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Helping Pregnant Mothers During the Month of May
May is a month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We honor her as the Mother of God and our Blessed Mother. We also honor our own mothers and our spiritual mothers during the month of May, especially as we celebrate Mother’s Day on May 11.
A woman becomes a mother the moment she conceives, and for many women this is a joyful event. For some women, however, becoming a mother is not welcomed and causes the mother much worry and concern. Women in difficult life situations who become pregnant may be scared, sometimes are alone, and often do not know where to turn for help. These women may be experiencing poverty, difficult relationships, and any number of challenging life circumstances. Secular society may influence them to think abortion is their only solution.
Yet there are many resources for women in crisis pregnancies and for those who feel they cannot birth their baby due to financial considerations, housing concerns, possible disabilities and even conceptions resulting from rape and incest. An important local resource for these pregnant mothers is the Pregnancy Help Center of San Gabriel Valley, Inc., https://pregnancyhelpsgv.com/, located at 909-904 E. Main Street, Alhambra.
The Pregnancy Help Center has been providing lifesaving services for almost 50 years to women in our community who may be pregnant and who are pregnant, and to women with babies for up to two years after birth. The Center’s services include free self-administered pregnancy tests, sensitive options counseling, referrals, monthly parenting classes and baby supplies.
Negotiations are underway to once again provide non-diagnostic ultrasounds with audio and visual. The Pregnancy Help Center is situated near two abortion businesses, and thus it is strategically located in the neighborhood to provide life-giving and loving alternatives to abortion.
There are various ways to support the work of the Pregnancy Help Center of SGV:
• During the month of May, you can help mothers and infants by donating items for the Center through the St. Luke Crib Project. The crib will be in the Vestibule of the church from Sunday, May 4, through Sunday, June 1.
There will be slips of paper in the crib indicating items needed at the Center. Please place items purchased in the crib when you come for Mass. For more information, text or call Judy McCarthy at (626) 422-8436.
• Financially support the Center with a one-time monetary gift or a recurring contribution. There are pledge/donation envelopes at the crib for you to complete and mail to the Center with your pledge or donation. You can also make a direct donation online at the Pregnancy Help Center’s website, https://pregnancyhelpsgv.com/; go to the Give Now button.
• Volunteer to facilitate a parenting class or a dad’s group, help the Kare Korner or become a Mommy Advocate. If you are interested in volunteering, please leave a message for the Center at info@pregnancyhelpsgv.org.
• Refer pregnant moms to the Pregnancy Help Center. Their appointment phone line is (626) 309-0788.
The Catholic community strongly supports the work of pregnancy centers to assist mothers and fathers who need resources to nurture their children in safe and sustainable communities. You change lives for the better every time you support the Pregnancy Help Center of SGV. Let us all do our part!
"No woman should ever face a pregnancy feeling alone, or desperate, or like she has no other options. These are our sisters.
We cannot be indifferent to their fears.
We need to be near to them, to help them in every way that we can.”
~Archbishop José H. Gomez
~St. Luke Life, Justice and Peace Ministry
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