When a woman finds herself in a crisis pregnancy, she does not typically need to be convinced that her unborn child is a person. What she needs is hope. She may need material assistance like clothes, diapers and formula. She may need counseling and relationship classes. She may need help with drug addiction for her and her baby. What she needs may be as simple as a listening ear, or as involved as a place to live for several months, along with job training and child care. In the end, she needs to know that there are people out there who are able to walk with her, no matter the circumstances, to help ensure her life and the life of her child, will hold more promise than she is able to see right at that moment. As I mentioned, what it really comes down to is hope. She needs the hope that comes from Jesus, through the work of so many hands who do His work right here in this Archdiocese.
With that in mind, the USCCB began a program a few years ago called “Walking with Moms in Need.” It is an invitation for parishes to be active in promoting the existing resources within their communities, to ensure that every mother in a crisis pregnancy knows how to find the help she needs to choose life for her child, whether through parenting or adoption. To get started, check out our website at catholicaoc.org/walkingwithmoms. Click on Parish Materials at the top, watch the webinar and browse the summary of phases for the Parish Action Guide. It may seem overwhelming at first, but just get started. In the end, you are just assembling a team, filling out the Parish Inventory Tool where you can sit down with a group from your parish and start to look at ways your parish can better educate your entire community on how to help moms in need.
For the inventory process, I recommend taking your time. Start with your local pregnancy center. Get to know the people who provide resources by name. That way, when you refer someone in need, you can provide a personal reference instead of just a phone number. That personal touch can make a big difference.
This isn’t about turning your parish into a pregnancy care center. This is about making sure everyone at your parish knows what resources are out there—including the nearest pregnancy care center, material assistance services and other agencies—so that when someone is in need, you are ready to help. Believe it or not, most people do not know all the resources already out there. Once your parishioners know you are ready to help, they will refer people they know to you. Some of your team members may also be available to simply be a listening ear to a mother in need, and be that connection to finding a new faith community right at your parish. For them, consider the training from the Sisters of Life called Into Life. As Pope Francis reminded us in a 2015 address, “…our parishes and communities [should] become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.” We should all know where to refer a pregnant woman in need.
Together, we can all make sure every mom in crisis finds the help she needs to choose life!
