We're so glad you stopped by to see what St. Mary's Pro-Life Ministry is doing.  The scope of our work focuses on promoting a culture that recognizes life as beginning at conception and ending with natural death.  We seek to support those in crisis pregnancy, those who suffer post-abortion trauma, and caregivers dealing with end-of-life issues.  We also seek to educate the faithful and the community on Church teachings on life issues.

A true Culture of Life extends beyond the areas our ministry focuses on.  We trust that other servants of Christ will fill in the gaps.  Working together, with God's grace, we will live out our mission to know, love and serve Our Lord, creating a Culture of Life in the process.

Planning meetings are scheduled for the THIRD Tuesday of the month, 7-8 PM, at St. Mary's Parish Office Conference Room.  Calendar dates for 2024 are shown below.  Any changes to date/time/location should be posted here, so check a day or two ahead of time for any changes.

  January 16
  February 20
  March 19
  April 16
  May 21
  June 18

It takes so many gifts so make the Pro-Life Ministry the best it can be.  Do you like to shop, pray, write cards, drive around town, take inventory, keep things organized, coordinate events, hug babies, design graphics, speak Spanish, move heavy boxes, know what's happening in nearby parishes? We need folks to do it all.  We need folks who can volunteer one day a year, one day a month, or one day a week.  Here are specific volunteer jobs we've written descriptions for, but we always need PRAYER WARRIORS, too:
 

• Pro-Life Coordinator:  Right now the job is filled by me, Paola Addamiano-Carts, but eventually I'll retire.  The amount of time required is about 15-20 hours per month.  The job is to lead group meetings, prioritize activities, support Fr. Sam's vision, support the team, and coordinate with volunteers and activity coordinators.

• Assistant Coordinator:  This position may require 10-15 hours per month assisting the coordinator as needed.

• Spanish Interpreter:  The amount of time in a month would probably be between 3-5 hours per month.  This person would be our interpreter for moms who only speak/prefer to speak Spanish.

• Donut Social Coordinator:  This person would coordinate all donut socials like gathering the donuts, putting table cloths on the tables, prepare a drink table, coffee, juice, water, etc.  This function would only be needed when the Pro-Life Ministry is sponsoring the donut social. A timeline and checklist has already been created for this responsibility.

• Speaker Coordinator:  This person would be responsible for finding and coordinating pro-life speakers (usually twice a year) and prepare for their coming.  There may be a dinner provided and that would also need to be arranged, as well.  Setting up the hall in preparation for this event would also fall under this person's responsiblity.

• Card Coordinator:  This person would be responsible for sending all cards, for example, welcoming a new baby born in our parish.  This task could grow to sending out birthday cards to the new babies up to 4 years of age.

• Angel Friend Helper:  This person would need to be trained formally through the Gabriel Network and be Virtus certified. Once trained he/she would be be asked to be part of a team (two people) helping a mother we are assigned. Ways you can help could include: talking by phone, praying for the mom, assessing what her needs are, helping her find resources, providing resources that the parish has, coordinating a baby shower, etc. We have had folks shop for bassinets, cribs, dressers, car seats, baby clothes, etc. Some folks have driven moms to doctor's appointments, cooked meals for the new mom, etc., but it all depends on the relationship you develop. This is a longterm commitment.

• Respect for Life Literature Coordinator:  This person would be responsible for getting the literature to display on the tables when we have a guest speaker and/or during October, Respect for Life Month.  Also they could also maintain table space in the narthex of the Church where select literature is offered on a rotating basis.

• Recruiter:  This person would provide a table in the narthex providing pro-life information and a sign up sheet to join our group.  This signup sheet would have information as to when, where and the time of our meetings.  With Father’s approval, coordinate speaking at the masses to give an annual update to the parish and appeal for volunteers. Potentially, speak with the moms we've helped to see if they'd like to talk about the impact our Angel Friend group has had on them.

• Inventory Coordinator “Mom Room:  This person would be required to keep inventory of all items in the Mom’s room.  Potentially, this person could coordinate an annual baby donation drive where parishioners could drop off nonperishable baby supplies.

• Assistant Coordinator “Mom Room”:  This person would assist the Inventory Coordinator and take their place with that person is unavailable.

• Information Coordinator:  This person would check the bathroom stalls to make sure Gabriel Network and Project Rachel signs are attached to the inside of the stall door and are in good condition.  Also do a monthly check to make sure our Gabriel Network signs are still intact (one at the church and one at the Knights of Columbus in Accokeek).

• Parish Coordinator:  This person would get to know the Administrative Assistant to the local churches in the area so they can get the word out regarding upcoming speakers and other things of interest. Cooperation between parishes could be really useful to magnify our purpose and impact.

• Email and Computer Coordinator:  This person would be responsible for sending out all correspondence to the group.  Also provide when needed Zoom capabilities.

Maryland has some of the most liberal abortion laws on the books.  This November there will be referendum on the ballot attempting to enshrine abortion (and more) into the State Constitution.  For more information, click here: Health Not Harm Maryland

Daily Prayer for Life

O Mary, bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
To you do we entrust the cause of life.
Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born,
Of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
Of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,
Of the elderly and sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son, may proclaim the Gospel of Life
With honesty and love to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,
The joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives,
And the courage to bear witness to it, resolutely,
In order to build, together with all people of good will,
The civilization of truth and love,
To the praise and the glory of God,
The Creator and lover of life.
Amen.

(Saint Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae)