History of Guiding Star Ministries
by Betty Maier
With the start of the Abortion Holocaust in America, there arose the need to provide alternatives to women who chose to give the gift of life to their children rather than killing them by abortion. Pro-life groups began to establish residences referred to as "Crisis Pregnancy Homes".
In the Philadelphia area, the earliest of these homes includes the Blessed Margaret of Castello Home in Bensalem and Our Lady's House in Glenside. These homes offered care and shelter to the expectant mothers, and with the birth of the baby, the staff would secure other living arrangements and support for the new family.
The co-founder and the administrator of the Blessed Margaret Home conceived the idea of establishing a home in a facility capable of accommodating not only the mothers and babies, but also their small toddlers, if need be. The plan was to establish a long-term program that would provide living arrangements to the women, their newborn babies along with their other children for up to 18 months. This program would be called Guiding Star Ministries.
The search for a proper facility led to St. Benedict's parish in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. The pastor, Father George Moore, graciously offered the use of the then vacant rectory. On August 31, 1992, Guiding Star Ministries officially opened its doors. On October 8th the first resident arrived, and on January 22, 1993, the fist baby was born.
Present Day
Guiding Star Ministries is now an outreach program of the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia, providing shelter and assistance to pregnant women and their children. The staff and residents of GSM strive to work together to create a beautiful home and a welcoming community. We foster an atmosphere in which each person is genuinely loved and supported in order that they may thrive both in our home and beyond. To accomplish this, we offer practical and material assistance as well as spiritual and emotional support to empower mothers and their children, enabling them to cultivate meaningful relationships, develop life-skills and achieve their goals.
The home is run day-to-day by Yvonne Branch, Program Director and Diamonique Morgan, Assistant Director / Social Worker, who work for Catholic Social Services. Maria Dutsar, Home Facilitator, helps with many of the practical aspects of the home, including volunteer management. Brenda Greene is a part time Pregnancy and Parenting Consultant working for Catholic Social Services to assist with pre and post childbirth issues that the moms may have and also teach pre-natal classes. Catholic Social Services partners with Guiding Star Ministries through the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia.
Some of the duties of Yvonne and Diamonique include pregnancy and parenting support services which include: prenatal / parenting education classes, preparing life skills programs, finding available housing for the women, case management, community outreach and preparing reports. The life skills classes are facilitated by the staff, outside agency staff or volunteers. The programs offered prepare these women to be able to live in the community on their own once they are released from Guiding Star Ministries. Use this link to their website to see the many programs offered at this home.
According to Yvonne there are presently six moms and seven children living at Guiding Star Ministries. Of the six moms, two are pregnant.
The women in the program are able to live at the home for a year upon admission, and they are expected to find employment or continue their education to stay in the program.
Catholic Social Services and Guiding Star Ministries also have an outreach program to the community where they provide diapers, car seat and pack and play applications, layette sets to families in need from the neighborhood and a community baby shower twice per year.
One of Daimonique and Yvonne's goals is to provide a Father's Program and parenting classes to those from the neighborhood. A long term goal is to put together a choir among the residents.
Yvonne also said they are always looking for volunteers to help out babysitting so the mothers can participate in the programs offered. She also said she would like to see some of the alumni come back to offer their help as well as to show these moms what they have accomplished since leaving Guiding Star.
To volunteer to help out at Guiding Star Ministries or to make a donation of material goods (maternity clothes, baby clothes, wipes, diapers, etc.) contact Yvonne Branch at ybranch@CHS-ADPHILA.ORG To contribute financially online use this GSM donations link or by a check made payable to Guiding Star Ministries and mailed to 88 Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland, PA 19075.
Have a great idea or some other way to help? Contact Tom Stevens, President & CEO, at tstevens@prolifeunion.org.
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