The Gabriel Project is a pro-life, parish-based apostolate of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offering assistance to women in need of support and accompaniment during pregnancy and after the birth of their child. Gabriel Project volunteers act to provide practical advice and help as well as spiritual and emotional accompaniment and Christian witness to mothers in need.

1. Obtain Pastor Approval. Consulting with your Pastor is the first step when starting a Gabriel Project chapter in your parish. An important consideration to discuss is the place of the Gabriel Project in the parish budget. The Office of Pro-Life Activities is available to assist interested Pastors, volunteers and parish staff in evaluating the volunteer needs and time commitments for a Gabriel parish ministry.
2. Find Interested Volunteers. Depending on the size of the parish and the needs of the surrounding community, the number of volunteers will vary.  We recommend starting with a Parish Coordinator, a Donations Coordinator, and at least two Gabriel Angels.  Your parish may wish to add volunteers as the program grows.
3. Obtain Resources for Mothers. Material items for young infants will be needed before you begin assisting moms in need.  Inform your parish that a Gabriel Project is starting and consider hosting a Kick-Off Baby Shower to obtain a good supply of needed items prior to opening your doors to expectant mothers.  Ideas for hosting a parish Baby Shower can be found here.
4. Advertise. You may want to obtain a sign to be posted on the parish grounds to let the public know assistance for pregnant moms is available.  These signs can be ordered from one of our local companies (see Advertising Resources).  Additional advertising materials (brochures and social media images) are available through the Office of Pro-Life Activities.
5. Community Outreach. You may wish to appoint an Outreach Coordinator to act as liaison with other parish ministries and to advertise the ministry outside the parish community.  Possible outreach locations include community health centers, public libraries, and high school or college campuses.

• Be Catholics in good standing.
• Be members of the parish in which they will volunteer.
• Have a strong prayer life.
• Be familiar with and accepting of Church teaching on marriage, family, contraception, and Catholic Social Teaching.

The roles of the parish Gabriel Project Team are outlined below.

The Gabriel Coordinator

• Receive referrals from Gabriel phone line and online intake form;
• Match each referred mother to an Angel in a timely manner;
• Advise team members of meetings and trainings at the parish and Archdiocesan levels;
• Communicate with the Pastor and parish office;
• Work with Donation Coordinator to ensure adequate resources for mothers being assisted;
• Work with Outreach Coordinator to ensure Gabriel program is being advertised in community, on social media and in the parish.
• Connect and collaborate with other parish ministries;
• Communicate regularly with Angels concerning mothers they are assisting;
• Communicate with the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office in the event of concerns or special needs regarding a mother;
• Ensure all Gabriel Angels are current in Safe Environment training (formerly VIRTUS);
• Attend quarterly meetings for all Archdiocesan Gabriel Coordinators (other Gabriel team members are also welcome to attend these meetings).

The Gabriel Angels

• Respond to her assigned mother promptly (within 24 hours)
• Check up on her mother regularly via telephone, text and in-person meetings
• Keep the mother in daily prayer
• Assist the mother to access parish and community services
• Communicate with the parish Gabriel Coordinator about mothers being assisted, including any problems or concerns that may arise.
• Maintain the confidentiality of the mother(s) assigned to her

The Donation Coordinator

• Maintaining and keeping stock of baby items/donations.
• Organizing parish baby showers, diaper drives, etc. when baby items are needed;
• Working with the Gabriel Coordinator and the Outreach Coordinator to place donation requests in the parish bulletin, website and social media;
• Ensuring large items (car seats, cribs, baby swings, etc.) are in good condition and have not been subject to recall.

The Outreach Coordinator

• Connecting with the parish bulletin and website Coordinator to advertise the Gabriel Project to the parish;
• Assisting the Gabriel Project Coordinator to reach out to other parish ministries for collaboration and support; Reaching out to and developing relationships with organizations near the parish where women in need may seek assistance (e.g. community health centers, food pantries, libraries, high schools, and colleges). 

