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To: Pastors, priests, deacons, religious, seminarians and parish communicators
From: The Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Peace and All Good Things!
On this Solemnity of the Annunciation, when the Word became flesh in the womb of an unmarried teenage girl, I am happy to announce a new initiative for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In conjunction with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, we will join other dioceses across the nation in Walking with Moms in Need.
As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes are called to be “islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.” Walking with Moms in Need is an invitation for Catholic parishes to get involved and walk side-by-side with local pregnant and parenting women in difficult circumstances. While a parish could offer financial or material support, the greatest need is often that of intentional accompaniment. You can see what this might look like on the website www.WalkingWithMoms.com.
I urge every parish to form a Walking with Moms in Need committee, one that can fall under or be entirely separate from a Respect Life Ministry.
To jumpstart this initiative at the parish level, I am requesting that each parish put up an Archdiocesan pregnancy help sign (see sample) on the parish grounds, visible to all who drive by the parish. As you can see from the attached picture from Dallas, Texas, this has already been implemented effectively in other dioceses. The Archdiocese of Atlanta will provide this sign and installation kit; we will also try to offset the cost as much as possible.
On October 3, Respect Life Sunday, I ask you to formally recognize your parish’s sign, perhaps offer a blessing to mothers or families. I also request that you incorporate into your homily the Walking with Moms in Need program. This message needs to go out to the people. You can also support this effort by sharing this video with your parish community on your social media platforms.
To request a sign and installation kit, pastors should contact Respect Life Director Joey Martineck at jmartineck@archatl.com or (404) 920-7362 no later than Friday, April 30.
Thank you for your cooperation as the Archdiocese of Atlanta begins in a new way to Walk with Moms in Need.
In Christ,
Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM, Conv.
Walking with Moms in Need AoA promo video: https://vimeo.com/525136079/1b1c137df0