Respect Life Office

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston


 
 

Pastoral Ministries

Respect Life Office

Overview

Gabriel Project

Gabriel Resource Manual

The Gabriel Project

 
 

Gabriel Resource Manual
The Church Gabriel Project
 
Goal, Purpose and Presence
The Gabriel Angel
Pastoral and Theological Insight
How to get Organized
Different Tasks & Aptitudes Needed from Volunteers
Gabriel Project Volunteer Procedures
 
 
 
Goal, Purpose and Presence

The Gabriel Project helps women in crisis pregnancies by offering Christian love and practical solutions at the parish.  Parishes participate by placing a Sign of Life outside the church to advertise their commitment to help all others in distress, to turn all hearts to Jesus Christ and to make Him known to everyone.

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.

The Purpose of the Gabriel Project is:

·      to assist women with a crisis pregnancy obtain all the help they need, physically, spiritually and emotionally.

·      to offer them the support of a faith community where they live.

·      to encourage networking and collaborative ministry between professionals and volunteers: 

·      The Gabriel Project (Respect Life Office),

·      The Catholic Health care system.

·      Catholic Charities.  Collaboration with ACC is through the Parish Social Ministry and the Child Placement Services (adoption, foster care, services to pregnant adolescents, post-adoption care).

The Presence of the Gabriel Project.

·      Changes the tone of debate on life issues in the parish with its example of Christian love in action.

·      Makes preaching, reaching and teaching on life issues much easier in an atmosphere of reconciliation and healing.

·      Demonstrates collaborative ministry in the Church, so that solidarity and subsidiarity become a lived reality in the Parish.
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The Gabriel Angel

The Gabriel Angel is a parish member who takes a specific interest in the pregnant mother and with Christian presence and friendship, walks with her through the difficult decisions she will have to make. She will accept in confidence the Mom's fears and worries, taking her to the doctor, social service and other appointments. The Gabriel Angel reaches out with love to the new mother, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to pray with her, and to welcome her to the Church. The Angel will assist Mom in her spiritual growth and enable her to establish herself in parish life by encouraging her to attend Mass and other spiritual events.
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Pastoral and Theological Insight

Pastoral and Theological Insight of the Gabriel Project is found in how the local Church responds in concrete charity to the women in her midst who are pregnant and in need.  This response gives mothers the strength to choose what is right, and furthermore, is sought at the initiative of the Church, which makes it known to the local community by means of signs on the Church property that compassionate and practical help is available for anyone who needs it. Such signs have the obvious benefit of being able to reach beyond the community of churchgoers.

From the time that a person responds to the offer of help, she is entrusted to the care of a parish volunteer, her Gabriel Angel, who assesses her needs and brings those needs back to the parish. People must know that the Church - which opposes abortion - just as vigorously provides an alternative to abortion. The Gabriel Project lets that happen, in a very local and personal way, and parishioners are quite willing to participate in a project that they know is helping people in the community to choose life.
 
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How to get Organized


The Respect Life Director Dr. Marcella Colbert 713-741-8728 will come to the parish to outline the programs as will the Archdiocesan Gabriel Coordinator Sonya Yeglin 713-741-8729.

The pastor must approve the creation of the parish Gabriel Project which is part of the Respect Life Group in the Parish.  The pastor will appoint a Gabriel Parish Coordinator. The establishment of the Parish Gabriel Group usually goes before the parish council.

Once the coordinator is appointed, advertise for members to join the group

·         by pastor promotion

·         at mass

·         through fliers and bulletin announcements

Remember, The Gabriel Project under the Respect Life Group, is a parish initiative, include everyone and every group in the parish in the program.

Some groups in the parish to include:

·         Knights of Columbus

·         Catholic Daughters

·         Young Mothers club

·         St. Vincent de Paul Society

·         Parish Social Ministry

·         Natural Family Planning

·         Youth Groups

·         Catholic School Children

·         Legion of Mary

·         Familia

·         Knights of Peter Claver

·         Ladies Auxiliary

·         Guadalupanos 

If there are other Groups in your parish, contact them.

A group of parishioners is needed to run the Gabriel Project successfully.  The many tasks can be delegated to those who have the talent and aptitude needed.  All groups in the parish must be approached. Volunteers should work in two’s as Christ sent his disciples.  All volunteers must attend the Gabriel Project Training and the biannual workshops.
 
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Different Tasks & Aptitudes Needed from Volunteers


All the groups mentioned above should be contacted to help with these or any other tasks.
 

The Gabriel Angels

Intake sheets

Meetings with mothers at parish 

Coming to understand mothers needs
 

The Baby Shower

Making cakes and punch

Set up and decorate tables

Organize, store, make layettes and distribute goods

Gabriel Voucher System

Tax free Documentation for large donations
 

Transport

Mom to Clinics, appointments etc.

Pick up and erect signs
 

Publicity Gabriel Project

Making and erecting parish signs

Brochures

Announcements in bulletin

Announcements from alter
 

Publicity Project Rachel

Flip card always discreetly available for parishioners in Church, Ladies Restroom

Announcements in bulletin

Posters
 

Publicity Baby Shower

Announcements in bulletin

Posters

Fliers in bulletin
 

Benefits from State

Parish Social Ministry

WIC

TANF

Food Stamps

Medicare
 

Food & Shelter

St. Vincent de Paul Society
 

Medical Help

Criteria for admittance to Christus Health for indigent and uninsured women
 

Professional Social Services for pregnant minor Children

Catholic Charities
 

Fertility Awareness and family Planning

Archdiocesan NFP service

 

Criteria for Gabriel Angels

§         Must be approved by the pastor

§         Must be a member of the Parish and in good standing with the Church

§         Must accept the Church's teaching on Marriage, family and life

§         Must be faithful in observing the norms of Catholic life.

§         Must be willing to attend workshops twice yearly and the Certificate Program

§         Preferably attends Mass daily

§         Preferably an older woman with children - like-with-life apostolate

§         Preferably a woman of temperate disposition

 

Any Group or  Organization within the Church which takes a supervisory role in the  Gabriel Project, must also be trained in the Apostolate.  This includes the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Charities and Parish Social Ministry.  Please contact the director Dr. Marcella Colbert at 713-741-8728 before starting the apostolate in your parish.

 
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Gabriel Project Volunteer Procedures


Central Gabriel Telephone number: 713-225-5826

 

Mother in need contacts the Gabriel Project by calling 713-225-5826.

§         All information on the intake sheet must be given to parish contact.

§         Telephone volunteer takes the call or retrieves it from the mailbox, reassuring Mom the information is confidential.

§         Telephone Volunteer records information from mother on intake sheet, fully and completely.  This is essential. 

§         Based on Mom’s address and zip code, the volunteer determines the parish boundaries and where Mom lives.

§         Telephone Volunteer contacts the Gabriel Project coordinator/social minister/pastor in Mom’s parish and refers her to that parish.
 

When Mom comes to the Parish directly

§         Parish contact must determine Mom’s Parish based on address and zip and refer her to her home parish, or refer Mom to the Telephone Volunteers.

 

Once Mom is referred to the Parish

§         The parish Gabriel Project assigns a Gabriel Angel to Mom.  This is essential.

§         The Parish Gabriel Coordinator and Gabriel Angel assess the support services needed by Mom.

§         It is the parish’s /coordinator’s responsibility to minister to Mom spiritually, emotionally and physically.

§         If at any time a volunteer encounters a problem or is in need of advice CALL Sonya Yeglin, Archdiocesan Gabriel Project Coordinator at 713-741-8729.

 
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