Women in unexpected pregnancies in Springfield now have a place to call home.
“We needed to do something to help these women who want to keep their babies but are in a crisis,” said Kathy Marchetti, parishioner of St. Bernadette Church in Springfield and board member of the home called Mary’s Comfort. “There’s a lot of pregnancy centers up here, but there’s no housing for these pregnant women.”
Mary’s Comfort is an example of what Bishop Michael F. Burbidge calls “radical solidarity” with women facing an unexpected or challenging pregnancy. Bishop Burbidge, who also serves as chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, will bless the home Aug. 9.
“The more I learned how many women desperately needed help, it became a passion for me,” said Bart Bailey, executive director. “There are too many people out there suggesting abortions to them as a solution. This gives them another option.”
Mary’s Comfort is modeled on the success of Mary’s Shelter in Fredericksburg, which has served more than 400 women since its founding in 2006 and is now a community of six shared homes. Father Donald J. Rooney, who was pastor of nearby St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church at the time Mary’s Shelter was established, supported bringing a similar ministry to St. Bernadette upon becoming pastor there. Mary’s Comfort hopes to expand to four or five homes. Mothers will be able to stay for up to two years. Two women have moved in and a third is expected soon. The need is great.
“We don’t want to just say, here’s some diapers and a sonogram,” said Marchetti. “We want to bring them into a Christ-centered, homelike environment. Many of them have never had that.”
What started as a notice in the bulletin about establishing a home to support women in crisis pregnancies grew into an ecumenical project, culminating in an arrangement with St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to rent the first home. “They’re our landlords now,” said Marchetti. “If I could say one thing, the Holy Spirit has guided us through the whole thing, step by step. I want to tell the world.”
St. Bernadette parishioners relished the challenge. The passion for the project has grown well beyond the original group who answered the notice in the bulletin. “I was lucky to volunteer at Mary’s Comfort to landscape and make the house more welcoming,” said Rachel Pohlmeier, 16, who attends St. John Paul the Great High School in Potomac Shores. “It’s a beautiful place for the new moms to show them that they, and their babies, are loved and supported.”
Bailey took on the role of executive director after serving 20 years in the U.S. Army and leading two organizations as CEO. Marchetti agreed to oversee fundraising without any experience in the field.
“I don’t have any fear,” said Marchetti. “The Holy Spirit is going to guide us.”
Find out more
To help, go to maryscomfortva.org.
