Diocesan Resources
Walking with Moms in Need Media Backgrounder (2021)
Walking with Moms in Need Media Backgrounder
Walking with Moms in Need is a nationwide initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) designed to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers facing difficult circumstances. The program encourages Catholic parishes to identify local resources available to mothers, assess unmet needs, and develop practical parish responses to provide assistance.
Walking with Moms in Need is a Catholic pastoral initiative focused on mobilizing parishes to support pregnant and parenting women through local outreach, resource coordination, and compassionate accompaniment. Its goal is to ensure that no mother or child lacks support because help was unavailable or unknown
The document emphasizes that women facing challenging pregnancies and parents raising young children in difficult situations should experience the Church as a place of welcome, assistance, and accompaniment. Its central message is that when legal protections may be limited, communities can still "surround and rescue with love" by offering practical, emotional, and spiritual support to mothers and children.
- The initiative asks parishes to conduct an inventory of community resources for pregnant and parenting women, identify gaps in support, and create local plans to address those needs.
- It is intended to connect women with practical help and ensure that parish communities know where to refer mothers in need.
Origins
- Walking with Moms in Need was launched on March 25, 2020, marking the 25th anniversary of Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life) by Pope St. John Paul II.
- The initiative draws inspiration from the Church's teaching on the dignity of human life and from calls by Pope Francis for the Church to reach out to people on the margins and provide compassionate support.
Approach
- The program is parish-based rather than prescriptive, recognizing that each parish and diocese has unique needs and resources.
- The USCCB provides free resources, including implementation guides, timelines, prayers, announcements, and activities, which local communities can adapt as needed.
- Materials are available in both English and Spanish.