Gabriel Project

The Gabriel Project is an ecumenical, church-based ministry that reaches out to pregnant women in need. The Gabriel Project is now throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are many other local Gabriel Projects not listed on this page.

What Is the Gabriel Project?
http://children-deserve-birth.blogspot.com/2007/09/gabriel-project.html
"The Gabriel Project is not a referral service. The Central Phone Number posted on the sign is the most crucial element of the Gabriel Project and its key to success. It is not intended to refer callers to pregnancy centers. When a woman calls for help, the Central Phone Line volunteer will directly contact the parish Gabriel Project Coordinator at the Church closest to where Mom lives."

A Brief History of the Gabriel Project
http://www.austindiocese.org/dept/prolife/gabriel_history.php
The Gabriel Project began as a parish project in a handful of parishes around the United States. One of the parishes was St. Michael's Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. The pastor placed a sign in front of the church stating that his church would help a woman in a crisis pregnancy. ... As of May 2008, the Gabriel Project in the Austin Diocese has grown to over 40 participating Catholic churches."

Great Lakes Gabriel Project
http://www.glgabrielproject.org/info.htm
"The role of each participating church is to meet with any mother referred to them for help, to pray with her and to assure her that Christ and their congregation love her and will help her. After identifying her fears, the church community simply responds in love by providing spiritual, emotional, and material support to help her meet her needs, Churches may at times choose to partner in supplying material needs."

Gabriel Project Respect Life Office within the Archdiocese of Miami
http://www.respectlifemiami.com/Gabriel.htm
"I couldn't believe that someone I didn't even know would care about me and my baby." "My Angel doesn't criticize me; she just listens and offers suggestions. Someday may I can help someone just like my Gabriel Angel helped me." "People said I didn't love my baby if I chose to place him for adoption. My Gabriel Angel help me see that it was quite the opposite. I was able to give my baby the loving choice of life and instead of an abortion. ..."

How to initiate the Gabriel Project in your parish
http://www.austindiocese.org/dept/prolife/gabriel_initiation.php
A brief, step-by-step outline, from deciding that the parish will participate to training.

Gabriel Resource Manual (The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston)
http://www.diogh.org/RespectLife/gabrielresourcemanual.htm
The Gabriel Resource Manual is in both downloadable PDF and HTML format, which has table of contents and index.

The Church Gabriel Project
http://www.diogh.org/RespectLife/gabrielmanual/grm-thegabrielproject.htm
"The Goal is to have the Gabriel Project in each parish in our Diocese in English and Spanish and to encourage other dioceses to do the same. ... People must know that the Church -- which opposes abortion -- just as vigorously provides an alternative to abortion."

The Gabriel Project in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
http://www.diogh.org/RespectLife/gabrielproject.htm
From the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Dr. Marcella Colbert directs this Catholic ministry that evangelizes and saves lives, using the local parish as the haven in which women who are pregnant and in need can hear an echo of Gabriel's message, "You have nothing to fear!"

Champlain Valley Right to Life Inc. posts area churches where Gabriel help is available
http://www.champlainvalleyrighttolife.org/editorial.asp?page=5
"Today every third pregnancy ends in abortion. Women who have abortions never see them as good, but as what they consider a "necessary evil". Rather than having "freedom of choice," they obtain them because they think they have no freedom ...no choice. An abortion minded woman needs to know that help is close by, not only from city and state agencies, but from the Church, her spiritual home."

Gabriel Project of the Diocese of Fort Worth
http://www.catholicsrespectlife.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=212&category=1
"Ministering to the mother's spiritual and emotional needs is the most important aspect of Gabriel Project. The Gabriel Angel is not a psychologist, analyst, or social worker. It may be an over-simplification, but what we would do for a mother in our care is what we might do for a niece, a neighbor, a friend. We try to just be there for her. We might call her each week to ask how she's feeling, tell her how much God loves her, send her a birthday card or cheery note, sit and listen to her, take her shopping or to lunch, pray with her and for her, drive her on errands or to the doctor, invite her to church, offer to baby sit other children."

Gabriel Project of the Diocese of Gary
http://www.nwicatholic.com/2007%20NEW%20WEBSITE/COMMUNITY%20PAGES/PRO-LIFE/GABRIEL_Project.htm
"Several parishes in the Diocese of Gary have agreed to become part of the growing group of churches in the Midwest and nationally to offer the Gabriel Project -- churches standing together in their commitment to offer assistance to women and families facing crisis pregnancies. ... Calling Gabriel a 'very joyful project,' Hartman said of this all-volunteer effort, 'We give our time and our caring. The women are so grateful; they're not used to little acts of kindness.'"

Gabriel Project ARLINGTON
http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/familylife/gabriel.php
"How we can help: Central toll-free helpline 1-866-444-3553; Confidential needs assessment; Parish "Angel" friend for support; Pre-natal care assistance ..."

Homily by Fr. Sam Hose on the occasion of the annual Respect Life Mass of the Diocese of Austin on January 23, 1999. Fr. Sam is the pastor of St. John Vianney's Parish in Round Rock, Texas.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/preaching/april26homily.htm
"The Gabriel Project ... is a ministry of love, compassion and support. It does not judge. It does not shame. It does not condemn. It places no pre-conditions on helping. It simply recognizes that many women for many reasons find themselves in situations in which abortion may seem to be their only option or among their few options. ... We endeavor to help them to deal with those issues that have made pregnancy a crisis in their lives. We dedicate ourselves to helping them to find the dignity they merit and the possibility for a better future for themselves and for their children."

