These last few years have been especially hard on moms. Even if the worst of COVID is (hopefully) behind us, pregnant and parenting women still face a range of challenges like higher prices on everything from food to housing, the threat of recession, childcare challenges, healthcare issues, and so much more.
This is exactly why it’s so important for parishes throughout the Diocese of Madison to join the Walking with Moms in Need (WWMIN) effort.
WWMIN session on May 6
The “snowmageddon” of March 25 forced WWMIN to cancel a meeting scheduled for that day.
The rescheduled event will be on May 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison.
Any parish member from the Diocese of Madison is welcome to attend.
WWMIN extends a special invitation to Spanish speakers and men — everyone’s insights are needed to make this effort a success.
Event highlights include:
- Brief presentations from representatives from diocesan parishes and non-profit organizations that provide services to pregnant and parenting women
- Launch of the WWMIN database and preliminary website
- A “dream big” interactive session
- Mass with Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison
To register, RSVP at walkingwithmomsmadison.org
Childcare will be available upon request. Email wwmin madison@gmail.com if you need childcare that day.
Haven’t heard of WWMIN? Here’s a quick overview
On the feast of the Annunciation in 2020, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched WWMIN as a way for parishes to walk alongside pregnant and parenting women in need.
Pope Francis has encouraged parishes to become “islands of mercy in a sea of indifference” and WWMIN is an effort to do just that.
The program doesn’t ask parishes to become counselors, community centers, or crisis pregnancy resources. Instead, it gives Catholic parishes tools that aid them in becoming reliable connectors to local resources when a pregnant or parenting woman comes to their parish for help. Each parish is asked to have at least one volunteer participate in a training, then complete a survey that captures the services moms in need could access at their parish. This information is then shared on a website of resources that’s available to the public.
Locally, the long-term dream is for WWMIN to serve as a collaborative hub where concerned parishioners will work together to uncover and fill service gaps throughout the Diocese of Madison.
Bishop Hying is an avid supporter of the program and encourages every pastorate to join the local effort even as we journey “Into the Deep.”
We are seeing positive collaboration in pastorates already.
What’s happened to date
At present 40 parishes have participated in a WWMIN training and filled out a resources survey for their parish.
The Madison Walking with Moms team used information from the surveys to compile a database that will be shared with staff at each parish.
Additionally, you can find out more at the WWMIN website at walkingwithmoms madison.org
The group’s goal is to have each pastorate participate in the training and survey to ensure it can share the most complete and accurate data with people in all 11 diocesan counties.
Ready to get involved?
Before attending the May 6 session, WWMIN encourages each participant to do the following:
Watch a brief training video — available online at madisondiocese.org/wwmin
This video provides an overview of Walking with Moms in Need, plus instructions on completing the parish survey.
Email Walking with Moms in Need at wwminmadison@gmail.com after watching the video.
WWMIN will send your parish a quick survey to complete — one survey should be returned per parish.
Not sure if someone from your parish has already been trained?
Check the website link on the website.
Fill out the survey and send it back to WWMIN.
Surveys completed to date highlight a wealth of mom-friendly support at diocesan parishes including diaper drives, maternity and baby clothing, meals for new moms, and help with rent and utilities.
Reach out to the local WWMIN team at wwminmadison@gmail.com if you have any questions.