St. Rita Parish, Clarklake, has a sign on its bulletin board: Jesus, we will answer your call to serve.” The parish answers that call in many ways – one is through its Baby Love program.
Louanne Alber, director of religious education for the parish, and her daughter Emiie Rosa started the program 10 years ago. Alber said that when Emilie was in the 11th grade she went to the youth groups in all the neighboring churches. Pastor Ken Cherry of The Heart of the Lake United Brethren Church gave Emilie $100 and told her to do something good with it.
With that initial donation, the Baby Love program was started. Last year, the parish helped 43 babies.
Alber says, “We call it our ‘Help to Live’ program. If we are pro-life, we must help the babies that come into the world.’”
Parishioner Judy Backiel, made and donated a beautiful life size doll, dressed in a baptismal gown. The raffle generated enough money to buy baby clothes, diapers and two dressers. Parishioners make quilts, crochet blankets and make teddy bears to be given away. The 7th-graders help sort and make delivers.
By Jan Hoffbauer
News