The cold temperature and the steady snowfall were a stark contrast to the exhilaration and enthusiasm inside the new Project Gabriel Center in Shawnee.
The Shawnee center, known as the Gabriel House, located at 613 W. Benedict St., officially opened Feb. 11 after several months of renovation. The Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran, Archbishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma City, was on hand to bless the building and speak to the crowd.
Those who braved the frigid temperature and the snow were amazed to find what the center had to offer. Designed with the mothers in mind, the center offers a comfortable and homely environment with plenty of nursery supplies and maternal items.
Mary Brooks, coordinator of Project Gabriel in Shawnee, was visibly excited about the occasion and the newly remodeled building. Her enthusiasm was understandable because for the first time in eight years, she and her volunteers finally had a permanent place to work out of. The new center will serve as a welcoming location to build a trusting relationship with those mothers who come for guidance and assistance.
Project Gabriel is a pro-life outreach ministry of St. Benedict Catholic church. It is faith-based and is designed to help mothers of all ages who find themselves in a crisis because of an unplanned pregnancy.
The project pairs each expectant mother with a “Gabriel Angel,” who becomes a caring friend and mentor for the mother-to-be. The “Gabriel Angel” offers assistance in locating resources and provides spiritual and emotional support during and after pregnancy. All angels are trained by the archdiocese’s Office of Family Life to minister directly to the mothers.
Brooks said that until last year, the Shawnee ministry did not have a central location. It had been operating out of makeshift locations including her car, her house, parking lots or she would meet a mother-to-be in a restaurant. Because of lack of a central location, there was no storage space for donated baby items. She was grateful when local businessman Clayton Eads, owner of MacArthur Self Storage, offered her free use of three of the storage units.
Last July, Brooks received permission from the Rev. Don Wolf, pastor of St. Benedict Church, to use one of the rooms and the kitchen in the school building on a temporary basis.
With Fr. Wolf’s guidance and encouragement, the ministry has blossomed in new directions which included better quality care and expanded services to pregnant mothers in crisis.
When parishioners Chuck and Paula Barber, who own the local restaurant Benedict Street Marketplace, learned that Project Gabriel was in need of a permanent location, they wanted to help.
Realizing that the vacant building next to their restaurant was for sale, they purchased the building which was only a stone’s throw from the church. They agreed to let Project Gabriel use the building rent-free. They also contacted a friend of theirs, John Jennings, who is a local contractor, to remodel the building into the Gabriel House.
When Jennings learned of the mission of Project Gabriel and the services it provides to the would-be mothers, he offered to renovate the building for free. For the next few months, he spent his time transforming the vacant building into the beautiful Gabriel House, which, in addition to the office, also provides a living room, kitchen, dining area, laundry room, restroom, crafting area and storage. White’s Ace Building Center also helped by offering discounts in building materials.
Meanwhile, a grant from the Commission for Justice and Human Development of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City helped procure office equipment.
The Shawnee Junior Service League also provided a grant and some JSL members helped with re-upholstering chairs and putting up draperies and valances. Many parishioners as well as others from the community also donated furniture and miscellaneous items.
Brooks said that the materialization of the Gabriel House is the culmination of the collaborative and ecumenical effort of many individuals embracing the mission of Project Gabriel while putting their faith in God.
“God is the one who sent people and physical resources to us,” Brooks said. “As the ministry and the spirit grow, we get as much in return as the mothers we help.”
A team of eight parishioners have been hand-crafting items in an effort to raise funds for Project Gabriel activities. These items include embroidered tea towels, quilts, crocheted and knitted fashion scarves, baby afghans, pot holders, hats, etc. Paula and Chuck Barber agreed to display these items in their restaurant for sale to the public.
Brooks explained that the ultimate goal of crafting is to introduce young mothers to a faith community through inclusion.
During the blessing ceremony, Archbishop told those in attendance that throughout the history of the human race, God had always manifested his love and care for the needy.
“What you are accomplishing here is a mission of mercy,” Beltran said of the Project Gabriel, “One in which you bring your love of God to your brothers and sisters, especially to the young women who come here for services, services that help them in their body, their soul and in mind.”
The Shawnee Project Gabriel was established in 2002. It has helped more than 175 mothers in the Shawnee area since then, including 20 who were homeless. Despite its Catholic affiliation, Project Gabriel reaches to mothers from all walks of life and religious beliefs.
Currently, 20 volunteers help in different areas of the ministry. The scope of services they render to expectant mothers is all-encompassing.
Not only do they offer assistance in acquiring baby clothes, maternity wear, infant items such as cribs, diapers and formula, but they also offer referrals for medical and counseling help. They provide transportation for doctors visits, shopping or church. They also host baby showers for the mothers.
In addition, the volunteers help spiritually by committing to a Mass, a rosary or a daily prayer for each mother needing help.
Anyone interested in becoming a Project Gabriel volunteer may contact Brooks at 405-620-2571. Volunteers can help with a wide range of tasks such as distributing Project Gabriel and pro-life literature to high schools, colleges and youth groups, shopping at garage sales for used baby and maternity clothing and furniture, babysitting, providing transportation for the mothers in need, prayer support and many others. Volunteers from other denominations are welcome.
Brooks said her next goal is to reach out to the other churches in Shawnee and to network with other agencies to provide broader and more comprehensive assistance to those mothers who come to the center for help.
