ARCHBISHOP Mark Coleridge has described a new home established on Brisbane’s southside to protect women under pressure to abort their children as “right at the heart of what we are and do as Church”.
Set up by Pregnancy Crisis Incorporated (PCI), the house will accommodate up to six women.
PCI president Patti Camp said a public awareness campaign to notify hospitals, doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies of the service was underway in the Caboolture and Burpengary areas with Redcliffe and Brisbane soon to follow.
The singing by the house supervisors, a New Zealand couple, of Mo Maria, the first Maori hymn to Our Lady, was among the highlights of the opening.
Archbishop Coleridge, blessing and opening the home on October 11, said “I didn’t expect anything as big or as splendid as this”.
Later, in a house packed with people, he paid tribute to the house’s founders.
“I can only thank God for extraordinary sacrifices made to enable this to happen,” he said.
“I believe the Spirit took root in the heart of extraordinary people like Alan and Patti Camp.”
Archbishop Coleridge said it was “a wonderful coincidence” that the opening should take place on the Feast of the Maternity of Mary and of Blessed Pope John XXIII.
“Together they form a very potent combination,” he said.
“There is something very right about these feast days occurring on the opening day of a home for troubled and needy mothers.”
The Archbishop said it was “splendid” that the home had been placed under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“It is a reminder that through her influence the Church brought an end to human sacrifice in Mexico,” he said.
“We ask the Mother of Christ to make this place her own and give into your loving care all who dwell here.
“We also pray for an end to abortion’s tide of death in Australia.”
PCI has gone from strength to strength since Archbishop John Bathersby officially launched it in November 2008.
The charity provides 24-hours-a-day service, seven days a week, 365 days a year to support women needing help.
St Peter’s Parish, Rochedale, donated the house which was relocated to land on Brisbane’s southside in 2010.
Mrs Camp, speaking after the opening, said the home already had a prospective first mother seeking help who had come through a pregnancy counselling service.
She said the group had already helped many mothers experiencing “vulnerable pregnancies”.
“The help has occurred on various levels with a large number of women given the opportunity to proceed with their pregnancies without fear of abuse,” Mrs Camp said.
“The new house is a very practical response to vulnerable pregnant women.”
For details of services offered by PCI contact Patti Camp via email at pcrisis@bigpond.com
Donations can be sent to PCI c/- PO Box 1707, Springwood 4127.
