By Rayanne Bennett | Associate Publisher and Catholic News Service reports

There is nothing new about the Catholic Church’s efforts to serve the needs of pregnant and parenting women and their children.  Outreach to families in need has been a foundation of the Church’s charitable work throughout generations.

But with the overturn of Roe v. Wade now in the rearview mirror, the effort to assist women, particularly those facing difficult circumstances surrounding a pregnancy, has taken on new urgency, and a call to approach this work in very intentional and creative ways.

In a message for October’s Respect Life Month issued Sept. 21, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-life Activities, said that the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade “is, without question, an answer to prayer.”

But, the Archbishop added, in a post-Roe world, “We must move beyond a paradigm shift in the law  . . . to truly understanding what we owe to one another as members of the same human family. To build a world in which all are welcome,” he said, Catholics “must heed” the words of St. Teresa of Kolkata “and remember ‘that we belong to one another.’”

“We must shift the paradigm to what St. John Paul II described as ‘radical solidarity,’ making the good of others our own good, including especially mothers, babies – born and preborn – and families throughout the entire human lifespan,” Archbishop Lori said.

In the Diocese of Trenton, support of the 2022 Respect Life Month theme, “Called to Serve Moms in Need,” has been a major thrust, with some of the groundwork being laid for enduring outreach through the parishes.

For Rachel Hendricks, diocesan coordinator of Respect Life Ministry, the focus has been on building connections and awareness.  She explained, “Many of our parishes have substantial social service programs that provide assistance to people in need, including pregnant women and families. But we see a need to make these resources more visible to vulnerable, pregnant women.”

Likewise, Hendricks pointed out, parishes often have very active Respect Life ministry groups, as well as social service programs, such as St. Vincent de Paul conferences.  “Having these groups work together to help ‘moms in need’ is another way we can make a difference,” Hendricks said.

Beyond parish ministries, there are many agencies and programs – both Catholic and non-Catholic – that serve this population.  Hendricks has compiled an online list at dioceseoftrenton.org/pregnancy-resources.

To get the word out to the parishes, Hendricks produced a poster featuring many of the relevant resources. The poster also has a space for the parishes to add their local programs and ministries that “walk with moms in need.”  Look for it in your local churches.

She has also encouraged parishes to intentionally dedicate some part of their existing social service ministry to pregnant or parenting moms in need so that those in their communities are aware that they have somewhere to get help if needed.

The Monitor will report on further initiatives in support of “Walking with Moms in Need,” as they become available.  Check back at TrentonMonitor.com>Faith & Culture>Respect Life.