New Video:

Bishop Vásquez on the Church's Responsibility to Support Moms in Need

Most Rev. Joe S. Vásquez, Bishop of Austin, shares the story of "Maria" and the importance of Walking with Moms in Need as a parish-based initiative providing authentic accompaniment to mothers in need.

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Blessing of a Child in the Womb

The bilingual “Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb” is a beautiful opportunity to show the love and support of the parish community to a pregnant mother being served through Walking with Moms in Need. It can be offered within or outside of Mass, making it adaptable to celebrate with both Catholic and non-Catholic moms.

Advent, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, and Mother's Day are all great occasions to consider offering this blessing, but it can be celebrated at any time of year.

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In the News:

Giving Machine supports Walking with Moms in Detroit

Brett Kast, Chad Britton

WXYZ.com

November 15, 2024

"DETROIT (WXYZ) — A new vending machine has popped up in downtown Detroit just in time for the holidays. It's called the 'Giving Machine' and with the swipe or tap of your credit card, you can help purchase items for others in need.

'We were just walking by,' Kelly Reid of Detroit said. 'I think the concept is really, really cool.'...

All day, people like Koziol and Reid saw the vending machine at Campus Martius Park and stopped to make a selection. It's filled with dozens of items that are all charitable donations for someone in need. Once you pay for the item, 100% of the money will be sent to that charity to purchase it.

'This is a reverse vending machine where you can give instead of get,' said Joan Johansson, project manager for the Giving Machine in Detroit...

The machine in Detroit benefits a few international nonprofits along with five local charities.

'There are five local charities that really represent our community and the diversity we have here in metro Detroit,' Johansson said. 'Every dollar you spend here goes directly to that charity to purchase the item you have chosen.'

From Jewish Family Services to Zaman International, the charities come from all faiths. Another beneficiary is Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan.

'The coming together of these organizations, these multiple charities who represent these different faiths is really a sign of the strength of our Detroit-area community,' said Paul Propson, CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan.

Propson says the items they have in the giving machine will go toward their Walking with Moms in Need program.

'The Walking with Moms in Need program is one we're most excited about right now,' Propson said. 'Not every woman has what she needs for her baby and that’s something that needs to be addressed.'"

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2024 Vatican document shaping USCCB resources on the human person

Lauretta Brown

The Catholic Review

November 16, 2024

"Efforts to apply a 2024 Vatican document on human dignity to an American context and its 'radical emphasis on individual autonomy' are underway within three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The U.S. bishops heard Nov. 13 at their fall plenary assembly about resources offered by their committees on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth; Pro-Life Activities; and Catholic Education in relation to the document 'Dignitas Infinita.'

OSV News photo/Bob Roller

'Dignitas Infinita' ('Infinite Dignity'), released April 8 by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, provides an account of the scriptural and traditional basis for the Catholic Church’s understanding of human dignity as inherent, coming from every human person’s creation 'in the image and likeness of God' and redemption in Christ...

'In the United States, a radical emphasis on individual autonomy at the expense of relationship characterizes the ways in which human dignity is often violated,' said Bishop Robert E. Barron, chair of the committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, about the importance of the document and its impact on the work of the three committees...

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Va., outgoing chair of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-life Activities, expressed gratitude for the 'incredibly timely' nature of 'Dignitas Infinita.'

While grateful for the three recent pro-life victories in state abortion ballot measures, he observed that 'sadly, many states continue to enshrine abortion in their state constitutions,' in reference to the states that did so in the recent general election.

'We know that we still have so much work to do in protecting the unborn, safeguarding the sacredness of all human life and the dignity that belongs to every person as a child of God,' he said. 'Our work is not only to change laws, but to change hearts, to change minds, to inspire and to inform.' He said 'Dignitas Infinita' helps the bishops to carry out that work.

He noted Pope Francis’ words in the document that unborn children are 'the most defenseless and innocent among us. Nowadays, efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this.'...

He also encouraged bishops to explore the national pastoral ministries of Project Rachel, which offers counseling and healing to parents suffering grief after an abortion, and Walking with Moms in Need, a parish-based effort to offer resources to pregnant and parenting mothers in need."

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