The Gabriel Project of California Help for Pregnant Mothers in Need – Provided by Participating Church Communities YOU CAN BE AN ANGEL AND YOUR PARISH CAN BE A HOST OF ANGELS NOTE TO PREGNANT MOTHERS: IF YOU LIVE IN THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND ARE IN NEED OF HELP, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR CLIENT WEBSITE. “THE MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES SEE IN THE CONCEPTION OF EACH CHILD A FRESH EXPRESSION OF GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE. WE OFFER IMMEDIATE AND PRACTICAL HELP TO ANY PREGNANT MOTHER EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.” Gabriel Church Click here to read an open letter to all Catholics. The purpose of this letter is to explain why every Catholic should to some degree participate in The Gabriel Project. You can be an angel and your parish can be a host of angels. Read the summary below and “ABOUT THE PROJECT” in the sidebar and contact us if you’d like to join the Gabriel Team. Click here for guidelines on how to implement the ministry in your parish. The Gabriel Project A church-based ministry to support pregnant mothers and their unborn children: Angel Gabriel In the Gospel of Luke, the Angel Gabriel told Mary the good news that a child would be born and that she was to be the Mother of our Savior. When she asked, “How can this be?” the angel told her not to be afraid for “nothing is impossible with God.” The Gabriel Project announces the same comforting message to frightened pregnant mothers: Fear not, for God is with you! Nothing is impossible with God. The Need Many mothers faced with crisis pregnancies feel abandoned by their families, the fathers of their babies and their communities. Many are poor and in their teens. Some are homeless. Most feel alone and afraid. For too many, abortion seems the only answer. Pregnancy centers, prenatal care programs and maternity homes struggle to provide necessary support services. But budgets are limited and insufficient to meet the growing need. Church communities pray for mothers, their babies, and for an end to the tragedy of abortion. They provide spiritual guidance and loving pastoral care. Yet too many women and families remain unaware that these essential resources are available. Enter The Gabriel Project ! The Role of the Church The church community announces that they see in the creation of each child a fresh expression of God’s unfailing love and their commitment to offer assistance to pregnant mothers in need. They make this message known on a “Sign of Hope” placed in front of their church along with an expression of outreach – PREGNANT? WORRIED? NEED HELP? – and a toll-free phone number. When a call for help is received, the phone line volunteer contacts the parish coordinator at the nearest participating church to where the caller lives. The coordinator contacts the caller and makes an initial assessment of her situation. A church volunteer (“Angel”) is assigned the responsibility for ongoing contact with the mother throughout her pregnancy and somewhat beyond. An initial meeting is arranged to further assess her needs. The church community responds with love by providing spiritual, emotional, and material support to help meet those needs. Through prayer and action the church community assures the mother that she has their love and the love of Christ. If a mother has been abandoned by family or her child’s father, the church community can lovingly help her overcome her sense of loss and loneliness. Kinds of Assistance By employing their individual talents, collaborating with various ministries in the church or diocese and utilizing community resources, parishioners stand ready to provide a mother with the kinds of assistance that she needs in caring for her child. These may include: Friendship and emotional support Pastoral care and counseling Transportation Prenatal care Baby items Education Employment Housing Adoption Financial assistance History In 1973 the pastor of St. Michael Parish in Houston, put a sign outside the rectory which said: If you will have your baby, this parish will help you in every way. That was the seed of The Gabriel Project. In 1990/91 it was developed throughout the Corpus Christi and Galveston-Houston dioceses. It has since spread throughout the country and has merited the enthusiastic endorsement many Protestant leaders, and of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Begin a parish-based ministry to pregnant women and their children. The Gabriel Project, developed in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, is excellent and is spreading across the nation. Volunteers in the parish are trained to help a woman through her pregnancy – with practical assistance, spiritual and emotional guidance, and help in accessing needed services. (USCCB) Most Reverend George Niederauer Archbishop of San Francisco: The USCCB’s “Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities” notes that one of the objectives of a parish pro-life committee should be to “develop or adopt a parish-based ministry to pregnant women and their children.” The Gabriel Project answers this call. It embodies the practical support that the bishops promise pregnant women. Your Help is Needed The participation of many churches is critical to the success of our Christian outreach to pregnant mothers in need. The easier it is for churches to participate, the better. To this end, printed materials, training of church volunteers, the central toll-free helpline, and overall project coordination are provided to churches at no cost. The Gabriel Project