Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born
I dedicated you (Jeremiah 1:5)

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. (Psalms 139:15)

Are you pregnant and looking for help?

Woman's Choice Services
Hot line: (630) 261-9221
Or visit the website at www.choicedupage.com

Have your already suffered the pain of an abortion?

In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping! Rachel mourns her children;
she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.
Thus says the LORD:  Cease your cries of mourning; wipe the tears from your eyes.
the sorrow you have shown shall have its reward...
There is hope for your future. (Jeremiah 31:15-1)

History

(sources: Priests for Life and The Diocese of Galveston-Houston Respect Life Office)

After the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision (1973) made abortion legally permissible in the United States, Rev. Msgr. John Perusina, the late pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in Houston, Texas, placed a sign in front of his church saying that if a woman wanted to have her baby, the church would support her.   The sign still stands today. It was from that sign that the Gabriel Project or Project Gabriel was born.

In 1990, Cathy McConn and her friend, Rex Moses suggested Project Gabriel for the diocese of Corpus Christi.  By 1991, sixty Catholic and Protestant churches in the Corpus Christi were participants in the Gabriel Project. Presently, somewhere between 200-300 churches are participating nationwide and that number is growing.

In Illinois, Project Gabriel can be found in the Chicago and Joliet dioceses. Holy Cross-Batavia, is the first church from the Rockford Diocese participating in the project.

Mission Statement

For Catholic Christians, Mary is the model of affirmation and acceptance of God’s will.  When the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would be the mother of the Messiah, Mary asked, “How can this be?”  But the angel told her, “Fear not!  Nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “Let it be done as you say.” She trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled. 

Project Gabriel carries the same comforting message from the Church to women in crisis pregnancies who may be frightened and alone: God is faithful if we trust.  Like the Angel Gabriel, our mission is to:

• Announce the good news of life today
• Dispel fear
• Offer hope for tomorrow

Purpose and Goal

The purpose of Project Gabriel is to live the charism of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth:

•  We draw closer to God through acts of self-giving to others, which are grounded in prayer and guided by the Holy Spirit. We help women in crisis pregnancies to feel comfortable enough to come to the Church who will provide help and support.
• We bring the love of Jesus Christ to pregnant women in need by providing emotional (through friendship and love), physical, and spiritual support during her pregnancy and after the birth of her baby. This help continues as long as it is needed.
• We love them as Jesus does, unconditionally, and accept them where they are without judgment.
• We collaborate with other ministries (i.e. St Vincent de Paul and Women’s Choice Services) as well as the entire Holy Cross Parish, by asking for their prayers and by asking them to help provide for the physical needs of others.

The Project Gabriel Messengers

For information on volunteer opportunities, call the Holy Cross Parish Office at 630-879-4750 or email the Project Gabriel Coordinators (Laura Bretson) at:
projectgabriel@holycross-batavia.org.

Prayer Team
(Coordinator-Ralph Carlson)

The Prayer Team provides prayer support for mothers, their babies, their families and the volunteers who help them. Members of this team also pray for the success of the ministry and the events related to the project.

Angels Team
(Coordinator - Laura Bretson)

The Angels Team (or simply “Angels”) works directly with each woman in need who is referred to Holy Cross Parish.  An Angel conducts an assessment of the mother’s needs, provides emotional (love and friendship), spiritual and practical help, and directs her to local resources with the help of the Community Resource Coordinator.  Being an Angel requires a three-hour training session and regular monthly meeting attendance.

Material Support Team
(Coordinators-Gail & Jim Myers)

The Material Support Team collects and organizes material resources and practical needs for mom and her baby. This includes keeping an ongoing list of supplies for use by the Angels. The team works with St. Vincent de Paul and the Parish Communications Coordinator in obtaining assistance from the parish at large.

Creative Resources
(Coordinator- Corie Kornerup)

The Creative Resources Team works together to provide special “hand-made with love” items such as baby blankets, baby booties, hats etc. The team is also responsible for giving showers, putting together baskets, and collecting personal care items to be used as gifts for Moms.