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The cold temperature and the steady snowfall were a stark contrast to the exhilaration and enthusiasm inside the new Project Gabriel Center in Shawnee.
The Shawnee center, known as the Gabriel House, located at 613 W. Benedict St., officially opened Feb. 11 after several months of renovation. The Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran, Archbishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma City, was on hand to bless the building and speak to the crowd.
Those who braved the frigid temperature and the snow were amazed to find what the center had to offer. Designed with the mothers in mind, the center offers a comfortable and homely environment with plenty of nursery supplies and maternal items.
Mary Brooks, coordinator of Project Gabriel in Shawnee, was visibly excited about the occasion and the newly remodeled building. Her enthusiasm was understandable because for the first time in eight years, she and her volunteers finally had a permanent place to work out of. The new center will serve as a welcoming location to build a trusting relationship with those mothers who come for guidance and assistance.
Project Gabriel is a pro-life outreach ministry of St. Benedict Catholic church. It is faith-based and is designed to help mothers of all ages who find themselves in a crisis because of an unplanned pregnancy.
The project pairs each expectant mother with a “Gabriel Angel,” who becomes a caring friend and mentor for the mother-to-be. The “Gabriel Angel” offers assistance in locating resources and provides spiritual and emotional support during and after pregnancy. All angels are trained by the archdiocese’s Office of Family Life to minister directly to the mothers.
Brooks said that until last year, the Shawnee ministry did not have a central location. It had been operating out of makeshift locations including her car, her house, parking lots or she would meet a mother-to-be in a restaurant. Because of lack of a central location, there was no storage space for donated baby items. She was grateful when local businessman Clayton Eads, owner of MacArthur Self Storage, offered her free use of three of the storage units.
Last July, Brooks received permission from the Rev. Don Wolf, pastor of St. Benedict Church, to use one of the rooms and the kitchen in the school building on a temporary basis.
With Fr. Wolf’s guidance and encouragement, the ministry has blossomed in new directions which included better quality care and expanded services to pregnant mothers in crisis.
When parishioners Chuck and Paula Barber, who own the local restaurant Benedict Street Marketplace, learned that Project Gabriel was in need of a permanent location, they wanted to help.
Realizing that the vacant building next to their restaurant was for sale, they purchased the building which was only a stone’s throw from the church. They agreed to let Project Gabriel use the building rent-free. They also contacted a friend of theirs, John Jennings, who is a local contractor, to remodel the building into the Gabriel House.
When Jennings learned of the mission of Project Gabriel and the services it provides to the would-be mothers, he offered to renovate the building for free. For the next few months, he spent his time transforming the vacant building into the beautiful Gabriel House, which, in addition to the office, also provides a living room, kitchen, dining area, laundry room, restroom, crafting area and storage. White’s Ace Building Center also helped by offering discounts in building materials.
Meanwhile, a grant from the Commission for Justice and Human Development of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City helped procure office equipment.
The Shawnee Junior Service League also provided a grant and some JSL members helped with re-upholstering chairs and putting up draperies and valances. Many parishioners as well as others from the community also donated furniture and miscellaneous items.
Brooks said that the materialization of the Gabriel House is the culmination of the collaborative and ecumenical effort of many individuals embracing the mission of Project Gabriel while putting their faith in God.
“God is the one who sent people and physical resources to us,” Brooks said. “As the ministry and the spirit grow, we get as much in return as the mothers we help.”
A team of eight parishioners have been hand-crafting items in an effort to raise funds for Project Gabriel activities. These items include embroidered tea towels, quilts, crocheted and knitted fashion scarves, baby afghans, pot holders, hats, etc. Paula and Chuck Barber agreed to display these items in their restaurant for sale to the public.
Brooks explained that the ultimate goal of crafting is to introduce young mothers to a faith community through inclusion.
During the blessing ceremony, Archbishop told those in attendance that throughout the history of the human race, God had always manifested his love and care for the needy.
“What you are accomplishing here is a mission of mercy,” Beltran said of the Project Gabriel, “One in which you bring your love of God to your brothers and sisters, especially to the young women who come here for services, services that help them in their body, their soul and in mind.”
The Shawnee Project Gabriel was established in 2002. It has helped more than 175 mothers in the Shawnee area since then, including 20 who were homeless. Despite its Catholic affiliation, Project Gabriel reaches to mothers from all walks of life and religious beliefs.
Currently, 20 volunteers help in different areas of the ministry. The scope of services they render to expectant mothers is all-encompassing.
Not only do they offer assistance in acquiring baby clothes, maternity wear, infant items such as cribs, diapers and formula, but they also offer referrals for medical and counseling help. They provide transportation for doctors visits, shopping or church. They also host baby showers for the mothers.
In addition, the volunteers help spiritually by committing to a Mass, a rosary or a daily prayer for each mother needing help.
Anyone interested in becoming a Project Gabriel volunteer may contact Brooks at 405-620-2571. Volunteers can help with a wide range of tasks such as distributing Project Gabriel and pro-life literature to high schools, colleges and youth groups, shopping at garage sales for used baby and maternity clothing and furniture, babysitting, providing transportation for the mothers in need, prayer support and many others. Volunteers from other denominations are welcome.
Brooks said her next goal is to reach out to the other churches in Shawnee and to network with other agencies to provide broader and more comprehensive assistance to those mothers who come to the center for help.
