By ERIC GIRTEN
THE CATHOLIC KITCHEN
“The Gabriel Project offers hope and assistance to any woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy. We respect all life and see the birth of each child as a fresh expression of the unfailing love of God. Our concern is not only for the unborn child, but also for each and every mother in need.”
The above information is on the Gabriel Project homepage at http://www.gabrielproject.org/index.html. It then goes on to say:
“The Gabriel Project® is a confidential and compassionate outreach to women who are distressed over an unplanned pregnancy. We rely on local parish communities to respond in a loving manner to the needs of the mother-to-be, witnessing to the infinite and healing love of God. A trained ‘Gabriel Angel’ from a participating church supports the woman's choice for life through friendship, encouragement and prayer throughout her pregnancy. In addition to providing emotional and spiritual support, the ‘Gabriel Angel’ helps the expectant mom with various practical needs, including finding resources such as the following:
- Pregnancy information and assistance with pre-natal care
- Maternity and baby clothes, cribs, strollers, and various baby items
- Referrals for housing, medical care and counseling
- Parenting support or adoption information”
The Diocese of Evansville has had an active Gabriel Project at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Daylight since 2008 https://www.catholicdaylight.org/Gabriel-Project-Respect-Life. This program has withstood the test of time and transition of leadership, and remains an active ministry today.
“Well, that’s just great, Eric,” you say to yourself as you get ready to flip the page. “But I live 45 minutes away, so kudos to them; but that doesn’t really apply to me.”
You might be surprised.
As part of our ongoing work, and especially since the Supreme Court nullified Roe v Wade in the Dobbs Case this summer (thus sending the legality of abortion back to the states and into the hands of the people), we continue to work in various ways to support moms in crisis pregnancies; couples in crisis situations; and children at risk. Gabriel Project is one of those ways. In fact, in 2022, the Gabriel Project has expanded to the West side of Evansville as several parishes come together to provide these services to those in need. Two other parishes have also expressed interest in bringing additional services to moms in crisis pregnancies and the others involved.
Ask yourself if your area of the diocese could benefit from this type of program. If the answer is yes, could the parish/parishes/parishioners in that area answer the call? There are other programs like Project Rachel (post-abortion healing), 40 Days for Life (prayer and fasting), and other ways that the Catholic Church continues to actively and quietly participate in, day in and day out, to raise up a culture of Life.
October 27 will be the annual Respect Life Celebration (come see the Sisters of Life) https://www.evdio.org/respect-life.html; and just a week after that (November 4th at the Cathedral), will be the Mass of Remembrance, where we will pray with parents who have lost children at any age beginning with conception. These are only some of the ways the Church reaches out every day as the healing touch of Christ Jesus.
Periodically, I hear frustration from people who see others condemning the Catholic Church because (they say) the Church’s life issues start and stop with abortion. These falsehoods are to be dismissed categorically because they are spoken out of ignorance, anger, hurt, envy or a plethora of other reasons. It is just a fact, and I or any other halfway-engaged person can come up with example after example within minutes
There are too many positive examples of Christ’s presence within the Diocese of Evansville for any of us to be misguided, misdirected or derailed from our mission and ministry to love as Jesus taught us. Instead, let us meet our accusers with love and dignity. A very real way to do that is through ministries like the Gabriel Project.