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

1. Gabriel Telephone line 713-225-5826. This line is staffed by volunteers who will take information about the mother and contact the Gabriel Coordinator of the parish nearest the mother’s home.    
2. Gabriel Online Intake form. Mothers fill out a brief online form, at https://archgh.swoogo.com/GPinfo, which is received by the Office of Pro-Life Activities.  The Office will determine the closest parish to the mother’s residence and provide the mother’s intake information to the parish Gabriel Coordinator.
3. Occasionally, a parish will receive a “walk-in” referral. A mother may come directly to the parish office seeking assistance or be referred from another parish ministry (e.g. a food pantry or social service ministry).  In this case, the coordinator should complete the Gabriel Project New Client Intake Form and advise the Office of Pro-Life Activities and the Archdiocesan Gabriel Coordinator (Cathy McConn) that they are assisting a particular mother so accurate numbers can be maintained. 

Referral to Gabriel Parish:

• Once this initial intake is completed, the parish Gabriel Coordinator will be provided with the mother’s contact and other relevant information.
• The Gabriel Coordinator should review the intake form and assign a Gabriel Angel for the new mother. Some Gabriel Coordinators may wish to schedule an initial meeting with a mother first or attend the first meeting between a mom and her assigned Angel.

Assignment and Follow-up

• It is up to the assigned Angel (or the parish Coordinator, in appropriate circumstances) to make the initial contact with the mother and arrange a first meeting.  
• Some mothers will ask for initial contact via text message or email. While it is fine to make initial contact in writing, we recommend using phone and in-person communications after the first contact to help further the relationship between the mother and her Angel.  
• There are various ways to contact an assigned mother. A team member may use a parish phone line or her personal cell phone.  In the event a personal phone is used, we recommend sharing your first name only.  You may also keep your calls anonymous by first dialing “*67” and then the mother’s number.  Your call will appear as a “Blocked” or “Anonymous” number.  
• Because some mothers may not wish to answer anonymous calls, another option for Angels is the is the Google Voice phone app. Google Voice is a free app downloadable on iOS and Android devices.  The app assigns an alternate phone number to the user; when using the app, this alternative number appears, rather than your personal cell number.  Outside callers can reach your phone by dialing this number.  Find more information about the Google Voice app at https://voice.google.com.  
• All matters relating to your mother should be kept confidential. Her name, identifying information and details of her circumstances should not be disclosed to individuals outside your parish Gabriel Project team.  On rare occasions, the Gabriel Program Coordinator and/or the Office of Pro-Life Activities may become involved.  The only exceptions to confidentiality will involve reporting suspected abuse (See FAQs). 

The Importance of Prayer

• The Gabriel Project is founded on the importance of prayer. If your mom is comfortable, it is a great idea to begin and end your meetings with her in prayer.  If space/time permits, you might consider taking her to the Church or chapel at your parish.
• Some women are not comfortable with prayer and would prefer not to pray with their Gabriel Angel. If this is the case, you may ask her if there is something she would like you to pray for privately.  It is important that her Gabriel Angel and the entire Gabriel team continue to keep her in daily prayer. 
• In addition to praying with and for our moms, we recommend that our team members maintain an active prayer life so as to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as they work with their mothers.

• As in any ministry, establishing appropriate boundaries between your team and those we serve is essential.  The Office of Pro-Life Activities recommends Gabriel Project volunteers adhere to the following guidelines in order to maintain their safety and that of other parishioners and staff.
• Arrange meetings with your mother at the parish during hours when other parish staff are present. We ask that volunteers avoid making trips to the mother’s residence or other locations determined by the mother and unknown to the volunteer.
• It is acceptable and recommended to attend doctor’s appointments or social services appointments with your mother. We recommend that you meet your mother at the appointment location and avoid driving her in your own car.
• Take precautions when contacting a mother via your personal cell phone. If you are not using “*67” or an app such as Google Voice, consider identifying yourself using your first name and “Gabriel Project” only.
• Avoid providing a significant amount of personal information in the course of your conversations, such as your home address or your children’s names or school information.
• Remember that the Gabriel Project is not an emergency service. At times, you may be unable to return a call or email from your mother for a 24-hour period, or even longer. Mom should be advised to call emergency services in the case of a life-threatening emergency.

