When Maria became pregnant, her first reaction was fear.
“As soon as I knew I was pregnant, I didn’t know what to do. I kept it a secret from my family for quite a while, because I was just so scared of disappointing my family,” she said.
When she finally told her parents, “They didn’t speak to me for like a week,” she said. Eventually, her parents asked her what she planned to do. “This definitely was not in my plans, and I told them, regardless of the situation, I know my baby was sent for a reason. It was meant to be,” she said. “I told them I would like to continue on with my pregnancy and have my baby.”
Maria reached out to Agape Pregnancy Center of Loudoun in Leesburg, who referred her to the diocesan Gabriel Project. As soon as Maria reached out to the Gabriel Project, the ministry immediately gifted her a variety of baby items, as well as her own personal “angel,” May Respicio.
A Gabriel Project angel, according to Respicio, “is someone who basically walks alongside with the mom, and we help out in spiritual, emotional (ways), and then also in helping them with any of the baby materials that they may need.”
Respicio, a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, has volunteered as an angel since 2022. She said that the Gabriel Project’s Gift for Life campaign — and particularly its annual Advent appeal — gives crucial help to moms like Maria, particularly during this time of year.
“The Gift for Life Advent appeal is a perfect opportunity for everyone of all ages in our parish and school communities to unite our resources and prayers for a wonderful cause,” Respicio said. “It provides hope for the baby’s future, uplifts the mom’s spirit and illustrates God’s amazing grace.”
“It’s offering friendship,” said Sarah LaPierre, program director of the diocesan Gabriel Project and Project Rachel. “It’s offering encouragement, a listening ear. We just want to be that warm, welcoming community to embrace her.”
LaPierre and Thérèse Bermpohl, executive director of the diocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Respect Life, described the impact of the Advent appeal.
The majority of the Advent appeal — approximately 79% — goes toward prenatal care for expectant mothers. The approximate cost of prenatal care is $3,000 in addition to $500 for labs and sonograms. Another portion of the donations goes to post-abortion retreats for Project Rachel, which helps women heal after abortion.
Bermpohl said that the monetary donations also go toward quarterly baby showers for expectant mothers. Mothers not only receive a large basket full of baby items, but they also have the choice between a car seat and stroller combo or a portable baby playpen. Recently, “Gift for Life allowed us to supply $7,000 worth of materials to these moms,” Bermpohl said. “That’s just for one shower.”
During a season of the year often marked by spending and expenses, the Gift for Life can help make December less stressful for mothers in need.
When Gabriel Project mom Josie discovered she was pregnant, she reached out to her sister who already had a child. “She told me that the Gabriel Project had given her support during her pregnancy,” Josie said. After contacting her local Gabriel Project parish, Josie was notified that an appointment had been made for her to receive prenatal care. She was nine weeks pregnant at the time.
“I was very grateful to God and to the Gabriel Project for giving me the help,” she said. “I am very happy; my baby is a boy, a great blessing from God, and my greatest gift — my Christmas gift. Thanks to the Gabriel Project, I have not had to worry about the expenses because they have provided help since the first appointment.”
Havens Howell, a Gabriel Project angel with St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington, had accompanied Josie during her pregnancy. For Howell, assisting mothers “could mean helping her access resources in the community from medical resources, a free clinic that she could go to, making sure she has transportation to her appointments, making sure she has material items like diapers, a crib,” she said.
Following the emotional and physical support Maria received from the Gabriel Project and her angel, Respicio, her baby boy was born in October. She said that her parents supported her throughout the remainder of her pregnancy, reminding her that the baby was a blessing.
But they required Maria to do one thing — to continue her education. “My dream was always to become a lawyer,” she said. “I always wanted to become an immigration lawyer just to help out people, because I came from immigrant parents.”
Now, Maria plans to resume college as a junior at George Mason University in Fairfax for the spring semester. “A baby doesn’t stop your dreams,” she said. “It’s just a different way of going about it.”
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