I often pinch myself and ask: How did I win the lottery to be born into a family and community that have given me so many amazing opportunities? I am so blessed. I pray that I exude that gratitude through my ministry with the diocese.

I believe when confronted with what Mark Huddy, the diocesan Episcopal Moderator for Catholic Charities and Social Concerns, describes as situations “fraught with opportunities,” I look for the positive first using gap management. 

Initially, that means listening more than talking to find common ground. Once we have a sliver of agreement, we can look at our differences and find ways to move closer together. 

I don’t take a fear-mongering, all-or-nothing approach to my work. I live in a hope-filled world; my faith teaches me that. My goal is to help others see the worth of this mindset.

Certainly, as our world seems to be becoming more divisive, I want to have dialogues instead of debates. When I’m looking at a “problem,” I don’t start with what’s wrong. I don’t have expected outcomes, except that, through conversation, we can find common ground and/or uncover misconceptions for all involved. First steps – baby steps. Changing hearts and minds cannot be accomplished with one-off encounters. 

Our recent experience with state Issue 1 invites us to a new dialogue. Recognizing the gifts that we bring to this dialogue, we can acknowledge the numerous pregnancy support agencies in our diocese and our own Walking with Moms (WWM) initiative. 

WWM works to ensure that any woman and her family who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant, or parenting in difficult circumstances, can turn to the local Catholic Church and be connected with the resources they need. Volunteers walk with moms throughout the motherhood journey, offering them authentic Christian friendship and ongoing emotional and spiritual support. 

WWM has developed educational, pastoral and action-oriented resources for parish use, such as:

•    Tools for documenting an inventory of local resources for pregnant mothers in need.

•    Ideas for improving parish responses.

•    Prayers for building a culture of life and a civilization of love.

•    Reflections on the teachings of Evangelium vitae, Evangelii gaudium and Laudato si’ at www.walkingwithmoms.com    

Pregnant and parenting moms in need live in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Parish communities should know where to refer pregnant women for spiritual, emotional, material and financial support.

Our Catholic parishes and communities can “walk in the shoes” of local pregnant and parenting women who might be facing pressure to end the life of their unborn children.

WWM provides parishes with a framework to inventory local resources, identify gaps in services and implement a parish response based on their findings. Parishes should support local pregnancy centers where they exist. Where there are few local resources, parishes can create their own based on the gifts of their community. 

We can show that Catholics are pro-life in the best possible light – protecting all life with pastoral care and supporting the spiritual, emotional, material and financial needs of pregnant moms and their families to bring their pregnancies to term. 

If your parish is not working with other parishes in your county or deanery on the WWM initiative, encourage your pastor to help you get started. For diocesan support, contact me at [email protected] or at (614) 241-2540. 

God bless you for living in a diocese committed to providing hope and help for families to choose life amid unthinkable pressures.