Did you know that the word “marigold” is derived from the phrase “Mary’s Gold?”

Pious legend tells us early Christians in financial or spiritual poverty made offerings of marigold flower petals in lieu of gold coins at the feet of Our Lady.

Before explaining how Mary enters this story, we begin with what first took place in the fall of 2024.

During this time, parishioners from the Lancaster area began to express a desire to unite pro-life efforts with the hope of building a dynamic culture of life in their local community. With the blessings of Msgr. Craig Eilerman from the Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption and Father Daniel Olvera of Lancaster St. Bernadette and Sugar Grove St. Joseph churches, parishioners joined forces to respond to Bishop Earl Fernandes’ pastoral vision to increase pro-life initiatives and outreach in the Diocese of Columbus.      

This cluster of three parishes collaborated to form a respect life ministry, Pro Vita.

Pro Vita’s priority was to respond specifically to the mission call from Bishop Fernandes and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to accompany pregnant mothers (and fathers) in need of support.

After a local assessment of resources in Fairfield County, the need to provide pregnancy extension services was identified. This need included the development of intimate and lasting relationships with pregnant mothers in the community as well as supplementing them with material aid. Under the umbrella of Pro Vita, a sub-group of parishioners responded to this need by establishing a new initiative that would provide personal baby showers for pregnant mothers. 

Mary entered this story by revealing herself to this group as the Queen of Mothers, symbolized by a golden marigold flower. And so the name of this new Pro-life initiative was established as Marigold Ministries. 

With this vision in mind, an inspired original painting (and logo) was created by Dr. Christopher Ryckman, a Catholic artist from Lancaster.

During Mass, Dr. Ryckman envisioned the image while gazing upon the statue of Our Mother in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption Church. The circle of marigolds symbolizes the rays of light that surround the Blessed Virgin in her glory while the marigold flowers represent the petals placed at her feet by pregnant mothers in need of support.

Marigold Ministries’ initial baby shower support has included cultivating friendships, sharing the good news of the gospel, and providing material aid to pregnant mothers. The vision is to expand services in the future to assist mothers with transportation to appointments and to provide post-delivery meals and childcare.

After the first two baby showers in 2025,Marigold Ministries is slated to host its third baby shower next month.  The success of the showers is due in large part to referrals vetted by pro-life partner, Pregnancy Decision Health Centers (PDHC) in Lancaster. PDHC has served as the bedrock of the pro-life movement in central Ohio for 45 years, opening its doors on January 22, 1981. PDHC founders Mike and Peggy Hartshorn are Lancaster natives and graduates of Lancaster Fisher Catholic High School. 

It comes as no surprise that PDHC’s presence in the community has been enduring. This is evidenced by an annual gala in Lancaster that attracts nearly 400 guests as well as “Bottles for Life” campaigns in all Catholic churches and many non-Catholic churches in the community.

For more than 15 years, Fisher Catholic High School has been involved in various capacities with PDHC.  Student volunteers serve at the Lancaster gala and compete in an annual “Battle of the Bottles” fundraiser to raise money for this life-saving ministry.

This month, PDHC will devote one school week to engaging with the students at Fisher Catholic. PDHC’s director of the Common Sense Culture (CSC) program will spent four days at the high school.

The CSC program, designed as PDHC’s prevention education pillar, ocuses on character development, teen pregnancies, sexual risk avoidance and respectful relationships.

On the final day of the week, PDHC’s community outreach coordinator will complete a two-part “Abortion in America” series with all theology classes.

In the Lancaster community, PDHC’s pregnancy support pillar has served women, men and babies for two decades.

One year ago, PDHC opened a new location in Lancaster. After an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony, Father Bob Penhallurick, director of the Diocese of Columbus Office for Pro-Life Ministries, performed the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

This location has proved to be more visible and accessible to pregnant mothers, indicated by an increase of women walking into the center without a scheduled appointment.

PDHC’s final two pillars, Family Empowerment and Abortion Healing programs, provide the additional wrap-around services so many families need in the community. 

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for God’s people to dwell together in unity!” ~ Psalm 133:1

For more information about Marigold Ministries, send an email to MarigoldMinistries3@gmail.com.

To learn more about PDHC services in Lancaster or to take a tour of their new location, email Kristin Garrabrant, community outreach coordinator, at KristinG@PDHC.org.