IMAGINE YOU ARE praying on the sidewalk outside of the abortion clinic, a brochure of resources in one hand, a Rosary in the other, when a woman, who most likely has an appointment scheduled to abort her baby, turns to pull into the parking lot. Your heart begins to race because you know what is at stake, or whom – a living, whole, distinct, human being.
You feel hopeful when she rolls her window down, indicating it is okay for you to approach. You take a cautious step towards her car to hand her the brochure and share a message of support, but she catches you off guard imploring, “Why should I keep this baby? What are YOU going to do to help me?”
And she’s right – she is onto something. She knows that the work of having a baby goes far beyond the free ultrasound image that you can help to provide.
Walking with Moms in Need (WWMIN) is a nationwide initiative that answers her plea and the pleas of many other vulnerable women. Launched by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in March of 2020, the same time the world was navigating the onset of the COVID pandemic, WWMIN got off to a slow and bumpy start. However, God’s timing is always perfect and as we approach the five-year anniversary of the initiative’s release, parishes across the Diocese are celebrating the Good News of Walking with Moms in Need.
The mission of WWMIN, a modern-day Gospel Story of the Good Samaritan, is simple but powerful: equip parishes to assess, expand and better communicate, connect and share resources that can help pregnant women, fathers and families who are facing unplanned pregnancies. The goal is to create a network of support that provides all the services needed to feel empowered to choose life.
When parishes unite to form a circle of love and support, it has a powerful impact. It’s not that each church needs to become a pregnancy center, but it is more a prayerful and intentional mindset of how in working together, we can each be one small piece of that circle of love and support.
That network of compassionate care needs to consist of everything and everyone from sidewalk advocates to pregnancy centers with free services, housing and transportation help, employment assistance, emotional support, mentors, mental health care, parenting classes, personalized support plans, education on Abortion Pill Reversal, adoption resources and Hope and Healing after abortion.
Since its inception, many parishes across the Diocese have embraced WWMIN, transforming the initiative into a lifeline for families in their communities. Fr. Greg Walgenbach, director of Life, Justice and Peace in the Diocese of Orange, hosts bi-annual gatherings for parish leaders involved in the ministries and for those interested in learning more. Last October, the annual diocesan Respect Life collection, previously known as Pennies from Heaven, was officially changed to Walking with Moms in Need.
One great example of WWMIN is St. Kilian’s in Mission Viejo. Their ministry group, averaging 30 members, meets monthly to discuss how to best tend to the needs of vulnerable families.
Noreen Cichocki, their representative, said, “We are busy! We shower expectant mothers in need in the community with love, gifts and real help.”
Supported by pastor Fr. Angelos Sebastian, who is also the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Orange, the ministry regularly publishes the services of a pregnancy care center in their bulletin. That message of support was the reason two babies were saved within the same week. Not because vulnerable mothers read the bulletin, but because the loved ones of those vulnerable mothers did and shared the message with them.
St. Thomas More parish in Irvine recently co-hosted a WWMIN meeting in collaboration with The Life Center of Santa Ana. The parish-based event focused on providing information about resources and raising awareness about available support and the many ways to get involved. Rebecca Freeman, the Pastoral Care Ministry coordinator, updated attendees on the Diocese’s Hope & Healing Ministry, an essential piece of the compassionate care network. The ministry accompanies women, men and family members who have had their lives impacted by abortion.
Fr. Eugene Lee, who played a key role in the event, shared, “If the Prolife message is all talk and no action, then our talk is empty. Our love must be incarnational. We need to be the hands and feet of Christ, providing His love in real ways, for real people, in real circumstances.”
St. Timothy parish in Laguna Niguel stocks their restrooms with little blue support cards that read, “Are you pregnant and afraid?” The cards list lifesaving phone numbers that include a pregnancy care center that provides transportation to their free pregnancy testing services and the 24/7 hotline number for Abortion Pill Reversal.
The church’s pastor Fr. Patrick Moses shared, “I always thought there should be something more – more than just praying in our parishes for an end to abortion. Walking With Moms in Need is putting our faith into real action.”
The Life Center of Santa Ana regularly hosts a First Thursday Luncheon for the teen and young adult mothers who participate in their programs. Local parish Respect Life ministries sign up each month to bring food, goodie bags and hold the babies so the moms can enjoy being served with love. Additionally, every third Saturday of the month the center hosts Walking with Dads and Moms. Supported by faithful mentors from surrounding parishes, the virtue-based program, empowers the young mothers and fathers to become the best parents that God is calling them to be.
The WWMIN ministry at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange hosts an annual baby shower for the young mothers and fathers from The Life Center of Santa Ana’s parenting programs. Parishioners collect gifts for weeks leading up to the event. Fr. Sy Nguyen, pastor at Holy Family, is extremely supportive of the ministry. The parish office regularly hosts luncheons for the pregnant and parenting young mothers from The Life Center. Invited to first attend Mass, Fr. Sy goes out of his way to assure them that they are welcome. During the luncheon, the priests and office staff mingle with the young mamas, giving a tour of the office and sharing about the Sacraments.
The call to support Walking with Moms in Need is an invitation for all Catholics to act as Good Samaritans, walking alongside mothers, fathers and families in their time of need and sharing the Good News of relationships and real support.
There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering at local pregnancy resource centers to donating time or resources. Parishes can also hold informational meetings, raise awareness to expand support networks.
As we celebrate the five-year anniversary of Walking with Moms in Need, let us remember how St. Theresa of Calcutta said, “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”
What is your piece of the WWMIN love letter?
For more information visit walkingwithmoms.com and intolifeseries.com