• Knights of Columbus/Knights of Peter Claver. If your parish has a Knights chapter, this can be an excellent resource for assistance in fundraising, set-up and take down at Gabriel events or help with transporting baby items donated between one parish and another.
• Parish Social Ministry/St. Vincent de Paul chapter. Many times, the mothers we work with need more (or different types of) assistance than the Gabriel Project can provide. Depending on a mother’s need, you may consider contacting your Parish Social Ministry or St. Vincent de Paul chapter.
• Women’s/Men’s/Seniors’ groups. The Gabriel Project is grounded in the importance of prayer. You may consider asking members of these parish groups to pray for a Gabriel mother. If you choose this option, make sure not to provide a name or identifying information of the mother you are helping, in order to maintain confidentiality.
• Youth/Catechetical groups. Confirmation Programs or other youth teams can get involved in fundraising and helping to host a Gabriel Project baby shower or other events. Ask them to assist with promotional materials and in prayer.

New Life Adoptions, Tomball, TX
Christian organization offering information and assistance in working with mothers and families to facilitate open or closed adoptions. 

Many counseling services are available throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. We strive to provide the most up-to-date provider information possible. Because provider office locations may change frequently, and because new providers are regularly coming online, please contact the Office of Pro-Life Activities directly to receive the most current information on mental health providers in your area. Contact us at 713-741-8728 or email [email protected]. 

Houston Diaper Bank Houston, TX

Houston Diaper Foundation Houston, TX

Fort Bend County Women's Center

Houston Area Women's Center
Domestic Violence Hotline 713.528.2121

Montgomery County Women's Center

Bay Area Turning Point

Family Time Foundation

Galveston Resource and Crisis Center

Women's Center of Brazoria County
Crisis Line 1-800-451-9235

The Crisis Center

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters

High School Equivalency Exams

• G.E.D. prep courses
• Houston Community College

English as Second Language (ESL and Adult Basic Education (ABE) Classes

• Literacy Advance
• Houston Community College
  
• Harris County Department of Education

Christus Foundation Houston, TX
Learning Center offers adult ESL, ABE, and GED classes. 

Goodwill Industries Houston, TX
Job training, certification programs, and placement assistance

Workforce Solutions 
Assists individuals with job search, training, and practical skills (e.g. writing resumes, job interviews)

West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) Houston, TX
Assists individuals in resume building, job coaching, and job searching.

St. Vincent de Paul Society
Offers food, clothing, and limited monetary assistance. To locate a St. Vincent de Paul Conference at a parish nearest you, please call the Office of Pro-Life Activities at 713-440-3443.

St. Vincent de Paul Resale Shops
Offers clothes and household items at reduced prices

L.I.F.E. Houston Houston, TX
Provides emergency infant formula and support services. 

West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) Houston, TX
Offers food assistance by drive-thru and walkup distribution and provides financial assistance. They also have a resale shop open to the public.

Medicaid
Pregnant women and their children in Texas are eligible for Medicaid health care services if they fall below a certain income limit

CHIP
Low cost or free health coverage for children without insurance

San Jose Clinic Houston, TX
Provides a variety of services for individuals living below the poverty line, including pediatrics, immunizations, dental care, special care and diagnostic imaging services

Harris Health System
Harris Health offers a variety of healthcare services including prenatal care.  While care is not free, financial assistance is available for those who qualify. 

Christus Foundation
Provides healthcare services to uninsured and underserved individuals.

