Archdiocese of Detroit to mark Mother’s Day with launch of parish initiative to ‘Walk with Moms in Need’

May 4, 2021 — Parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit are increasing outreach to pregnant and parenting women in their communities by participating in “Walking with Moms in Need” (WWMIN), a national initiative for Catholic parishes to assess, expand, and communicate resources for women facing difficulties related to pregnancy and parenthood.

WWMIN was introduced last year by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life), a papal encyclical on the sanctity of life by Pope St. John Paul II. Under the initiative, parishes are encouraged to review resources currently available in their communities, identify gaps or areas of insufficient response, and take concrete steps to expand the help available to pregnant women, mothers, and families.

The local effort kicked off earlier this year as select parishes with prolife ministries began building upon their relationships with area pregnancy and parenting services and putting together individual plans for supporting moms in need in their communities. In celebration of Mother’s Day, more parishes will join this effort to educate and empower their parishioners and ensure help is available to any pregnant or parenting woman who seeks it.

While there are many pregnancy and parenting resources coordinated at the diocesan and regional levels, parishes are best equipped to assess the availability of local resources and to reach people in their own communities.

“Women in need are part of every community; they are our fellow parishioners, our children, our family members, our neighbors and friends,” said Kathleen Wilson, prolife coordinator for the Archdiocese of Detroit. “We are presenting a lifesaving message of hope with this initiative, that we see their needs and without judgement, we seek to support and walk beside them.”

The local WWMIN efforts are coordinated by the Archdiocese of Detroit and Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, the charitable arm of the local Church for the corporal works of mercy throughout the region. Organizers look forward to expanding the initiative as more parishes join, upholding the dignity of all life and ministering to women in need across Southeast Michigan for years to come.

“I give the Lord thanks that parishes in the Archdiocese are embracing this lifesaving ministry of supporting women in need as they navigate pregnancy and parenthood,” said Archbishop of Detroit Allen H. Vigneron. “This is one more way our parishes are striving to answer Jesus’ call to practice evangelical charity: by going out and unleashing the Gospel of Life both with pastoral accompaniment and practical assistance. It is my hope that through the ongoing Walking with Moms in Need initiative, women who face difficult or crisis circumstances will find our Catholic parishes and communities to be places where they can turn for real help.”

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