Walking with Moms in Need: How we got started

My involvement in pro-life work began in 1978 when my pastor asked me to attend a meeting to form a Right to Life Chapter. I walked out of that meeting as the newly elected president.

In 1993 while attending World Youth Day in Denver as a chaperone, I heard Pope John Paul II say, “go home and work with youth.” I came back to Hankinson and organized a Teens for Life Chapter. I am grateful to say that youth group is still active today.

In January 2009 after receiving a phone call from 40 Days for Life that abortions were being performed at the Red River Women’s Clinic in downtown Fargo, I went to the church to pray and there I felt called to start a Cenacle of Life to End Abortion prayer group. For 13 years now every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., there are individuals praying before Our Lord at St. John’s Church in Wahpeton.

Naturally, Father Eric Seitz, parochial vicar at St. John’s at the time, approached me with a packet of inventory questions to get started with the Walking with Moms in Need program in the Spring of 2021. I didn’t want to take on another project, but I didn’t want to say “no” to Father.

I asked several women from the pro-life team to help me fill out the inventory. The purpose was to list the services and resources that were readily available here in our community to assist moms in need. Following each of the five outlined phases made the process less overwhelming for us.

We identified pregnancy related resources and services that were available in Wahpeton, such as childcare, healthcare, counseling, education, and social service. We posted a list of all the pregnancy support services in the state of North Dakota on the parish bulletin board.

Soon we met with our pastor, Father Dale Lagodinski, Father Seitz and Michelle Fehr, our Parish Life Coordinator, on how we would announce this program to the parish. Our plan was to have pulpit talks at all the Masses one weekend. We invited members of the parish to take part in some way to help Moms in Need by serving on a team, praying for mothers, and providing needed baby items.

We were grateful for the response. By Feb. 3, we had a team of volunteers organized. Aaron and Brenda Morman now chair the Walking with Moms in Need ministry at St. John’s along with 46 volunteers willing to pray and provide in different ways with our Walking with Moms in Need ministry.

In March 2022, through the efforts of the pro-life team, a statue of Our Lady of Hope arrived. It’s a fitting message to begin our Walking with Moms in Need ministry program here at St. John’s. This beautiful 48-inch statue of Mary was blessed on March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation, which was the beginning of Mary’s pregnancy. Our Lady of Hope is the patron saint of women who are expecting a child and symbolizes the gift of life. The statue can be found at the west entrance to the church along with a history of its origin and a prayer card to the Virgin Mary.

In April, we were asked to host the Bundle Up Your Baby Bump for Catholic Charities North Dakota. All summer we collected donations of baby and toddler clothes new to slightly used. We also collected strollers, pack-and-plays, bottles, toys, books, baby bedding, maternity clothes, and boxes and boxes of diapers in many sizes. The event at St. John’s school gym on Sept. 24 was packed! Eighty-two moms or families came through to shop that afternoon. It was a very rewarding event to welcome new life. Many moms voiced, “this is another blessing.”

Over the years, God has continued to put life activities or projects in my path. He gives me the energy and confidence to say, “yes.” I have met many wonderful people in my pro-life work across the state and nationally and for that I’m grateful.

There are moms in need in every community and parish in our diocese. It doesn’t matter the size of your parish. Maybe your parish is helping moms in need already. If not, pull out that inventory of questions with the Walking with Moms in Need program. Be creative and do something, so we can all say “yes” to those in need in our community.

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all, we turn to you today as the one who said “yes” to life. “You will conceive and bear a Son,” The angel told you. Despite the surprise and the uncertainty about how this could be, you said yes. “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers. We pray for those who feel threated and overwhelmed by their pregnancy. Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes and the courage to go on. May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion. May they say with you, “Be it done into me according to your word.” May the experience the help of Christian people, and know the peace that comes from doing God’s will. Amen.