​Seeing the potential for a better tomorrow

Seeing the potential for a better tomorrow

“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.”

-Psalm 139:13-14

Children are our most precious resource because in them lies our future. We see the potential for a better tomorrow in their smiling faces and small hands. Catholic Charities is blessed to have a multitude of wonderful parenting and pregnancy programs and dedicated staff who run them. These programs include: Precious Minds, New Connections; Parent Talk — East Side Promise Neighborhood; Building Strong Families; Great Start Plus; Parents as Teachers and Nurse Family Partnership as well as the Guadalupe Home and San Antonio Birth Doulas. San Antonio Birth Doulas (SABD) is a program which provides new and expecting parents with support in the areas of pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding, newborn care and bonding in an effort to prevent infant/child abuse and neglect. The Guadalupe Home is a transitional living program for homeless expectant mothers and homeless mothers with infants; the mothers have a safe place to prepare for birth as well as a home-like environment in which to nurture their baby.

One inspirational example of the hard work the Guadalupe Home does for their clients is the story of Molly.* Molly moved into the Guadalupe Home with three half-filled bags, which was all she owned, and a pregnancy unwanted by everyone, except her. Like many of the moms who come to our shelter, she had a past full of crushed dreams and a violent ending to her relationship with her children’s father. She informed the staff that her children were taken from her and placed with families she did not know. She showed them a calendar full of appointments with case workers, lawyers, counselors and agency professionals. With all of these hardships, it was a wonder how she kept going day in and day out.

Through several tearful meetings, the staff noticed she had an unyielding resilience to better herself. Anytime she failed, she would get back up and try again, telling the staff that she was not only fighting for her unborn child but for the children who were not in her arms. As the months went by, she worked tirelessly to become a good mother and a stronger individual. Staff provided referrals, encouragement and classes which gave her the freedom to do things she had never dared to do in her past abusive relationship. Little by little, Molly began to take responsibility for both her successes and failures in order to put the past where it belonged; in the past.

After almost a full year with us, she moved into her own apartment, found a part-time job and was reunited with all of her children. Even with her busy schedule, she happily cooks dinner for her family every night and spends as much time with her children as possible. Molly’s determination helped her succeed where others have not and when she comes to visit, she has all of her children with her and a smile which lights up the room. The staff who work in the Guadalupe Home are proud to have played a part in Molly’s journey of becoming the strong, confident mother she always hoped she would be.

Stories like Molly’s give us hope for the future and a confidence that, with a little help, anyone can better themselves and become self-sufficient. I ask you to pray, not only for Catholic Charities and our Parenting Programs, but for all of the families in our community — single parent families, adopted families, step families, military families, families who have experienced loss and many more. Thank you for your continued support.

*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

J. Antonio Fernandez is president/CEO of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc.