Do you still have Pack ’n Plays?” someone asked as I walked up to the door of the church.
The question was from a young dad who had come to pick up free baby items at an event hosted by the Walking With Moms in Need ministry at my parish.
Walking With Moms in Need is the U.S. bishops’ call to all Catholic parishes in the country to “walk in the shoes” of pregnant and parenting moms and find concrete ways to support them.
At my parish, St. Mary Help of Christians in Shelby, our parishioners had decided to respond to this call by hosting a monthly “free store” for baby items at the church property in Kings Mountain. The date chosen for the “grand opening” was a Saturday in May.
When I arrived a few minutes after the event had begun, the parking lot was already filling up. Moms, dads and children were lined up patiently waiting for their opportunity to browse the donated items.
I was barely out of the car before people began thanking me for our parish’s efforts.
It was clear that the event had touched a need and touched hearts. Families had traveled from other towns – even from neighboring counties – to attend.
One mom walked in gingerly through the doors, sharing that she was due in one week.
Another mom walked out with a giant stuffed giraffe safely tucked into her cart.
I was able to sit down and chat with several of the families present, to introduce myself and the church and to get to know them.
These moms and dads struck me as strong and capable. Their determination to provide for their children – born and unborn – could be seen in their faces and in the way they carried themselves.
“We’re struggling, but we’re getting by,” said one attendee.
What I think they most appreciated was the solidarity with them that we showed through our ministry. Because even the strong sometimes need a helping hand.
Building a culture of support
June 24 marked the three-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The Dobbs case involved a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks, in which the state challenged the high court’s previous abortion-related precedents in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). In Dobbs, the Supreme Court overturned its prior rulings and returned the issue to the people and their elected representatives.
Since the ruling, 12 states have banned abortion, with some exceptions, while another six (including North Carolina) limit it at some point between six to 12 weeks gestation. It was a landmark ruling for the pro-life mission.
Building a culture of support for pregnant and parenting moms is at the heart of that mission.
Our culture sometimes encourages a mindset that sees the effort and expense of caring for a child as an unacceptable setback to personal goals.
We must counter with the conviction that a child is always a gift, the greatest gift that can be received.
But this position will never be credible if we do not show concrete solidarity with the mothers – and fathers – who receive this gift from God, especially those in challenging circumstances.
Walking With Moms in Need offers parishes a concrete opportunity to live out this solidarity.
Helping mothers, step by step
The first step is creating a comprehensive list of the supportive resources that already exist in the local community.
Then this list is shared with the community – for example, through a printed pamphlet or the parish website.
Next, each parish discerns an additional step it can take toward building a culture of support for pregnant and parenting moms.
This could be something like a monthly “free store” for baby items – but it doesn’t have to be.
Every parish is different, and each has unique gifts and opportunities to support moms, dads and families.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Walking With Moms in Need, but rather a myriad ways to creatively show love and support.
Comprehensive guidance on how to carry out the project in your parish or community is available at www.walkingwithmoms.com, and the Diocese of Charlotte Family Life Office offers further local guidance and support.
In the five years since the program began, Walking With Moms in Need has spread steadily in our diocese and around the country.
Many are discovering what a gift it is to “walk with” pregnant and parenting moms.
Will you take a step for them?
Father Peter Ascik leads the Diocese of Charlotte’s Family Life Office and is pastor of St. Mary, Help of Christians Parish in Shelby and Christ the King Mission in Kings Mountain.