Magnificat Houses * Houston, TX
Emergency overnight shelter for women, community women's residence

The Bridge over Troubled Waters
Emergency shelter and transitional housing for women and children victims of domestic violence

Santa Maria Hostel * Houston, TX
Residential program for women in need of substance abuse treatment, they accept pregnant or postpartum mothers

Casa Juan Diego * Houston, TX
Serves immigrants and refugees, shelter for women and children

Angela House * Houston, TX
Transitional housing for women released from incarceration

Wellsprings Village * Houston, TX
Transitional residence for homeless and/or abused women ages 25-50 who are capable of full-time employment

Covenant House
Housing for pregnant women ages 18-24 and their children (up to 5 yrs old)

Star of Hope Houston, TX
Transitional living for pregnant women or women with children. Assists with substance abuse treatment, education and living skills

Life House Houston, TX
Residential facility for pregnant teens and young women

Gracewood Houston, TX
Residential and counseling program for single mothers and their children

Northwest Assistance Ministries, Houston, TX
Permanent Supportive Housing programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. They also have a rent and mortgage assistance program. 

*Catholic Group

Legal Advocacy Project
Assistance with domestic violence or family law issues for Harris County residents

Harris County DA's Office-Family Criminal Law Division
Assists with filing Protective Orders for victims of domestic violence and crisis intervention counseling for domestic violence victims

Houston Volunteer Lawyers
Assists eligible, low income Harris County residents with family law issues

Catholic Charities Immigrant Legal Assistance
Assists with immigration legal services with citizenship application assistance and also helps government-approved refugees become self-sufficient through essential skills

YMCA International Services
Assists immigrant women interested in applying for residency and human trafficking victims

Gabriel Project volunteers may come into contact with minors they suspect are being physically, sexually or otherwise abused or with persons of any age who may be victims of human trafficking.  Determining when it is necessary to report suspected abuse can be difficult.  Other members of your Gabriel team, your pastor and/or the Office of Pro-Life Activities can be good resources in evaluating when a report should be made.  Generally, it is better to err on the side of reporting suspected abuse to the authorities.  If you suspect the victim is in immediate danger, do not attempt to engage the potential abuser.  Instead, contact 911. 

Reporting Suspected Physical and Sexual Abuse of a Minor

In cases where physical abuse of a minor (the mother or her children) is suspected, reports can be made via telephone or online.  To submit a report online, you will need to create an account with the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services

Under Texas law, if you receive a report that a minor has been sexually abused (even if the victim is no longer a minor when you receive the report), you are legally obligated to report the abuse allegation to the authorities.  If you do not receive a verbal report but have suspicions, you may file a report.   

Texas Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400 

Reporting Human Trafficking

Human trafficking can take many forms, most often sex or labor trafficking.  In 2021, Gabriel teams worked with several victims of suspected labor trafficking.  Recent immigrants are often trafficking targets as are teenagers, who often meet their traffickers online. 

The Houston Police Department has a Human Trafficking Task Force that will immediately investigate reports of trafficking and make efforts to remove the victim from the situation.  If your parish is not covered by HPD, we recommend contacting your local law enforcement agency to obtain information about reporting suspected human trafficking in your area. Other resources include:

Houston Police Department Vice Division 713-308-8600 or 911

National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7811

Catholic Charities

Provides assistance in areas including food, shelter, health, and workforce development.

Harris County Community Service Department
Monetary assistance for rent and utilities

Northwest Houston Assistance Ministries (NAM)
Provides assistance in areas including food, shelter, health, education, safety and financial education.

West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM)
Provides financial assistance, food assistance, employment and education services. 

WIC Benefits (Women, Infant and Children)

Provides nutrition education, access to foods and breastfeeding support and (at some locations) vouchers for fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Provides food subsidies for eligible individuals

St. Vincent de Paul Society
The St. Vincent de Paul Society offers a variety of resources including food, clothing and limited monetary assistance.

Call the Office of Pro-Life Activities 713-440-3443 to locate a parish near you with a St. Vincent de Paul chapter. 

The Council on Recovery
713-942-4100
The Houston-based Council on Recovery offers outpatient treatment and counseling for individuals (including minors) needing assistance with drug or alcohol addiction.  The Council can assist uninsured individuals with treatment costs through its state funding programs.

The Right Step
844-487-8694
The Right Step offers inpatient treatment and follow-up care for individuals needing drug rehab and detox services.  The Right Step accepts payment through Medicaid. 

