Not long ago I sat at a table of weepy mothers lamenting their children leaving home for school or work, ‘jumping out of the nest,’ as the saying goes. After they all shared their stories and during a moment of silence, I said, “Yah, I’ll never forget my mother crying when I started college … It was when I told her I would be living at home for four more years!”
After they laughed, I told them I was joking.
I do remember the excitement of definitively leaving home, starting a new job 250 miles away from home. My mother years later told me as I pulled away smiling, she silently watched from inside, crying.
Recently, a woman who graduated from college had similar hopes and dreams, namely those of starting a new job and life after her time at the university. However, things for her were markedly different. For one thing, she found it impossible to find full time employment in the field related to her college degree. Having only a low paying minimum wage job and with her college roommate moving on, she found it impossible to pay the rent. She was forced to consider moving home with her parents. I myself am grateful to my parents for allowing me to live at home as long as I needed.
In the midst of these challenges, she found herself pregnant and not only did the father of the child leave her when he found out, he left town. Unfortunately and tragically, her parents were so infuriated, she was told she could not move back home because of the pregnancy. Although she considered herself to be pro-life, she acutely felt the pressures of seeking a surgical abortion. People who are anti-life who say, ‘I am personally opposed to abortion but am in favor of a woman choosing an abortion,’ the ‘pro-choice’ mantra, need to know that many women who have abortions considered themselves trapped by circumstances similar to what I have outlined above.
Fortunately and providentially, she found out about St. Gianna Women’s Homes. I am happy to announce not only has she given birth to a beautiful baby boy, she is looking forward to graduating from St. Gianna’s and living independently.
This is just one of the many success stories of St. Gianna’s. Not only do we help our ladies materially and psychologically, but also spiritually as well, for there have been many spiritual conversions at St. Gianna’s.
We offer psychological counseling, budgeting classes, parenting classes, bible studies, Endow meetings, and RCIA classes for interested women to name a few. We also give cars to women like the one mentioned above for after graduating, having a vehicle is essential for commuting to work, taking children to school, daycare and doctor appointments, and getting to church on Sundays. Unfortunately, the demand always exceeds our supply. This is why I frequently ask our loving supporters to not only consider donating vehicles to us (which is tax deductible) but to plant the bug in the ears of people they know so we can continue to help these ladies and other clients that come to us in crisis.
Please let me take this opportunity to thank our many benefactors who through their generosity prompted by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit make it possible for us to love Jesus in the poor and needy who come to us on a daily basis. Please know that you are all in our special prayers and Masses at Catholic Social Services and St. Gianna Women’s Homes!
