What Is the Gabriel Project?

Following the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 which made abortion legally permissible in all the States, the Rev. Msgr. John Perusina, late pastor of St. Michael Parish on Sage Road, Houston, put a sign outside the rectory which said: If you will have your baby, this parish will help you in every way. The original sign still stands today.

This was the beginning of the Gabriel Project. In 1990, Cathy McConn from St. Cecilia Parish in Houston and her friend, Rex Moses from Corpus Christi, saw the sign, and the Gabriel Project was developed throughout the Galveston-Houston and the Corpus Christi dioceses.

The Gabriel Project is parish based crisis pregnancy intervention. Through the parish acting as the Good Samaritan, Mom receives the love, care, and spiritual, material, and emotional support she needs throughout her pregnancy.

The parish community responds to Mom with unconditional love. A “Sign of Life” is placed in front of the church stating that help is available to pregnant women. A trained mentor, the parish Gabriel Angel, is responsible for ongoing contact with Mom, throughout her pregnancy and beyond.

The Gabriel Project is not a referral service. The Central Phone Number posted on the sign is the most crucial element of the Gabriel Project and its key to success. It is not intended to refer callers to pregnancy centers. When a woman calls for help, the Central Phone Line volunteer will directly contact the parish Gabriel Project Coordinator at the Church closest to where Mom lives. The Parish Gabriel Coordinator will contact a trained Angel in her parish. The Angel will call Mom and set up their first visit at the parish.

To learn more about the Gabriel Project and how to best implement it your area click here.

Also read 'The Gabriel Project: Interview with Catherine McConn'.

Fredi