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the gabriel project at St Stephens is now prepares
The St. Stephen PREPARES chapter reaches out to families in need who have young children.
See PREPARESforLife.org for more information.
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PREPARES
What is the PREPARES program?
PREPARES is a nurturing response of the Catholic community, open to all, to provide meaningful, local, and unconditional support to Washington mothers, fathers, and families as they nurture their children through pregnancy and early childhood. Our vision is that a mom or family can come to any Catholic community in the state and be served.
Our help is caring, personal, and confidential.What does a Prepares volunteer do?
Our volunteers are a personal guide, a mentor, and a friend to her Mom.
She does not criticize; she does:▪ Listen to her concerns
▪ Prays with her and for her
▪ Fosters her relationship with God
▪ Encourages her confidence in making good decisions
▪ Shares birthing, parenting, and adoption information
▪ Helps her plan for her health, lifestyle, and future
▪ Helps her with transportation for doctor visits and with babysitting, etc.Why do we need a Program like PREPARES?
Life is God's greatest gift.
Life is what we proclaim and celebrate.
Life is the reason for our faith.
The PREPARES program is a testament to faith in action.How can PREPARES benefit a pregnant Mom?
An unexpected pregnancy can create a crisis that profoundly affects a young woman. Her entire future life and happiness are at stake. So is her baby's. She needs a friend, someone who will be there for her, listen in a non-judgmental way, and either provide or direct her to real help—the kind of help she might not find elsewhere. More than anything else, the young mother has spiritual needs. A PREPARES volunteer can provide that support by praying for her and with her often. The scriptures and sacraments are powerful sources of healing in this ministry.
What are the benefits of being a PREPARES volunteer?
God calls each of us to share the good news just as the Angel Gabriel shared it with Mary. If we truly believe that God wants us to be instruments of love to our brothers and sisters made in His image, then we must be pro-life in our deeds as well as in our hearts.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the Will of my Father in Heaven." - Mt 7:21
As a PREPARES volunteer, you answer the call to do the Will of the Father. It is an experience you will find truly rewarding, in this life and in the next.
If you are pregnant and want your own volunteer, phone 206-737-9264.-To learn ways to help St. Stephen's PREPARES program, email Emma Stewart and Patti Brumbach at [email protected].
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