Moms on campus: How are Catholic colleges helping students facing unexpected pregnancies? | |
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Lauretta Brown, Shannon Mullen
Catholic News Agency
May 21, 2023
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"How does a Catholic college respond when a young woman pursuing her degree faces an unexpected pregnancy?
On a growing number of campuses, the response is both compassionate and pragmatic, as schools have begun putting their pro-life values into action with resources like tuition breaks, special housing arrangements, dedicated lactation rooms, 'expectant mother' parking spaces, and even free babysitting...
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The shame and scandal an unexpected pregnancy may have caused on a Catholic campus in the past is giving way to more proactive, life-affirming policies, informed by a keener awareness of the pressure society places on unmarried young women to opt for abortion.
The pro-life movement needs this kind of 'strong and beautiful' witness more than ever, says Monsignor James P. Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, whose new St. Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers offers one of the most comprehensive support programs for young moms pursuing a college degree.
The rationale for these efforts is the same one motivating pro-life pregnancy centers and the U.S. bishops’ Walking with Moms in Need campaign. 'If I’m going to advocate for the protection of unborn lives,' Shea explained, 'that means that I’m going to do everything I can to support those lives once they’re born and the women who are generous enough to bring those lives into the fullness of light.'"
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Diocese of Rockford: ‘Walking with Moms’ Gearing Up | |
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Amanda Hudson
The Observer
May 11, 2023
"... [Therese Stahl, director of the diocesan Life and Family Evangelization Office] recalls her feelings some 17 years ago when she was pregnant for the first time and 'felt a little bit lost' in how to pray well in that new-to-her experience. She and her husband were 'people of faith,' she says, and not in need of material help, but still she felt she needed to know 'how to see my pregnancy relative to my (Catholic) faith.'...
Walking with Moms is a 'wholistic way' to witness against abortion and provide support for those who choose life, she says. Stahl believes there are opportunities for parishes to support new parents...
Supportive efforts, she says, will look different from parish to parish depending on what ministries are already in place and what the parish wants to do. Right now, she says, some parishes are building on ministries already in place while others are 'starting from scratch— and that’s exciting too!'
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The Walking with Moms program is, in a way, something of a 'rebranding' of 'what we’ve been (already) doing as a Church,' Stahl says. The program provides a way to bring 'fresh eyes' to existing parish programs and encouragement to parishes to attend to the material and spiritual needs of new mothers...
Susana Morones is the parish service outreach coordinator and respect life coordinator for St. John Neumann Parish. She and her team of volunteers have been assembling baby baskets of helpful items for new mothers and their children since January...
That was all good, and appreciated, but Walking with Moms inspired a little more.
We didn’t know the mothers we were reaching out to, Morones says. Parishioners wanted to host a baby shower, connect, be present and really walk with the mothers...
The parish launched the 'Breakfast with Babies' idea in the Month of May in honor of the Blessed Mother and set the date for Saturday, May 6.
Additional parish groups responded to a call for assistance with the breakfast, Morones says. For example, the parish rosary ministry made rosaries for the baskets given to the mothers, and the 'Neumann Needlers' made baby blankets. The baskets were personalized by baby size and name — 'I called you by name and you are mine,' quotes Morones.
'We want to give them that sense of dignity and caring of the loving hand of our Lord,' she adds. 'We are just extending our blessings to them.'
The first breakfast prepared to welcome around 30 people that included 10 mothers who could each bring a friend, and children who were cared for in a baby area by parish youth ministers during the breakfast 'so moms can relax.' ....
Plans are to continue hosting such breakfasts. 'We’re going to see how everything develops,' Morones says. 'We are praying to see what are their needs, and how we can help and walk with them.'
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Diocese of Honolulu: Respecting life with supplies of diapers, wipes and infant clothes | |
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Deacon Gary and Val Streff
Hawaii Catholic Herald
May 24, 2023
"St. Elizabeth Parish in Aiea hosted a baby shower on May 7 for expecting and parenting mothers, 1-3 p.m. in the church auditorium. We opened with a prayer followed by a snack of sandwiches, fruit cups, cupcakes and ice cream. Each family received a lucky number allowing them to choose from an array of baby goods generously donated by parishioners, from playpens to a stroller...
Thirty-seven guests came. These were mothers with their families. Three were new mothers. Three were pregnant. Three other expectant women could not attend but were given their shower gifts before the event.
About five families came after the shower and received supplies as well for their newborn or preborn children...
Walking with Moms in Need was initiated in Hawaii by the diocesan Respect Life Ministry on Sept. 8, 2022, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Banners were sent to parishes with brochures identifying local community organizations that support pregnant and parenting moms...
