Start a Gabriel Project

Her Situation:

54% of women who have abortions identify themselves as Christians. Research shows that four in 10 women regularly attend church at the time of their abortion. This means there are pregnant women in your congregation, maybe sitting in the pew in front of you, who are overwhelmed with the decision to choose life for their baby or believe the lie that abortion is their only option. An unexpected pregnancy can be a very isolating experience. The fear or reality of judgement from friends, family, church and community often pushes women facing unexpected pregnancies further away from support instead of pulling them closer.    

Whether an abortion-vulnerable mom was attending church before her pregnancy or not, churches and church ministries can provide life-changing support as they fight against the societal pressure to abort. It’s about helping her choose life for her unborn child by meeting her real needs and providing her space and support to be the mom she already is.  

Additionally, over 24 million children are currently in single parent homes, with 85% of those homes being headed by mothers. Only 1 in 4 single moms attend church weekly, leaving a huge population lacking a church community that welcomes them. By having a support group for single and pregnant moms, you can reach both the mothers and their children through your church outreach.   

Her Community: 

Gabriel Project is a Catholic parish-based ministry that provides practical, emotional, and spiritual support to pregnant women and families in need. The ministry is rooted in the belief that no woman should feel alone or unsupported during pregnancy. Started in Texas by a priest who put a sign outside his parish offering help to any pregnant woman in need, the ministry has expanded into dioceses and churches across the country and has been in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia since 2002. 

Each ministry looks different, depending on the needs of the community and available resources, and is built around a local parish ministry with diocesan support and guidance. In the Diocese of Arlington, trained volunteers accompany mothers, connect them with community resources, and provide ongoing encouragement and support. The core mission remains the same across all Gabriel Project sites: to provide compassionate accompaniment and connect women with local resources. Accompaniment often looks like befriending an expectant mother with encouragement and a listening ear along with offering practical, emotional, and spiritual support. Volunteers who offer this mentorship are called “Gabriel Angels.” Outside of being a Gabriel Angel and working directly with mothers, there are also other ways to support the mission. Spiritual, material, and financial support are also ways to get involved, as well as assisting with parish outreach and program awareness efforts.  

If your parish or parish in your area has a Gabriel Project, consider getting involved or expanding the ministry. If it does not, prayerfully consider whether your parish would be a good fit for launching a Gabriel Project to support pregnant women in your community.