Pro-Life Works: Gabriel Project

April 8, 2010

CHOOSING LIFE THROUGH 

THE GABRIEL PROJECT

Cindy Valdez

Membership Services Associate

Anyone can be an angel to someone in need.  For women facing the uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy, the angels at The Gabriel Project assist pregnant mothers, regardless of religious affiliation or faith, who might otherwise choose abortion.  The Gabriel Project is a parish-based pregnancy outreach where the mothers receive love and care, along with the spiritual, emotional, and material support they require throughout their pregnancies.  Services are confidential and free. 

Following the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, Rev. Msgr. John Perusina, late pastor of St. Michael Parish in Houston, TX, realized that women needed an alternative to abortion.  He placed a sign outside the rectory pledging assistance to any pregnant woman in need, regardless of faith or religious affiliation. 

In 1990, when Cathy McConn and Rex Moses saw this sign outside St. Michael Parish, they felt compelled to ask their Bishops if they could begin a pregnancy outreach within their own Dioceses.  The Gabriel Project officially began first in Corpus Christi, TX and then six months later in the Galveston-Houston Diocese.  Since its creation, the ministry has spread across Texas to parishes in Austin, Victoria, Tyler, Longview, Ft. Worth, and Dallas.  According to Houston founder and coordinator Cathy McConn, The Gabriel Project has since expanded outside of Texas and is now in about half of the dioceses nationwide.  It strives through education, evangelization, and pastoral mission to bring both the mom and the parish closer to God through the Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy. 

How do you know if your church parish has The Gabriel Project ministry?   Participating parishes advertise The Gabriel Project by placing the recognizable “Sign of Life” in front of the church.  It portrays a woman cradling an infant with the words “Pregnant?  Need Help?” along with a phone number to call.  Call center volunteers identify the mother’s location and arrange for assistance to be provided by The Gabriel Project church closest to the mother’s home.  Within 24 hours, an Angel Mentor contacts the mom to set up a meeting.  According to Sara Roberts, a Gabriel Project Coordinator with St. Thomas Moore Parish in Houston, “It’s crucial to let Mom know that she is loved and that their babies are precious.”

In fact, a requirement for Gabriel Project Angel Mentors is to provide a “like-with-like apostolate” to Moms.  This means that the Angel Mentors are also mothers with children.  The personal connections made between the mom and her Angel Mentor is based on trust and friendship.  Ms. Roberts also explained that Angel Mentors are to “Meet Mom as Christ.”  Angels provide comfort, material assistance, friendship, and the message of God’s unconditional love with the utmost respect, all in a confidential manner.  They must be prepared to respond to a woman who calls in crisis.  However, Ms. Roberts emphasized that The Gabriel Project is not an emergency service.

Because the program is designed as a local parish-based community outreach, parishes have different levels of support.  Ms. Roberts said that she feels extremely blessed to have such tremendous support within her parish.  She reported that St. Thomas Moore assists approximately 40-50 women each year, and this number is rising.  However, she acknowledged that not all churches offering the Gabriel Project as a parish ministry are as fortunate.  She suggested that anyone wishing to help can donate needed baby items such as diapers, formula, new or gently used clothes, toys, cribs, strollers, etc.  Contact churches in your area and learn which offer The Gabriel Project or consider starting one (with your pastor’s permission).  Volunteers, as well as financial and material assistance are always needed.  As Pro-Life advocates, supporting The Gabriel Project is a powerful way to become more involved in protecting the unborn.