We are not a pregnancy center but are prepared to connect women with the best community resources available. Through the support of our bishop and pastors, we are joining the nationwide effort to spread the 'Gospel of Life' through the Walking with Moms program."
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Diocese of Lincoln: Cambridge and Arapahoe parishes are ‘Walking with Moms in Need’ | |
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Shelby Siegfried
Southern Nebraska Register
May 26, 2023
"The call to Walk With Moms in Need has resonated with parishes throughout the Diocese of Lincoln. Mary Nickel from Cambridge found inspiration in a Southern Nebraska Register article that highlighted the work of Otoe County parishes involved in Walking With Moms in Need.
'After Roe v. Wade was overturned, I kept asking myself, ‘How could I make a difference in rural southwest Nebraska to help women choose life instead of abortion?’ Walking With Moms in Need piqued my interest,' said Nickel.
She reached out to a fellow parishioner and Father Kenneth Wehrs, pastor of St. John the Baptist in Cambridge and St. Germanus in Arapahoe. With Father Wehrs’ guidance, they formed a core team of 11 members from both communities.
Father Wehrs sees the program as an opportunity for Catholics to support pregnant women and their babies through all stages, countering the false claim made by the pro-abortion movement that pro-life supporters don’t care about moms and babies after birth.
'Of course, that’s not true at all,' he said, 'and this program helps equip every Catholic to be ready to help by knowing where to find the resources that already exist.'...
'We needed to walk in the shoes of a pregnant woman facing difficulties and imagine the challenges and obstacles she might encounter,' Nickel explained. 'Basic necessities such as food, shelter, transportation, and clothing are important, as well as addressing the mental and emotional struggles like anxiety, rejection, embarrassment, and even the challenge of sharing the news with friends and family.'
While visiting local organizations, committee members discovered incredible work being done to support women and families. They recognized the opportunity to bolster existing services, such as the ABC Pregnancy Help Center in McCook. With numerous services already available, the main objective is to increase awareness.
'The resources are there, but we want to make it easier for vulnerable women to find the support and help they need,' said team member Barb Langley. 'We’re fortunate to have many young people on the committee with a wide range of experience who understand how to share that information with those who need it most.'
To increase awareness of local resources, committee members are creating an easy-to-use website directory that will list all available services for women, babies, and families. Additionally, they will print yard signs with a scannable QR code that directs users to the information. A committee member will also be available to receive confidential calls and emails...
In the future, the committee plans to organize an event to share its efforts with parishioners and the wider community. The aim is to ensure that everyone is aware of how they can support moms facing difficult circumstances."
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Diocese of Youngstown: Piloting ‘Walking with Moms in Need’
Ann-Margaret Lambo
The Catholic Echo
May 24, 2023
"Motherhood is a tough job. It’s a job that gets tougher when a pregnancy is unexpected or creates a challenging circumstance.
Would you know what to say, what to do, how to help a woman who is faced with the challenges of becoming a mother, unexpectedly?...
The Youngstown Diocese Council of Catholic Women (YDCCW) recently gathered for their annual meeting, at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Louisville. The day included a presentation on Walking With Moms in Need. David Schmidt, diocesan director of pro-life, marriage and family ministry joined the group of ladies to explain the program...
'Walking with Mom’s in Need is a process through which Catholic parishes and communities walk in the shoes of local pregnant and parenting women in need,' Schmidt explained. 'Everyone should know how to help moms in difficult circumstances. That doesn’t mean the handful of people who are on the Respect Life committee, or the people who are on the Social Justice committee. No. Everyone should know how to help moms in difficult circumstances. This is the bread and butter of Moms in Need. In many ways, Walking With Moms in Need is a way to keep this out in front of our fellow parishioners.'
Schmidt continued that a woman who finds herself in need is probably not going to knock on the rectory door. She might however, talk to a neighbor, she might talk to a friend, she might talk to a co-worker, and one of these people might be a diocesan parishioner.
'We’re not trying to turn Catholic parishes into pregnancy centers,' Schmidt continued. 'We are blessed in the Diocese of Youngstown. Each county in the Diocese has a pregnancy center, with the exception of Portage County. We want to work with them and support them. Where there are few local resources, we can create our own based on the gifts of the parish community.'
...Right now, Walking With Moms in Need is a pilot program at St. Joseph Parish in Maximo, where Father G. David Weikart is pastor. Father Weikart also happens to be pastor of Regina Coeli Parish and St. Joseph Parish, both in Alliance, as well as St. Ann Parish in Sebring, adding three more parishes where the program is offered."
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May expectant mothers be lovingly supported by the fathers of their children in welcoming new life.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...
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Our Prayer for Pregnant Mothers is available in English and Spanish for free download. It can also be ordered as a beautiful prayer card. |
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