowa. An image traveled to Planned Parenthood clinics, churches, schools, and rehabilitation centers. 

At the same time, the Iowa Knights of Columbus had a smaller framed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe traveling from parish to parish to end abortion. 

Details for another visit are being planned.

Prolife advocates turned to Our Lady of Guadalupe in prayer as court battles addressed abortion.

A Spring 40 Days for Life campaign continues in several cities in Iowa including Urbandale and Ames through March 24. Go to pulseforlife.org/40-days-for-life/ for details. 

At the holy hour, Bishop Joensen will lead the faithful in “thanking Our Lady of Guadalupe and praying for her continued intercession, so that hearts and minds will change, and abortion will become unthinkable.”