Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our community. As Pope Francis reminds us, Catholic parishes should be “islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.” Pope St. John Paul II identified the many challenges that expectant mothers may face, including lack of support from the father, financial strains, concerns about her own health or that of her child, and pressures from family and friends. An “unborn child is totally entrusted to the protection and care of the woman carrying him or her in the womb.” For this reason, Pope Francis has recognized that it is particularly important that the Church come alongside mothers, offering them encouragement, assistance, and loving support and friendship.
In response, the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities has invited Catholics to walk in the shoes of local pregnant and parenting mothers in need. Through the USCCB’s Walking with Moms in Need initiative, parishes and dioceses are invited to join a nationwide effort to increase outreach and support to parenting women and women facing unplanned, difficult or crisis pregnancies.
Father Joseph Mary has challenged our parish to organize and join this ministry, and we have accepted. As part of this initiative our parish is undertaking a yearlong process to assess, expand, and better communicate and deliver resources to pregnant moms and families in our local community. We also hope to incorporate the work begun last year under the name of Project Gabriel, and to include in the new ministry an opportunity for parishioners to serve as Gabriel Angels, working and walking in the shoes with pregnant women who need loving support on their journey to motherhood.
We invite all parishioners to join us as we embark on this journey together. Our initial meetings will generally be held in the Parish Commons stairwell library on first and third Sundays after the 8:30am and 11:00am Masses. For more the most current meeting schedule, please look in Flocknotes, the parish bulletin, the parish calendar.
To learn more about the nationwide initiative, please visit www.walkingwithmoms.com.
If you want to learn more about our efforts, are seeking assistance, or would like to make a referral, please call or write to Garrett Smith at (434) 960-7775 or at [email protected].
Whether you can help us or not, we ask for your prayers and invite you to join us as we pray:
Blessed Mother, you received the good news of the incarnation of Christ, your Son, with faith and trust. Grant your protection to all pregnant mothers facing difficulties.
Guide us as we strive to make our parish communities places of welcome and assistance for mothers in need. Help us become instruments of God’s love and compassion.
Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us build a culture of life and a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life. Amen.