Gabriel Project has new name but same pro-life mission

By Enedelia J. Obregón | Senior Correspondent

The St. Gabriel’s Pregnancy and Parenting Program is starting 2021 with a new name and a move to Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCTX) to provide better services to its clients.
Gabriel Project, as it was previously known, was previously under the diocesan Office of Life, Marriage, and Family, in the Secretariat of Life, Charity and Justice. By making the administrative and physical move to CCCTX, the St. Gabriel Project ministry can provide comprehensive service to clients in the 25-county region within the Diocese of Austin.
Luisa de Poo, diocesan director of Life, Marriage and Family, said Catholic Charities has the spiritual as well as physical resources to help women struggling with an unplanned pregnancy. While many think Gabriel Project clients are single teenagers that is not the case, most are adults, she said.
The program offers help to expectant mothers or parents of a child up to 36 months of age. Services are offered confidentially in English and Spanish, and include parenting classes, child development, nutrition, financial management and counseling as well as spiritual support.
“We offer the opportunity to pray together and catechize and read the Bible,” de Poo said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the St. Gabriel Program is not seeing clients in person. Virtual appointments are encouraged and meetings are arranged with parent advocates by telephone or Zoom. Supplies are available by appointment via curbside pickup. Needs range from diapers and clothing to cribs.
Angelica Reyes, director of the St. Gabriel’s Pregnancy and Parenting Program (GPP), said the program has been training volunteers, called Gabriel Angels, in preparation for this change.
The volunteers work at the parish level, which is where most women first seek help. However, only about 22 parishes in the diocese have a GPP ministry.
 Reyes said the ministry is working to strengthen parish ministries in the Killeen/Temple Deanery, particularly at St. Joseph Parish in Killeen, Holy Family Parish in Copperas Cove and St. Stephen Parish in Salado.
Karen Candelas, Gabriel Project coordinator, provides support to current Gabriel Project parish ministries. She also helps parishes establish a ministry in their parish.
Martha Thomas has volunteered since 2003 at Holy Family Parish in Copperas Cove. She recently took the new training as a Gabriel Angel, so she currently serves as an advocate for clients and helps them with their needs.
Gabriel Angels must be Catholics in good standing, have the approval of their pastor, complete Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) certification, and attend ministry trainings to discern how they are being called to serve.
Through the years, Thomas and other Gabriel Angels have made countless home visits, driven expectant mothers to doctor’s appointments and provided diapers, baby clothes and other items as needed.
They have also guided women to agencies where they can apply for assistance for supplemental food, health care referrals, and nutrition education.
Thomas said ministering to women in the Killeen area is a challenge because so many are affiliated with the military, which is highly transient.
“Many moms want their stuff immediately, but we don’t distribute until their last month of pregnancy,” she said. “So when they know where they’re moving, we’ll call a church in that city to help them.”
One of the volunteers compiled a list of maternity homes in Texas to share with women moving to other parts of the state.
The Gabriel Project continues to serve as an alternative to abortion and it will be available if Roe v. Wade is overturned and abortion is made illegal.
“What is our response if that happens?” de Poo said. “We need to be proactive instead of reactive. We need people to know we are there to help.”
Reyes said clients from a wide socio-economic range take their parenting and prenatal classes. In 2019, they served 500 mothers, distributed 68,000 diapers and 5,625 items. Much of their funding comes from the Catholic Services Appeal.
“Pregnancy is a huge life change,” Reyes said. “Families don’t come with a handbook.”
Reyes was married and in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin when she got pregnant with her first child. She was overwhelmed, and the Gabriel Project, as it was then known, helped ease her fears.
Loving and caring for single moms is not the only goal of this ministry, de Poo said. Helping and strengthening families is essential as well.
“That is how you shape society,” she said. “Society needs strong families.”
To enroll in the program, call (512) 651-6100 to schedule a virtual appointment.
Those wanting to volunteer as Gabriel Angels should contact their parish Gabriel Project Angel coordinator. If the parish does not have a ministry, contact Karen Candelas at (512) 651-6176.