HOMEPAGE for this issue: November 16, 2011 // Download PDF Version // Click to install/update Adobe Reader on your computer

Outreach ministry for pregnant women to dedicate Boulder location

By Julie Filby

The Gabriel Project, a Catholic outreach for pregnant women, is expanding in the Denver Archdiocese. Two years after establishing the first Gabriel House, in Denver, the ministry will open a second pregnancy support center in Boulder.

The new location at 2885 Aurora Ave. is within 10 minutes of three abortion clinics including the Boulder Abortion Clinic run by nationally known late-term abortionist Dr. Warren Hern.

“We’re meeting the people where they are without judgment or condemnation,” said Mimi Eckstein, director of the Gabriel Project for the archdiocese. “When the mission (of the Gabriel House) is presented not only within the Catholic community, but to the community at large, we’ve found it serves a need for one-on-one mentoring for families. … It’s a niche in the social ministry of the Church.”

The Boulder Gabriel House is situated in a small business complex on the southeast boundary of the University of Colorado grounds—diagonally across from campus and within walking distance of campus church St. Thomas Aquinas at 898 14th St.

“The emphasis remains on the word ‘home,’” explained Eckstein, “so although this is not a house—like the Denver house—it will provide the same warm hospitality to all who come for help. … (It’s) a safe and private facility for our mothers and children-in-need.”

The Denver Gabriel House, headquarters for the Gabriel Project, is located at 1341 Oneida St. in Denver, next door to St. James Church.

The new 950-square-foot Boulder site includes a welcoming room for mothers, a play area for children, storage room for clothes and diapers, and office space for volunteers. It will be staffed by volunteers 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Sue Curtain will serve as coordinator; and Deacon James Wolfe has led volunteer efforts—both are from Immaculate Conception Parish in Lafayette.

Volunteers, many from Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Boulder, have labored to get the site ready and are eager to open to Boulder residents.

“From demographical information, we’ve learned there is high rate of Hispanic women-in-need, along with many single mothers and students seeking support through a pregnancy,” said Eckstein.

They anticipate news of its opening will spread by word-of-mouth, as it did in Denver. From January through June this year, there were 850 individual visits to the Denver house.

The idea to establish a Gabriel House in Boulder was originally presented to Father William Breslin, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, by a parishioner last fall. Father Breslin embraced the possibility and commenced making it reality, under the direction of then-Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., last January.

“The expansion was at the direction of Archbishop Chaput,” said Eckstein. “It presents a compassionate face of the Catholic Church to all we serve. … The archdiocese has many areas of need for this ministry as Archbishop Chaput visualized.”

Eckstein said the Gabriel Project will continue to explore sites to expand its ministry. Currently there are 100 trained volunteers affiliated with the project, in more than 30 parishes throughout the archdiocese.

“Following the mission of the Gabriel Project, (the house) will provide material support—such as diapers and clothes—and emotional and spiritual support to mothers-in-need,” she said.

That support, Eckstein added, is “provided by caring and compassionate volunteers who witness the love of Jesus Christ and their faith to all.”

At 1 p.m. Nov. 18 the Boulder Gabriel House will be blessed by Bishop James D. Conley, apostolic administrator for the Denver Archdiocese. All are invited to attend the blessing, which will include a performance from the children’s choir of Sacred Heart of Jesus School and be followed with refreshments. For further information, call 303-377-1577 or email gabrielhousedenver@yahoo.