Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the Jan. 24, 2020, issue of The Message, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel shared the letter from Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, and chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities. In this letter, Archbishop Naumann asked “Bishops to invite parishes in their dioceses to join a nationwide effort from March 25, 2020, through March 25, 2021, entitled, “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service.”
During this Year of Service, we will raise awareness and take an honest look at the needs of at-risk pregnant and parenting moms/dads/families in our diocese as well as the current resources available to address those needs.
Information will be gathered and shared, gaps in service will be identified and a plan of action will be developed. This year of service is just the evaluation phase … just the beginning.
As we move through this process, stay tuned to announcements in your bulletins and updates in The Message. We should start seeing information as soon as later this month and in March. Soon, there also will be a page on the diocesan website that will provide updated information. As always, I am happy to answer any questions.
Allow me to end with the vision of Blessed Mary before us…
“During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk 1:39-40) … and “remained with her about three months” (Lk 1: 56).
Christ’s Peace,
Eric Girten
Director, Office of Family & Life