by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy chooses life for her baby, that’s when pro-life ministry truly begins, said Marilyn Baker.
“When someone does choose life, you really do have to step up to the plate to help them,” she said. “It’s one thing to say, ‘Hey, you should have this child.’
“But are you going to give her a ride to her doctor’s appointments every month if she can’t drive? Are you willing to hold her hand while she gives birth to a child, too?
“How far are you willing to go?”
Baker, a parishioner at Our Lady & St. Rose Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, has mentored pregnant women through Gabriel Project for the past three years.
The project pairs a trained volunteer — called an “angel” — with a pregnant woman so she can receive emotional and spiritual support and get connected with resources.
It’s just one of the pro-life ministries offered at parishes around the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
Building a culture of life
Debra Niesen hopes women facing an unexpected or challenging pregnancy would feel comfortable asking their local Catholic church for help.
“In reality for some women, especially if they’re single or pregnant, many of them think, ‘The last place I would turn would be my church out of fear of being judged or shamed,’” she said.
Walking with Moms in Need is there to counter that, said Niesen, the director of Parish Evangelization Services (PES) for the archdiocese.
Launched in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) under the leadership of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann, then-chair of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, Walking with Moms is offered at multiple archdiocesan parishes.
The initiative operates differently at each one depending on its abilities, resources and community needs.
It’s “really trying to create a culture in our parishes that women feel like if they’re overwhelmed, if they need support, if they’re scared for whatever reason, they know that the Catholic Church — their parish — is a place that they can turn to for help,” said Niesen.
“And they will receive real, tangible support,” she added, “as well as authentic friendship and compassion.”
Uplifting human dignity
“Our goal is that every parishioner in every parish should know how to tell a pregnant woman where to go to get help,” said Cindy Durbin, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia.
Durbin has been involved in the parish’s Walking with Moms program since the Value Them Both amendment failed to pass in Kansas in 2022.
Three nearby parishes — St. Catherine in Emporia, St. Mary in Hartford and St. Joseph in Olpe — and the Didde Catholic Campus Center at Emporia State University collaborate with Sacred Heart on the ministry.
The group regularly raises funds and provides baby wipes for local pregnancy center Shiloh and collects items like car seats and strollers for mothers in need.
Sacred Heart School raised funds to purchase a table for the front of the parish church, where prayer cards are filled out for parents of newborns, expectant parents, those who have experienced child loss and couples struggling with infertility.
Known as the Rose Project, the cards are placed in the adoration chapel, where the intentions are prayed for.
Durbin said the ministry is all about walking in the shoes of moms and finding ways to help them.
“It’s so fulfilling in a way that I never knew that part of me was missing in my life,” she said. “I think every parish should be involved.”
Niesen hopes more parishes will be inspired to create a Walking with Moms program.
“It’s such a beautiful and fruitful ministry,” she said. “And not only does this protect life itself, which is what Catholics [and] Christians are all called to do, but it also protects the mom and lifts up her human dignity.”
Changing lives
“There’s a lot of people who don’t have someone to say, ‘You can do this,’” said Baker. “‘And I’m just going to hold your hand, and I’m going to walk you through this, and it’s going to be ok.’”
One of those women was Annita, who had recently immigrated to the United States from Zimbabwe when she got pregnant.
Her boyfriend drove her to have an abortion, but she walked into Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in Overland Park by mistake.
“Thank goodness I got people who helped me,” said Annita.
Two Lines paired Annita with Baker, who provided support throughout the pregnancy and during the birth of her son Anaishe, whose name means “God is with him.”
“When Marilyn came into my life, my life changed,” said Annita. “She made my life easier. I could not make it myself.”
“I was happy that God gifted me with this child,” she added. “I believe he’s going to change my life.”
Recognizing Annita had no family or friends to support her, Baker has continued their friendship beyond Gabriel Project.
Annita is now studying nursing at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). Baker often drives her to school and appointments — when she’s not teaching her how to drive — and babysits Anaishe, who is 10 months old.
“As a parent, you know what’s involved in the raising of a child,” said Baker. “And I’m thinking of all the needs that these moms are already facing, and at the same time making that decision of whether to have a child.
“If we can just make their lives easier in those basic needs, then she could choose life.”
Fostering community
“Women in these difficult circumstances don’t see another option,” said Leslie Brown, a parishioner at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. “And I think we have to do more than say, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t abort your baby.’
“But [we have] to provide them a way to see why choosing life can also be very rewarding, and it’s what God calls us to do.”
Brown helps lead Ascension’s Embrace Grace ministry — a 12-week, Gospel-based program for expectant mothers.
“We minister largely to unwed, pregnant women who have chosen life,” said Brown. “Some of these women have amazing support, and some of them having nothing but us.”
“The whole purpose is to really pour into the woman to let her know that during this time of fear and anxiety, she is seen and known and loved by God,” said Niesen.
The program is based out of Fort Worth and hosted in the archdiocese by Ascension, Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and Corpus Christi and St. John the Evangelist parishes in Lawrence.
So far, more than 30 women have participated locally. They’re typically referred to by pregnancy centers like Two Lines.
“My favorite part was how welcoming everything was,” said one participant. “There was no judgement about anything.”
“My pregnancy, as I’m sure with most, brought a lot of uncertainty,” said another participant, “but our weekly meetings were consistent, safe, predictable and routine.”
“I had not felt so cared for in a long time,” she added.
At the end of the program, the parish throws the women a baby shower and treats them to a “Princess Day,” where they enjoy dinner, take pregnancy photos and are given postpartum gifts and a devotional Bible.
Faith is never pushed on the women, but some have been inspired to have their babies baptized in the Catholic Church.
“We hope by our actions that these women can see how beautiful the Catholic faith is,” said Brown, “and maybe we’re planting those seeds that might turn their hearts to becoming a Catholic at some point in their lives.”
The heart of the mission
The continuation and expansion of pro-life ministries at the parish level is one way the archdiocese is working to fulfill Archbishop Shawn McKnight’s vision for parishes to be “centers of charity and sanctuaries of mercy,” said Debra Niesen.
Niesen was previously the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office. Now, as director of Parish Evangelization Services, she’s supporting parishes in their efforts to serve parishioners and their wider communities.
“We are here to accompany parishes to get these [ministries] started,” she said, “and we will walk with them and support them so that they’re not overwhelmed and connect them to other parishes who are doing this.
“That’s really our mission right now is to assist in this way.”
To learn more about the archdiocese’s pro-life efforts, visit: archkck.org/prolife/home or email Ann Marie Alvey, Parish Evangelization Specialist, at: director@gabrielprojectkc.com.
Ready to help
St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood and St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park plan to launch Embrace Grace at their parishes. Both hosted a “Love Box Party” this month so parishioners could learn more.
Those who attended packaged Love Boxes containing a baby onesie, book and handwritten letter of encouragement. They will be distributed by pregnancy resource centers or the parishioners themselves to pregnant women who could use additional support.
Parishes that would like to help but aren’t able to host the program themselves can encourage their parishioners to volunteer or donate.
To learn more about Embrace Grace, visit: embracegrace.com. To donate to the baby registry for the program at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, click here.
Affected by abortion? Reach out
Women and men who have been affected by abortion are encouraged to reach out to Project Rachel and Project Joseph for support.
“There’s millions of women in our country who have suffered after an abortion,” said Debra Niesen. “Healing is available.”
To learn more about both ministries, visit: projectrachelkc.com.
