By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
The call to “Walk With Moms in Need” has resonated with parishes throughout the Diocese of Lincoln. The pro-life ministry, launched by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), is inspiring Catholics to take the “crisis” out of pregnancies as parishes assess, expand, and communicate resources available to moms in need within their communities.
At St. John the Baptist in Cambridge and St. Germanus in Arapahoe, it started with a spark from two parishioners and grew to a group of 11 individuals seeking to ignite a culture of life in southwest Nebraska. Guided by Father Kenneth Wehrs, pastor of both parishes, the committee hit the ground running last year by taking inventory of all available resources. The compiled information is now available on a new parish website as a complete directory of local resources for women, children, and families in need.
“It’s really amazing how many local resources are out there; the challenge was to make it easier for vulnerable women to find the information to get the support and help they need,” said committee member Kylea tenBensel from Arapahoe. “Everyone has a phone in their pocket, so we knew making an online directory would be one way to get the information out. We also created a scannable QR code that links to the directory for easy sharing. The directory is user-friendly and easy to maintain since we’ll continue to update it with more resources.”
With the help of Father Wehrs and the committee, tenBensel created the new parish website and “Walking with Moms in Need” directory.
The easy-to-navigate directory includes local resources for pregnancy and medical care, pregnancy testing, food, clothing, housing, counseling services, adoption information, childcare, parenting education, fertility awareness, financial assistance, and post-abortion healing.
The digital directory is the result of a dedicated pro-life team. From physically visiting organizations and gathering information, to creating art and webpages, each member of the committee contributed unique skills and insight to helping local women, children, and families in need.
“God gives everyone talents and skills, and I felt like this was something I could do to help others,” tenBensel said. “Everyone on the committee has contributed their time and talent in different ways; we each bring something different to the group, but we share the same goal, and together we can make a difference in our communities.”
The team plans to continue sharing its efforts with parishioners and the wider community to ensure that everyone is aware of how they can support moms facing difficult circumstances. QR code posters will be placed throughout area communities linking to the digital directory, and mothers delivering at Tri-Valley Health System will receive information cards with the local resources. Custom-designed t-shirts are also available for order. The posters and t-shirts feature artwork by local artist Sondra Jonson and her daughter-in-law Maridel McHale.
“By having an online directory, everyone can access the information to find the help they need or share it with someone,” tenBensel said. “It equips our parish and community to offer real solutions and support our local mothers. No matter what challenges they face, they’re not alone; there are resources, organizations, and people who care and want to help.”
To learn more, visit www.cambridge-arapahoecatholicchurch.com; To learn more about “Walking with Moms in Need” in the Diocese of Lincoln, please visit www.lincolndiocese.org/moms.
