By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
Could your Catholic church provide assistance to a pregnant woman in need? Would it be a place where a struggling mom, trying to care for her young kids, could find local support? Through the national initiative Walking with Moms in Need, Catholics have the opportunity to help vulnerable women and provide support in welcoming and caring for their children.
Walking with Moms in Need is an initiative launched by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to help parishes better support and accompany pregnant and parenting women. In line with this initiative, parishes across the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln are stepping up to assess, expand, and communicate resources available to moms in need within their communities.
The bishops introduced Walking with Moms in Need with the belief that “everyone should know how to help moms in difficult circumstances.” While the goal is not to turn Catholic parishes into pregnancy centers, the initiative encourages supporting local pregnancy centers where available, and sharing resources with pregnant and parenting women. In cases where local resources are scarce, parishes are encouraged to create their own support networks based on the gifts of the parish community.
The call to Walk With Moms in Need has resonated with parishes throughout the Diocese of Lincoln. Mary Nickel from Cambridge found inspiration in a Southern Nebraska Register article that highlighted the work of Otoe County parishes involved in Walking With Moms in Need.
“After Roe v. Wade was overturned, I kept asking myself, ‘How could I make a difference in rural southwest Nebraska to help women choose life instead of abortion?’ Walking With Moms in Need piqued my interest,” said Nickel.
She reached out to a fellow parishioner and Father Kenneth Wehrs, pastor of St. John the Baptist in Cambridge and St. Germanus in Arapahoe. With Father Wehrs’ guidance, they formed a core team of 11 members from both communities.
Father Wehrs sees the program as an opportunity for Catholics to support pregnant women and their babies through all stages, countering the false claim made by the pro-abortion movement that pro-life supporters don’t care about moms and babies after birth.
“Of course, that’s not true at all,” he said, “and this program helps equip every Catholic to be ready to help by knowing where to find the resources that already exist.”
The committee commenced its meetings in the fall and acquired special prayer cards for the parishes. Committee members began with an inventory assessment to identify available services in the community and determine the remaining needs.
“We needed to walk in the shoes of a pregnant woman facing difficulties and imagine the challenges and obstacles she might encounter,” Nickel explained. “Basic necessities such as food, shelter, transportation, and clothing are important, as well as addressing the mental and emotional struggles like anxiety, rejection, embarrassment, and even the challenge of sharing the news with friends and family.”
While visiting local organizations, committee members discovered incredible work being done to support women and families. They recognized the opportunity to bolster existing services, such as the ABC Pregnancy Help Center in McCook. With numerous services already available, the main objective is to increase awareness.
“The resources are there, but we want to make it easier for vulnerable women to find the support and help they need,” said team member Barb Langley. “We’re fortunate to have many young people on the committee with a wide range of experience who understand how to share that information with those who need it most.”
To increase awareness of local resources, committee members are creating an easy-to-use website directory that will list all available services for women, babies, and families. Additionally, they will print yard signs with a scannable QR code that directs users to the information. A committee member will also be available to receive confidential calls and emails.
An anonymous donation, inspired by the previous article on Walking With Moms in Need featured in the Register, has been made by another parishioner. The funds will be used to cover the costs of the website, signage, and other necessary materials.
Each member of the committee has found a way to contribute skills to the program. Sondra Jonson, a well-known artist from Cambridge, has generously offered her design depicting new life in the womb of an expectant mother. The artwork, originally created for the “Courageous Witness for Life” Award presented to President Donald J. Trump in 2019, will serve as a logo for the Walking With Moms in Need program in the parishes.
In the future, the committee plans to organize an event to share its efforts with parishioners and the wider community. The aim is to ensure that everyone is aware of how they can support moms facing difficult circumstances.
Jeff Schinstock, the director of pro-life activities for the Diocese of Lincoln, emphasized the importance of accompanying our sisters in Christ, and Walking with Moms in Need provides us with the means to do so.
“We support human life at all stages, regardless of the complexities that life throws at us,” Schinstock said. “The Church has been at the forefront since the enactment of Roe, and now we must continue leading the way to demonstrate our unwavering care for mothers. We will stand with them and support them throughout their journey.”
As the director of pro-life ministry in the diocese, Schinstock is assisted by Father Adam Sparling and Father Caleb Hile, both of whom were recently appointed to the ministry by Bishop Conley. Their role is to help parishes and schools implement the Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities through prayer, worship, pro-life education, and support for clergy and parish pro-life coordinators.
“Our priority is Walking with Moms in Need. We aim to make abortion unthinkable,” Schinstock declared. “This may be a challenging task in our culture, but love is the way to achieve it. People often consider abortion out of fear or shame. By offering friendship and a sense of community, we can save lives and bring joy and hope to those in need.”
To learn more about Walking with Moms in Need in the Diocese of Lincoln, please visit www.lincolndiocese.org/moms.
