Giving Hope to Moms in Need:

A Statement from Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt

"One of the most important works of mercy is that of accompanying another person in their time of need. Accompaniment is not found on the traditional list of the works of mercy, but it is at the heart of how the Church fulfills the Gospel. To accompany someone is to come alongside them and support them with our presence as much as with our material resources. Perhaps the greatest fruit of accompanying someone in need is the gift of hope they receive.

In recent years, the bishops in this country have launched an initiative known as “Walking With Moms in Need.” This is an effort to assess the needs of mothers, both with children and those yet to be born, and respond to their needs, not simply in a material way but also to accompany them with compassion and concern. Walking With Moms in Need is one of the best examples of how to fulfill the Gospel challenge of Jesus, who said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Like our Blessed Mother, who visited her cousin Elizabeth, Walking With Moms in Need is a ministry of Hope for women at a critical time in their lives.

May the Lord draw us all into some ministry of accompanying others in their need as we care for one another, especially for mothers in whatever their needs may be."

Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt

March 1, 2026

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In the News:

Mary's Cradle: Here to Help

Linda Kube

West Nebraska Catholic

March 5, 2026

"Mary’s Cradle was established in the spring of 2024 as part of the Walking With Moms in Need initiative. We work as an outreach program through St. Mary’s Cathedral and we are located in the Parish Center in Grand Island. Our mission is to help and support young women facing unexpected pregnancies. Sometimes, they have no one to turn to and feel overwhelmed... We want these young mothers to know that their baby was not a mistake but a gift and God has a plan for them and a plan for that baby. Mary’s Cradle is here to help them on that journey. We want these young women to feel loved and supported by our Faith community. We also help single moms (and dads) struggling to make ends meet and families in crisis situations with babies.

Our young mothers come to us from various situations. High school students ages 14-17 who find themselves dealing with unexpected pregnancies, abusive home situations, single dads, date rape, divorce, deportation of the father, homeless living in a car, immigrants who come to our country with little or nothing and even grandparents. One great-grandfather touched my heart. He stepped up when no one else would. He was told either he and his wife would take custody of his great-granddaughter or she would go 'into the system.'... He wasn’t going to let that happen; they took her. He needed just a little help from Mary’s Cradle... Another young woman came to us eight months pregnant. She arrived in this country with just a backpack. Mary’s Cradle provided her with diapers, baby clothes, a baby bassinet, nursing supplies and more. We soon found out: there is certainly a need in our community for this program. We have helped over 125 single parents since we opened our doors.

Photo courtesy of Linda Kube: Mary's Cradle volunteers: Jesica Lozano, Natalie Waskowiak, Colene Todd, and Linda Kube.

Photo courtesy of Linda Kube: St. Leo's Diaper Drive: Deacon Bill and Nancy Buchta, Mark Czaplewski, Ted Eden and Father Wajid Masih.

In our 'Baby Boutique,' we provide diapers, baby clothes, baby beds and equipment at no cost. Much of our inventory is 'gently used,' and we ask that when the baby outgrows it, that the client please donate it back. Mary's Cradle has a great team of volunteers. We were especially blessed this year with the addition of two interpreters who help me with translation. Mary’s Cradle is completely volunteer and donation-based. This enables us to spend 95 percent of our donations directly on supplies to help young mothers. The other 5 percent is spent on printing brochures and materials, which we put in area parishes, high schools, middle schools and local college campuses.

You might wonder what motivated me to start this outreach program. I was married at 19, had my first son at 21 and became a single mom at 22, with a 9-month baby. My husband simply walked out on us. I have experienced the difficulties of being a single mom and could have benefited from a program such as Mary’s Cradle. My other concern was how many babies were being aborted out of fear. Fear that they couldn’t raise a baby by themselves. I am living proof that it certainly can be done and still have a happy, productive life. Their baby will bring them more joy than they ever imagined. Faith plays a big part in all of this. The Lord walked by my side every day and still does."

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Walking with Moms in Need gains traction,
eyes Lake County expansion

April 22, 2026

"There is a growing movement to assist pregnant and parenting mothers in need, including in the Diocese of Cleveland...

About two dozen representatives of parishes in Lake County gathered April 21 at St. Gabriel Parish in Concord Township to learn how they can get involved.

Tony Dipre, director of the diocesan Office for Human Life, organized the meeting.

Presenters were Anthony Camino, director of the Catholic Commission of Lake, Geauga, and Eastern Cuyahoga counties, Marissa Welsh from St. Ambrose (Brunswick) Parish’s Project Gabriel and Ann Marie Flanagan from St. Peter and St. Julie Billiart (both North Ridgeville) parishes’ WWMIN program.

Dipre asked attendees to reflect on if there was a moment in their lives when they felt conviction about the dignity of the human person and how God is summoning or inviting them to see others...

'The value of human beings is simply because we exist,' Dipre said. He offered background on WWMIN, explaining it is an opportunity to walk in the shoes of local pregnant women in need and for parishes to serve as 'islands of mercy in a sea of indifference.'

Welsh outlined how St. Ambrose accepted the challenge, spending months doing research on available resources in the Medina County area. 'We found many resources, but where did our parish fit in?' Welsh wondered. She said the missing piece was accompaniment.

St. Ambrose’s Gabriel Project, a parish-based, pro-life ministry providing spiritual, emotional, and material support to women facing challenging or unplanned pregnancies, mirrors WWMIN...

Flanagan said the North Ridgeville parishes decided to focus on response/accompaniment. She talked about a call they received from a pregnant mother living in a hotel with her teenage son while her other children were cared for by Blessing House in Elyria, a crisis nursery. The mother was grateful for their presence, she said. 'She asked us to visit her when she had the baby so she could introduce the infant to someone,' Flanagan said.

A year and a half later, the woman is employed, has housing and has been reunited with all of her children.

Dipre said his office will work with parishes to help connect them with resources and to provide support. One key piece is to have a contact person who can connect mothers and volunteers, he noted. The Office for Human Life has a monthly Zoom meeting during which parish representatives can share information/concerns...

Both Welsh and Flangan said the work is rewarding. They emphasized the need for time versus money, noting diaper/clothing drives and other efforts can provide the tangible items.

'Be a gift to those moms in need. Be the light of Christ in their world,' Welsh said."

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