Gift of Life Program Inspires Stafford Parish

By Irene Lagan
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/9/03)

Christmas is a season for giving and a season for celebrating life. In most parishes, parishioners participate in a "Giving Tree" program that affords them the opportunity to give to others in practical ways. At St. William of York Parish in Stafford, the giving tree grew and blended with the Gift of Life Program sponsored by the Arlington Diocese for Family Life Office. In the first two weekends of Advent, the parish not only exhausted their giving tree gifts, but raised over $8,000 in gifts for expectant mothers, as well as those suffering the effects of abortion.

According to Father Michael R. Duesterhaus, pastor of St. William of York, the parish’s 250 Giving Tree gift tags ran out after the two Saturday evening vigil Masses on the first weekend of Advent. Together with his associate Father Paul Eversole, they made more tags, this time listing small monetary donations that would help support those served through Project Rachel and Project Gabriel. Gift tags included, among other listings, practical needs such as "$25 for vitamins for a pregnant mother" and "$50 to help defray the cost of delivery of a baby." By the end of the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday morning, all 150 new gift tags had again disappeared.

With the help of the CYO, Fathers Duesterhaus and Eversole made yet another batch of tags and saved them for the following weekend, in order to allow other parishioners the opportunity to extend their generosity.

"This parish is extremely generous," said Father Duesterhaus. "But I don’t think that is unique. Catholics in all parishes tend to be generous. It’s just that we had gift tags to support the Gift of Life program, and it allows people to support those in need in very practical ways."

Through the Gift of Life program, people made small, tax-deductible donations in the name of family members or friends to help those who are served through Project Rachel and Project Gabriel Arlington. In exchange for the gift, the office sent a certificate to a friend or family member to let them know a donation was made in their name.

Project Rachel provides medical assistance and counseling services to all people who are affected by abortion. Gifts given through the "Gift for Life" program will help with these services and to maintain the 24-hour hotline.

The Gabriel Project is a parish-based program that helps expectant mothers by providing prenatal vitamins, assisting with the costs of prenatal care and delivery and by helping defray the costs of other basic needs such as diapers and clothing.

"We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of generosity of individual and families reaching out to serve those and their families in most need of help. Donations are still pouring in," said Andrea King, assistant director of Family Life Office. The total in gifts donated to the Gift of Life Program is $11,352.

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