From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy
Last weekend, we sponsored a “Love Big” Adoption Workshop along with Embrace Ministries. The workshop was one way to raise adoption awareness. As Christians, we should be aware of the reality that some women who conceive a child may not be prepared physically or emotionally to raise and nurture that child. Parents who adopt may be in a better position than the birth mother to provide a loving environment for the child and have a viable and strong support system to assist them.
Here at Saint Brigid we have many parents who have chosen to adopt children. They have prayed and discerned before making such an important and life changing decision. Some have adopted children through the Mustard Seed Communities, a Catholic organization which has been supported by Saint Brigid for many years. Others have adopted children through other reputable organizations. Some parents who have adopted children are happy to share their adoption journey and experiences with others.
At the workshop last weekend, we had many speakers to address the topic of adoption and adoption awareness. An attorney was also present to speak about the adoption process and its legal ramifications. A birth mother spoke about adoption from her perspective. Adoptive parents spoke about the joys and challenges involved in raising an adopted child. Both the birth mother and the adoptive parents spoke about the joys of the sanctity of life.
Most of us are not in a position to adopt a child. However, most of us are in a position to enhance adoption awareness. We may be able to provide spiritual, emotional, or financial support to those involved in the adoption process. Pope Francis recently has addressed the need to embrace the dignity of all human life as he strongly criticized a “throwaway culture” that places little value on human life. He called on us to pray for the protection of all human life from conception until natural death. As we have mentioned previously, adoption is one way we can respond to the call to embrace a culture of Life. This culture of Life is reflected in the following Christian Adoption Prayer:
“FATHER…WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE CHILD WHO HAS
COME TO BLESS THIS FAMILY AND FOR THE PARENTS WHO
HAVE TAKEN THIS CHILD TO BE THEIR OWN.
BY THE POWER OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT,
FILL THESE PARENTS WITH TRUST,
UNDERSTANDING, AND AFFECTION,
AND THROUGH THIS CHILD IN THEIR MIDST,
ENABLE THEM TO BETTER KNOW THE MYSTERY
THAT WE ARE ALL YOUR CHILDREN BY ADOPTION
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”
May Our Lord continue to bless all those involved in the adoption experience.