"Someone told me the other night I was celebrating sin."
You may be wondering why anyone would say a thing like this. But a volunteer at Maria Magdalena Home was told these very words when she expressed eagerness to host a baby shower for a young pregnant mother named Amelia who recently arrived in the community. The home made simple baby shower invitations, praying that Amelia's body would wait to give birth until after the baby shower, since her due date was so close.
It was during the process of handing the invitations that an older lady asked, “in your country do you people always celebrate sin? . . . you always host baby showers for women who are not married, who have children from different fathers, so to me you enjoy celebrating sin.”
In shock, the volunteer responded, “would you rather me throw stones at her or tell her that she is not worthy to be a mother or that her child is not worthy of being born”? Without waiting for a reply, the volunteer left, saying, “that is not what Jesus would do!”
What Would Jesus Do?
Jesus would not throw stones at a single pregnant mother who was brave enough to not have an abortion. Jesus would shower her with mercy, forgiveness, support, and comfort; and, he would accept her and help her avoid sin in the future.
Santa Maria Magdalena Home attempts to provide love and support to women who need it most. As humans, we are so eager to judge others and calculate if someone is worthy or not. So many pregnant mothers hide in the shadows and hear the comments from those who disapprove. Many are scared to lend a hand, and to celebrate the beautiful miracle that pregnancy is. Santa Maria Magdalena Home knows that single mothers are worthy of love and help, and so they strive to embrace them and provide the help and support they need - because that is what Jesus would do.
Finding Joy and Thankfulness Amidst Grief
It was less than a week after the community came together to celebrate the anticipation of a birth and to honor a brave mother for choosing life. Baby Alvaro Emmanuel was born at 8 am on a Wednesday and died a few hours later at 11:03 am. He only lived a short life, yet he has made a large impact on the small community.
The community at Santa Maria Magdalena home is asking you for support and prayers:
1) for God to heal the small community that is grieving and to turn the grief into thankfulness - allowing them to see His goodness in all things.
2) to ask God to stretch hearts in charity toward Santa Maria Magdalena Home.
3) and for healing for Amelia as she finds a way to grief the loss of her baby while remaining strong for her two older children.
The volunteers at Santa Maria Magdalena Home are thankful that despite their felt inadequacy in situations like this, it is because of YOU that they are present: living and suffering in solidarity with the poor and bringing truth and hope through pastoral care to those in the community that would otherwise have none.
In honor of little Alvaro Emmanuel, thank you for all the good that God will bring from your generosity!
Growing and Learning Together,
Anna Ketterling