Marketing and Outreach Team
(Coordinator-Position Vacant)

The Marketing and Outreach Team gets the word out to women in crisis pregnancies letting them know that Project Gabriel is at Holy Cross and in the surrounding area ready to help them.

Communications Team
(Coordinator-Sheila Bangs)

The Communications Team maintains the content of the web site for Project Gabriel members and communicates important information to the teams by use of the bulletin.

Telephone/Email Data Resource Team
(Coordinator-Jessica Brochtrup)

The Telephone/Email Data Resource Team maintains an updated email & phone list used to communicate with Team Coordinators and other Project Gabriel volunteers.

Community Resource Team
(Wayne and Ann Vilchuk)

The Community Resource Team maintains an updated spreadsheet of Community Services available to mothers in need.  The team members serve as a resource contact for the Angels

The Angelus is a prayer used to commemorate the announcment of the Incarnation by the angel, Gabriel, to Mary. It is usually recited three times daily---6 am, Noon, and 6 pm.  It is the official prayer of the Project Gabriel Ministry at Holy Cross.

Prayer Intentions

We ask the entire Holy Cross Church community to keep the following Project Gabriel intentions in their prayers:

• Amy's marriage & financial situation

• Eve's family situation

• Increased hours for Carrie at work

• Shakena as she juggles going to college & her job

• Denika and the health of her unborn daughter

• For the ministries of Project Gabriel and Woman’s Choice Services

• For an end to abortion and an overall respect for life from conception through natural death.

Needs

Donations Needed

We are currently in need of #2 diapers. Please place donations in the plastic tote marked “Project Gabriel” in the coat closet in the church narthex. Additional donations of new and gently used baby items may also be placed in this box. It is highly recommended that donations be marked with “Project Gabriel” on them in case items get moved or misplaced.

Material Needs

Gas cards purchased through Manna for our mothers and angels to get to doctor's appts. or restaurant cards for our Angels to take our moms out to lunch. Leave with Manna table volunteer for Project Gabriel.

Project Gabriel Hot List

Presently we are putting in place a Project Gabriel email - Hot List.  Once in a while we have a Mom who has an emergency material need for their baby.  You may have the answer to that need or know of someone who else who can help.  Those on this list will be contacted by email in emergency cases when we are unable to obtain emergency material resources through other avenues.  For example, we had a need for a bassinette but did not have time to put it in the bulletin.

If you are interested in being on this list please email us at projectgabriel@holycross-batavia.org.  Thank you for all of your support!

My Child,

Contact Laura Bretson, the Project Gabriel Coordinators, either by phone at (630) 879-4750 x319 OR via email at: projectgabriel@holycross-batavia.org for all Messenger related questions or communications.

Meeting Schedule

Angels-Meet the third Thursday of each month at 7:00PM.
Check the bulletin for room assignments.

All Project Gabriel volunteers are invited and encouraged to attend. Check the bulletin for room assignment.

Messenger Notes

• We are in the process of updating our volunteer list.  Let us know if there are any changes in your status.
• If you do not want your name address, home phone and email to be shared with other P.G. volunteers, please let us know. This information will be made available (for volunteers’ eyes only) at the website.

Angel/Support Angel Training Session

There will be future trainings session for those looking to be, or to learn about becoming, a Project Gabriel Angel/Support Angel.  Contact Laura by email at  projectgabriel@holycross-batavia.org or 630-879-4750 X319.

Respect Life Activities

• On the first Saturday of every month, there is a Rosary for Life at 8 AM in the church followed by 8:30 Mass. In addition, a Holy Hour for life takes place from 9-10 AM in the Adoration Chapel.

• On the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm immediately following the Healing Service, a Rosary and a Chaplet of Mercy are prayed specifically for the Project Gabriel ministry.

• Holy Cross has committed to providing prayer support at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Aurora (on New York Street east of Eola) from 7 am -4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to assist in this ministry. If interested, please call Fran Nicklas at (630) 973-9559.