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Your Church?
Ways Churches/Organizations Can Help the Moms and Babies of His Nesting Place
At His Nesting Place Maternity Home, our corridors echo with the sounds of precious new life. You and your church or organization can share this joy by being a part of our life-saving endeavors. By reaching out and extending yourselves to help in this mission field to women in crisis pregnancies, a sense of being needed and/or filling a need develops as each church/organization takes up the challenge. Diligently seek the Lord's will as to which area He wants you to get involved in.
• "Sanctity of Life" Sunday -- Invite a speaker from His Nesting Place to share about our pro-life ministry. This will help inform members of your church about life issues and the realities of homelessness and to share with them how they can be involved.In a protestant church an offering is usually taken or presented after the speaker. In a Catholic church we have a "Pro-Life Weekend" or "Sanctity of Life Weekend" where we are given a chance to share our ministry for a few minuts at announcement time.
• Birthday Baskets -- Everyone loves a birthday, our moms are no different. We have a special way of sharing in a birthday at His Nesting Place and that is by putting items such as perfume, powder, jewelry, soap, address book, calendar date book, hair ribbons, etc. in a basket, beautifully wrapped with a bow. We bake a cake and decorate it.
• Layettes -- Due to lack of finances we cannot have a baby shower for each mom, so we collect baby clothes, new and used (in good condition). We take these items and place them in a beautiful basket, wrap it with cellophane and put a big ribbon on it. Layettes include baby powder, wipes, lotion, blankets, shampoo, knitted sweater & hat outfits, sleepers, t-shirts, nightgowns, a baby toy, a bib and other miscellaneous baby items. We try to top this off with a new outfit if finances permit.
• Welcome Gift Bag -- This cheerful bag includes toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoos, shaver, mouthwash and a soap holder. So often, a young woman comes to His Nesting Place with no clothes or personal toiletries, therefore we need to keep a large supply of these bags on hand.
• Walk-for-Life -- What are feet for? For walking in the Walk-for-Life, our biggest fundraiser of the year. This is a fun-filled family day with balloons, live music, pro-life info exhibits, a walk-a-thon and much more. We need volunteers to publicize the Walk and sign-up walkers, sponsors and volunteers at YOUR church/organization. We provide all flyers, posters, ads, etc. that you will need as our contact.
• Collection Day -- Collect paper (tissues, paper towels, all sizes of diapers), etc. or canned food drive or cleaning supplies drive, or "adopt" a mother/child(ren) at Christmas time. Collect items for our thrift store and much needed valuables to go directly to our boutique at Jan's Antique Mall.
• "Life Work" Day -- Bring a group from your church/ organization to our home to tour then help with special projects, i.e. painting, gardening, mailings and other areas.
• Education Day -- This is a must for all youth and other groups. This consists of a visitation to the home and viewing a pro-life film, sharing time with the moms and staff and a quick snack, or they can bring their own lunch. Our youth are the future, and we must insure that they know the value of all life.
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What is a Pro-Life Weekend?
For the last decade, Pastor Al and Judy Howard have addressed many civic groups, organizations and churches all over America concerning the need to offer women positive alternatives to abortion. This is the committed vision of His Nesting Place.
A Pro-Life Weekend is when a staff person, some of the moms and babies from His Nesting Place are the guests of your parish for the Saturday evening service and at the celebration of each mass, all day on Sunday.
Do we request an offering?
No! However, we will have information tables outside as everyone leaves the church and will accept free-will donations to support LIFE - through this ministry to homeless women and their children, born and unborn. In turn they recieve a rose as our gift for their support. The Rose is the International Pro-Life symbol.
How much time do we request?
Approximately 3 1/2 minutes.
When is our presentation made?
After communion is over and just before the congregation is dismissed is usually the best time to allow us to share the vision and missionary opportunity of His Nesting Place.
What is our objective?
1. To introduce ourselves to your parish.
2. To be an inspiration to the parish for involvement in Pro-Life ministry.
3. To educate the community about the positive alternatives to abortion.
4. To share that we are available as a resource in helping anyone in a crisis pregnancy.
Particpating Churches
Here are some churches that have hosted our ministry for a Pro-Life Weekend, you may contact them for a referral:
* St. Frances of Rome -- Azusa CA
* St. Elizabeth -- Altadena CA
* St. Bernard -- Bellflower CA
* St. Dominic Savio -- Bellflower CA
* St. Philomena -- Carson CA
* Our Lady of the Assumption -- Claremont CA
* Sacred Heart -- Covina CA
* St. Dennis -- Diamond Bar
* St. Raymond -- Downey CA
* St. Dorothy's -- Glendora CA
* St. John Vianney -- Hacienda Heights CA
* St. Mary's by the Sea -- Huntington Beach CA
* St. PancratiusvLakewood CA
* St. Cyprian -- Long Beach CA
* St. Lucy -- Long Beach CA
* Our Lady of Malibu -- Malibu CA
* Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal -- Montebello CA
* St. Christopher -- Moreno Valley CA
* St. Linus -- Norwalk CA
* Our Lady of the Rosary -- Paramount CA
* St.Hillary -- Pico Rivera CA
* St. Elizabeth Ann Seton -- Rowland Heights CA
* Nativity -- Torrance CA
* St. Mary of the Assumption -- Whittier CA
* St. Bruno -- Whittier CA
* St. Gregory the Great -- Whittier CA
For personal reference, please call Msgr. Ronald Royer of St. Pancratius in Lakewood at (562) 634-6111.
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St. Pancratius Rectory
3519 St. Pancratius Place
Lakewood, CA 90712-1495
Phone: (310) 634-6111
Pastor Al Howard
His Nesting Place
350 E. Market Street
Long Beach, CA 90805
Dear Pastor Howard:
Thank you so much for the talks that you and your wife, Judy, gave after each of our Sunday Masses recently. It is very encouraging for all of us here to know that there are followers of Jesus Christ who believe so firmly in the sanctity of life from the womb to natural death that they, as you, devote their whole life and energy to this work. Many of us just wish the evil of Abortion would somehow evaporate. Keep up the good work and witness in your home for unwed mothers.
Sincerely yours in Christ who came to give us life in its fullest,
Rev. Ronald E. Royer
Pastor
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