Alcoholics Anonymous
713-686-6300
Alcoholics Anonymous is a 12-step program offering support through group meetings and individual sponsorship. Support groups throughout the Houston area can be found on their website. 

Narcotics Anonymous
713-661-4200, 888-600-6229 (en español)
Houston Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous offers support and group meetings for individuals seeking to recover from drug abuse and addiction.  Support groups in and around Houston can be found through the website. 

Al-Anon/Alateen Programs
713-683-7227
Al-Anon and Alateen offer group support for individuals affected by alcohol abuse of a friend or family member.  Alateen is specifically for affected teenagers.  Find your nearest group on the Houston Al-Anon website. 

Nar-Anon Family Groups
Nar-Anon offers support for those affected by a friend or family member’s drug abuse.  Local meetings in the Houston area and group leader contact information can be found on their website.

Harris Center/Mobile Crisis Outreach Team

• 713-970-7000 (press #1 for the Crisis line)

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

• 1-800-273-TALK

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a nationwide (within the United States) suicide prevention network providing 24/7 service which is accessed by dialing 9-8-8.  It is available to individuals contemplating suicide or in emotional distress. 
  
  
  

A mother may come to the parish for assistance without first calling the Gabriel Intake Line or completing the Online Form.  She may also be referred from your parish Social Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul conference or other parish organization.  Speak with other parish ministries about preferred procedures for Gabriel Project, including information about the services Gabriel Project does (and does not) provide.

If a mother comes to you without calling first, especially where you determine that she lives nearby, it is important to complete a New Client Intake Form with her.  If it appears you are not the closest parish, refer her to the Gabriel telephone line or online intake for assistance, so she does not have to travel farther than necessary to obtain help.

After your Gabriel Team completes the Intake Form, forward this form to the Pro-Life Office or to Cathy McConn, the Archdiocesan Gabriel Project Coordinator.  This serves two purposes: first, it allows us to accurately track the number of mothers served in a given year and to estimate the future financial and other resource needs at a diocesan level.  Second, we have rarely had mothers who sought assistance from multiple parishes concurrently.  Keeping track of mothers served by each parish team helps us avoid this duplication and be better stewards of our donated resources. 

We recommend that baby items not be provided to a mother until later in her pregnancy (around 7-8 months), because a parish may receive another mother who reaches out later in her pregnancy and needs available items sooner. 

Nonetheless, there are many other services that we can and should offer to a mom early in her pregnancy.  For example, she may need referrals for housing, legal services, food and clothing and/or immigration assistance.  The Gabriel Project is also able to provide emotional and spiritual support during this time and many mothers develop positive relationships with their Angels from this type of support. 

If a mom comes to the Gabriel Project with a young infant, our teams will be able to assist her.  Moms who come to us with infants 3 months or younger are good candidates for Gabriel Project help.  These moms can be supported in a similar way to our pregnant moms (e.g., emotional support, material help, parenting questions, referrals to social service agencies). 

If a mom has an older infant when she contacts us, it is appropriate to refer her to another ministry, such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society or Catholic Charities’ Blessed Beginnings.  Your parish may also have a Walking with Moms in Need team that is assisting families of infants and toddlers. 

On rare occasions, you may be contacted by a mother who is considering abortion or even has an abortion scheduled.  Sometimes, the Gabriel Project will be contacted in error because the mother thought we provided these procedures.  While abortion access is now limited in Texas, surrounding states still offer the procedure. 

In such situations, it is important to remain calm and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your conversation with this mother. Above all, it is important to listen to her.  Often, she is considering abortion because she feels she has no other options and is very anxious.  Ask her about the life circumstances she feels make it impossible for her carry her child to term.  Try to offer her options about how she might overcome those circumstances and information about help available.  Generally, it is best to focus on her and her concerns about the obstacles she faces rather than on the baby in these discussions.  Ask open-ended questions (rather than questions requiring a “yes/no” answer) about how she is feeling. 