is a marvelous way to show the community that your church cares about pregnant mothers in need and that there is no reason for any mother within its boundaries to feel that she is helpless and alone. We hope and pray that your church will be one of the many local churches now joining The Gabriel Project. For more information on how your church can participate in The Gabriel Project, contact us at: 925 686-9277 or davidlzarri@earthlink.net Share this: TwitterFacebook CONTACT INFO The Gabriel Project of California Phone: 925-686-9277 Email: davidlzarri@earthlink.net If you are pregnant and in need of help, please visit our client website and call our toll free number (800-910-0191) to learn how we can help you. CLICK HERE FOR THE GABRIEL PROJECT OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO. CLICK HERE FOR ALL OTHER GABRIEL PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION. ARCHBISHOP'S LETTERS To Pastors 1 To Pastors II To Pastors III To Volunteers U.S. Bishops' Conference WHY IMPLEMENT THE GABRIEL PROJECT An open letter to all Catholics, laity and clergy Building a Culture of Life via The Gabriel Project The angel in our icon not only represents the message Archangel Gabriel gave to Mary and we extend to pregnant mothers. He also represents the parish community and our individual parish "angels". He is a symbol of protection, ours and God's. The mother in the icon embraces her child and motherhood with confidence and she too is a symbol of protection. The child in the icon rests peacefully in the arms of mother. ABOUT THE PROJECT Home **Implementing the Project *A Very Special Ministry *Understanding The Gabriel Project – NEWS AND COMMENTARY Our Collaboration Policy Our Message to Moms Prayer for Mother and Child Prayer for The Gabriel Project Volunteer Orientation Volunteer Roles PROJECT INFORMATION RESOURCES Cathy McConn I Cathy McConn III (Video) History PROJECT RESOURCES (order by email): Become an Angel Poster Car Decal Car Decal Facts Church Signs Gabriel Project Brochure Pregnant? Need Help? (En) Pregnant? Need Help? (Sp) ANGEL TESTIMONIES *Called to be an Angel* Being an Angel Being an Angel in multiple ways (Audio) Being an Angel to Theresa Parish ‘angels’ embrace struggling mom REFERRAL RESOURCES *FIRST PLEASE READ OUR COLLABORATION POLICY 2-1-1 Bay Area Beating the High Cost of Diapers OBGYNs (Prolife) Resources for College and Working Women The listing of any referral resource posted on this or any linked to website, does NOT imply our endorsement. MOST RECENT NEWS & COMMENTARY Building a Culture of Life via The Gabriel Project Parish ‘angels’ embrace struggling pregnant mom Understanding The Gabriel Project A Person From Conception – Pope Benedict XVI on the embryo in the womb A very special ministry Human Lives, Human Rights Abortion and a Failure of Community A human embryo is a human person Moral teachings of the Church are in accord with human dignity An open letter to all Catholics, laity and clergy Gabriel Project Conference Video Presentation Archbishop George Niederauer Recommends The Gabriel Project to All Pastors Gabriel Project: Gabriel’s Angels Show God’s Love to Pregnant Women in Distress Archbishop George Niederauer Commends The Gabriel Project COMPLETE LIST OF NEWS & COMMENTARY CLICK HERE MENTORING RESOURCES American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists Contraception Fetal Development I Fetal Development II Fetal Development Video: From Conception to Birth Fetal Development Video: Miracle of Life (English) Fetal Development Video: Miracle of Life (Spanish) Hope After Abortion Info for Teens I Info for Teens II Natural Family Planning Natural Family Planning – NaPro QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT ABORTION Support information & encouragement for carrying to term with an adverse prenatal diagnosis and support for raising your child with special needs after birth Testimony of a pregnant mother whose unborn child is diagnosed with holoprosencephaly. ANGEL TESTIMONIES *Called to be an Angel* Being an Angel Being an Angel in multiple ways (Audio) Being an Angel to Theresa Parish ‘angels’ embrace struggling mom ARCHBISHOP'S LETTERS To Pastors 1 To Pastors II To Pastors III To Volunteers U.S. Bishops' Conference BRIEF VIDEO Angels, Mom, and Bishop (Fort Worth TX) MENTORING RESOURCES American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists Contraception Fetal Development I Fetal Development II Fetal Development Video: From Conception to Birth Fetal Development Video: Miracle of Life (English) Fetal Development Video: Miracle of Life (Spanish) Hope After Abortion Info for Teens I Info for Teens II Natural Family Planning Natural Family Planning – NaPro QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT ABORTION Support information & encouragement for carrying to term with an adverse prenatal diagnosis and support for raising your child with special needs after birth Testimony of a pregnant mother whose unborn child is diagnosed with holoprosencephaly. PROJECT INFORMATION RESOURCES Cathy McConn I Cathy McConn III (Video) History PROJECT RESOURCES (order by email): Become an Angel Poster Car Decal Car Decal Facts Church Signs Gabriel Project Brochure Pregnant? Need Help? (En) Pregnant? Need Help? (Sp) REFERRAL RESOURCES *FIRST PLEASE READ OUR COLLABORATION POLICY 2-1-1 Bay Area Beating the High Cost of Diapers OBGYNs (Prolife) Resources for College and Working Women WHY IMPLEMENT THE GABRIEL PROJECT An open letter to all Catholics, laity and clergy Building a Culture of Life via The Gabriel Project Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Follow