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The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and our archdiocese have joined together in a nationwide effort called Walking with Moms in Need where Catholic parishes and communities "walk in the shoes" of local pregnant and parenting women in need. Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone should know how to help moms in difficult circumstances. While not trying to turn Catholic parishes into pregnancy centers, we can support local pregnancy centers where they exist, and we can also find and share other resources with pregnant and parenting women. And where there are few local resources, we can create our own, based on the gifts of the parish community! The 25th anniversary of Evangelium vitae gave us a wonderful opportunity to begin to assess, expand, and communicate resources to pregnant moms and families in need. Parishes are invited, through the support of their bishop and pastor, to join this nationwide effort entitled, Walking with Moms in Need.
To support this initiative, the Pro-Life Committee is developing educational, pastoral, and action-oriented resources for parish use, including:- Tools for documenting an inventory of local resources for pregnant mothers in need.
- Ideas for improving parish responses.
- Prayers for building a culture of life and a civilization of love.
- Reflections on the teachings of Evangelium vitae,
Evangelii gaudium, and Laudato si'.
A PRAYER FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS
O 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.
*Cf. Evangelium vitae 105 © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City. Adapted with permission. All rights reserved. Photo: @mukuni via Twenty20. Copyright © 2019, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.
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NEW! LOCAL RESOURCE LIST FOR WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Social Justice and Respect Life has compiled a list of resources parishes can use to support pregnant Moms in Need. Please note this list is not an endorsement of any agency or group listed. We apologize for the omission of any program not listed, and we will update as we are able. Programs that we confirmed offer Spanish-speaking services as of publication date are identified with Se habla Español, however, other programs may also offer services in Spanish. Services provided by the organizations listed are those of the individual organization and are not services provided directly by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The information is available in two formats, alphabetically and by location. -