Many women in this situation feel tremendous pressure to deal with the situation quickly and “get it over with.”  It is important that a mother take time to consider this decision carefully.  If she has not seen a doctor or obtained an ultrasound, suggest that she visit a pro-life pregnancy help center to obtain more information about her pregnancy and what she can expect.  Always feel free to contact the Office of Pro-Life Activities with any questions about this topic. The Houston metro area is blessed to have a number of Pregnancy Help Centers, many of which have ultrasound equipment.  Get to know the PHCs in your area in the event a mom needs this service. 

Sometimes, you may be contacted by a woman whose family or significant other is pressuring her to abort her child.  This is common where the mother herself is a minor but also occurs in other circumstances.  It is illegal for anyone to “force” or “require” anyone to have an abortion against their will.  However, women often feel coerced to abort and many family members may mistakenly believe abortion is the best option for the mother. 

There are various ways to handle this situation.  Depending on circumstances, it may be appropriate to work with the mother and her family to come to a reconciliation of this situation. Your pastor or other clergy at the parish can be helpful in this regard.  Because of the sensitive nature of this situation and the large number of scenarios that may arise, please contact the Office of Pro-Life Activities with any questions or concerns. 

Occasionally, a mother working with the Gabriel Project will come to the parish advising that she has nowhere to stay for the night due to domestic violence, lack of funds or other issues.  While this is a rare occurrence, it is very difficult to secure safe, overnight accommodations at local domestic violence or other shelters on short notice. 

We recommend that the Gabriel Project team discuss this potential scenario with the Pastor and other parish teams including Social Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society or similar groups.  The parish may have resources to deal with this situation or your pastor may have a particular way he wishes this situation to be handled.  It is a good idea to be prepared with potential solutions before – and in the unlikely event – this situation occurs.

This is a frequent concern of Gabriel Angels and Coordinators. Our volunteers develop positive relationships with many of the women we work with.  In many cases, mothers remain in contact with the Gabriel Project for years after the birth of their children.  However, many other women are not seeking this type of mentorship and spiritual care.

 Some of our mothers have experienced significant trauma and have difficulty trusting that Gabriel volunteers are sincere in wanting to help.  That is okay.  You are still able to offer your support, even if she is not ready to accept it fully.  Provide the help your mom is willing to accept, continue to offer friendship and support, and keep her and her family in prayer. 

It is a good idea, when first meeting with a mom, to outline the nature of the Gabriel Project to her.  Sometimes women have heard only that the Gabriel Project provides material items and are unaware of the other services we provide.  It is good to have these conversations and establish expectations for the relationship from the outset.

While rare, a mother you work with may be interested in exploring an adoption plan for her child.  If a mother would like to consider adoption or you have other questions, we recommend contacting New Life Adoptions, located in Tomball, TX. 

Adoption is a legal proceeding that is best handled through a licensed agency, so Gabriel volunteers should avoid offering advice about specifics of adoption processes.  If mom is interested in adoption, suggest she ask those questions of a qualified adoption agency.

In most cases, you should do everything possible to maintain the confidentiality of the mother you are working with.  An exception arises if you suspect a mother or someone in a minor’s life of abusing or otherwise neglecting that minor.   A person having cause to believe that a minor’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall immediately make a report.  (Texas Family Code §261.101). The same requirement exists if the mother is herself a minor and there is suspicion of her being abused, neglected, or trafficked by other individuals (see Manual on Reporting Abuse, Neglect or Human Trafficking for more specific information).  Reports should also be made if a mother is not a minor but is suspected of being a trafficking victim.  

If abuse is suspected, immediately contact the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services to make a report at 1-800-252-5400, www.txabusehotline.org.  If human trafficking is suspected, contact your local police department. Please advise your Pastor as well as the Office of Pro-Life Activities when such reports are made.  If you suspect a minor or potential trafficking victim is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement.  Don’t confront the (potential) abuser.  Your report of child abuse or neglect is confidential and immune from civil or criminal liability so long as the report is made in good faith.