Infertility is a journey that challenges not only the physical and emotional well-being of couples but also tests their faith and resilience. For Catholic mothers navigating the difficult path of infertility, the journey is intertwined with profound spiritual considerations. In this blog post, we’ll explore the unique perspective of a Catholic mom facing infertility, highlighting the importance of faith, hope, and the unwavering support of the Church community.
Dear Friends,
I wanted to express my profound gratitude for the incredible support we’ve received from our community, especially during the challenging moments in Philip’s journey. While various organizations touched our lives briefly, one ministry stood by us through every twist and turn: Lily of the Valley Catholic Ministry.
From the moment of Philip’s diagnosis to his birth, hospital stay, and eventually his passing, Lily of the Valley provided unwavering support. They walked with us through grief and continue to be a source of strength as we navigate the delicate path of pregnancy after loss.
The holiday season, a time typically filled with joy and celebration, can become a poignant reminder of the grief that accompanies the loss of a pregnancy or infant. For Catholic couples, the deep spiritual significance of these holidays can add an additional layer of complexity to the grieving process. LOTV has created 5 steps for navigating grief and guarding your heart. In this post, we’ll explore the journey of grief during the holidays and discuss ways for Catholic couples to guard their hearts while finding solace, healing, and a renewed sense of hope.
My name is Ruth Harris.
My passion for helping others has been a lifelong calling from God. I grew up in an ordinary family, with four kids, a dad who faithfully went to work every day taking the subway into town, and a stay at home mother who made everything from scratch. When I was still in college, I experienced the disruption that major illness can bring into the family through my mother’s battle with breast cancer. We were surprised, unprepared, and devastated, by her cancer.
Introducing Bloom! Bloom will be our Christ-Centered Wellness corner of Lily of the Valley Catholic Ministry. Many women and their families walking through difficult early life circumstances may struggle with self-care, health and wellness, and prayer. We had a vision and the Holy Spirit led us to Ruth. Let’s meet Ruth!
In Mass this morning, we remembered the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the times in Mary’s life where she acutely suffered as the mother of our savior. There is great consolation in meditating on these points as they can bring us closer to Jesus, through uniting our own suffering with that of His mother.
If you are looking to be more involved in Lily of the Valley and helping to bring awareness of this ministry to your parish, please let us know. We are seeking “Parish Liaisons” to increase awareness to priests and parishioners so that they know we are here and can support families walking through difficult early life circumstances.
We sat down to talk with Michalene Sutton from Through The Grapevine, which is a weekly podcast produced by a group out of Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham, NC. We really enjoyed having this opportunity to tell our story and share our thoughts on Mother’s Day.
Two years ago, I didn’t know who St. Gianna was. I was pregnant with my third son who was given a life-limiting diagnosis at 12 weeks. He passed away when I was 34 weeks pregnant. It was one of the most sacred and heavenly experiences that I believe I will ever feel in this lifetime. Even though this time was associated with intense sorrow, pain, and suffering, both physically and emotionally, it was also full of heavenly joy and triumphant love.