There is a growing movement to assist pregnant and parenting mothers in need, including in the Diocese of Cleveland. Some parishes have adopted the Walking with Moms in Need program, launched in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
About two dozen representatives of parishes in Lake County gathered April 21 at St. Gabriel Parish in Concord Township to learn how they can get involved.
Tony Dipre, director of the diocesan Office for Human Life, organized the meeting. Presenters were Anthony Camino, director of the Catholic Commission of Lake, Geauga, and Eastern Cuyahoga counties, Marissa Welsh from St. Ambrose (Brunswick) Parish’s Project Gabriel and Ann Marie Flanagan from St. Peter and St. Julie Billiart (both North Ridgeville) parishes’ WWMIN program.
Dipre asked attendees to reflect on if there was a moment in their lives when they were convicted about the dignity of the human person and how God is summoning or inviting them to see others.
They watched a video clip created by the Sisters of Life emphasizing the dignity of each life, explaining that God desired each of us to exist.
“The value of human beings is simply because we exist,” Dipre said. He offered background on WWMIN, explaining it is an opportunity to walk in the shoes of local pregnant women in need and for parishes to serve as “islands of mercy in a sea of indifference.”
Welsh outlined how St. Ambrose accepted the challenge, spending months doing research on available resources in the Medina County area. “We found many resources, but where did our parish fit in?” Welsh wondered. She said the missing piece was accompaniment.
St. Ambrose’s Gabriel Project, a parish-based, pro-life ministry providing spiritual, emotional, and material support to women facing challenging or unplanned pregnancies, mirrors WWMIN. One regret she has is that they spent a great deal of time on research and preparation instead of embracing the accompaniment component sooner.
Flanagan said the North Ridgeville parishes decided to focus on response/accompaniment. She talked about a call they received from a pregnant mother living in a hotel with her teenage son while her other children were cared for by Blessing House in Elyria, a crisis nursery. The mother was grateful for their presence, she said. “She asked us to visit her when she had the baby so she could introduce the infant to someone,” Flanagan said.
A year and a half later, the woman is employed, has housing and has been reunited with all of her children.
Dipre said his office will work with parishes to help connect then with resources and to provide support. One key piece is to have a contact person who can connect mothers and volunteers, he noted. The Office for Human Life has a monthly Zoom meeting during which parish representatives can share information/concerns.
Camino reminded the group that respecting all life – even life in the womb – is the social action issue and why his office is involved.
Both Welsh and Flangan said the work is rewarding. They emphasized the need for time versus money, noting diaper/clothing drives and other efforts can provide the tangible items.
“Be a gift to those moms in need. Be the light of Christ in their world,” Welsh said.
For more information, contact Dipre at tdipre@dioceseofcleveland.org or call 216-696-6525, Ext. 2335.