The Gabriel Project
http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/gabrielguidance.html
"The concept is simple: The parish announces to the community that any woman who is pregnant and in need may come to the Church to seek assistance. The pastor sees to it that each woman who does come is given personal attention by a trained member of the Gabriel team. That person, then brings back to the parish the needs of the woman, and the parish responds with concrete help."

The Gabriel Project: Interview with Catherine McConn
http://www.priestsforlife.org/media/interviewmcconn.htm
"... the Gabriel Project helps women in crisis pregnancy through a network of churches in a city. We have a central phone number which answers a hotline ... very similar to what the crisis pregnancy centers do and Birthright does. But the difference is that the people in the church are able to help through the church and the woman who is helped knows that the help is coming from the church. And that the people who are there who believe in life and believe that abortion is wrong actually put their money where their mouth is, and do the work and help her, and provide whatever she needs. ..."

The Gabriel Project (Jacksonville, TX)
http://www.oloschurch.com/the-gabriel-project.php
"Pregnant?...Need Help? We, the members of his church community, see in the birth of each baby, a fresh expression of God's unfailing love. For the love of God and each and every one of his children, we offer immediate and practical help to any woman faced with a crisis pregnancy. We have a special concern for you and your unborn child. We await your call."

Gabriel angels spread wings over Collier, Lee counties
http://www.dioceseofvenice.org/news/newspar.cfm?ArticleID=716
"In 1984, shortly after Bishop John J. Nevins came to the Venice Diocese, he spoke on behalf of the entire diocese offering 'assistance to any pregnant woman who is in need of support, both spiritual and material, when the matter of her own life and that of her unborn child are concerned.' Both the bishops of the Florida Catholic Conference and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued similar statements offering assistance to any pregnant woman in need."

The Gabriel Project, Victoria, TX
http://www.victoriadiocese.org/lighthouse/gp.htm
"The goal of the Gabriel Project is to encourage the church to be the good Samaritan to the woman faced with a crisis pregnancy. The congregation will do this by welcoming and assisting the woman with love. Jesus will be brought into her life and home through the care and concern of the church community. The love of the church community will open the hearts of men and women to recognize the beauty and goodness of God's creation, and His infinite compassion and mercy."

Gabriel Project of three parishes in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
http://www.defendinglife.org/pro-life_new_mexico/ministries/02_gabriel_project.html
"The Gabriel Project is currently supported by three parishes in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Our Lady of Guadalupe in Albuquerque, San Clemente in Los Lunas, and St. Anne's Parish in Santa Fe. The Gabriel Project is very simple in its design and implementation within the parish. One person in the parish is all that is needed to begin this ministry. A person with the desire to help a new mom through her pregnancy and the ability to work well with others is needed."

Gabriel Project, Our Lady of the Greenwood Queen of the Holy Rosary, Indianapolis
http://www.olgreenwood.org/min_cs_gabriel.htm
"Many mothers faced with crisis pregnancies feel abandoned by their families, the fathers of their babies, and the community. Most feel alone and afraid. For too many, abortion seems the only answer. ... More than anything else, the Gabriel Project embraces each pregnant woman who comes to them as their daughter, their sister, and their friend."

The Gabriel Project (sacred Heart Cathedral, Raleigh, NC)
http://www.gpsacredheart.com/index.html
"Our mission is to respect all life -- at any age, in any circumstance. This means that we are profoundly committed not only to the unborn, but also to their mothers."

Priests for Life Newsletter: Volume 8, Number 5: Sept.-Oct. 1998
http://www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/v8n5sepoct98.html
"The Gabriel Project is an effort of the local parish to reach out to women who might be tempted to have abortion, and to provide them with the friendship and assistance of the Christian community. As we know, there are various networks, agencies, and national hotlines designed to offer alternatives to abortion. What the Gabriel Project does is to complement this by giving the woman in need the assistance of the local Church."

Priests for Life Newsletter: Volume 9, Number 2: March - April 1999
http://www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/v9n2marapr99.htm
"Susan, the assigned Gabriel Project Coordinator and a diocesan employee of the Respect Life Office, said, 'I think this is an excellent way to tap the many resources of the 'baby-boomers' who now are faced with empty nests and do have available time.' ... Msgr. George L. Frappier ... voiced strong support for Father Ruggieri and the project. 'Father James Ruggieri of All Saints Catholic Community has been an inspiration to all of us. His enthusiasm and his desire to serve God through pregnant women in need of help has challenged all of us at the diocesan level to catch up and keep up with him.'"

Priests for Life Newsletter: Volume 10, Number 2: March - April 2000
http://www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/v10n02marapr00.htm#gabriel
"Deacon Robert Whitaker is a permanent deacon of the Washington Archdiocese where he serves at St. Ann's Catholic Church. ... His parish was the first in Washington, D.C., to introduce the Gabriel Project. ... Prompted by this success story, St. Ann's then became a Gabriel Project Parish. Initially, St. Ann's parish had eighty volunteers sign up to offer their help. Since the official start of the Gabriel Project on Mother's Day, 1997, twenty-two babies have been born to mother's whom they have helped.

Related Pages
Ending Abortion
Crisis Pregnancy Resources
How You Can Help in Any of a Number of Ways