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 in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need.

The 25th anniversary year of Evangelium vitae gives us a wonderful opportunity to assess, expand, and communicate resources to pregnant moms and families in need. We are inviting parishes, through the support of their bishop and pastor, to join a nationwide effort from March 25, 2020 to March 25, 2021 entitled: “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service.”

For this Year of Service, the Pro-Life Committee is developing educational, pastoral, and action-oriented resources for parish use, such as:

• 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'.

Links:

• USCCB: Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service

• Prayer for Pregnant Moms

• Pledge to Walk with Moms in Need

• Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann - Opening Mass, 2020 National Prayer Vigil for Life