A parish in Florida found one wonderful answer, and Florida Catholic recently paid a visit:

How appropriate that what was once the home of the Sisters of Mercy should become the temporary home and refuge of pregnant women.

“There were a few times that women came to the office and asked if I could do something for them,” explained Father Thomas Connery, pastor of St. Peter Parish here. “We’re pro-life. We say we’re pro-life, but I wanted to do something more than a bumper sticker on my car. It’s nice to have young mothers and babies. It adds a different element to the parish. We helped them. One life …” his voice broke.

Visitation House, named for the scriptural account in Luke of a pregnant Mary’s visit to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, is the former convent of the Sisters of Mercy. The sisters came from Wexford, Ireland, in 1962 to staff the school at St. Peter Parish. When the last of the sisters left in 1990, the house became a preschool until 2005 when a new parish school was built. Used intermittently for meetings, the building was renovated and opened as a home for pregnant women in December 2007.

“I called so many places looking for shelter and I prayed to God,” said Ibenik, who requested only her first name be used to protect her privacy. “I was dropped off in a church parking lot, not knowing that there was Visitation House. Without it, I don’t know where I’d be today.”

Donna Paulin, housemother and case manager, explained, “Many of the women come with just the clothes on their backs, without family support or life skills. What you and I take for granted – such as how to do laundry or cooking – they don’t know.”

Residents are taught Life Skills – a mandatory 12-week curriculum. They are required to attend a church – not necessarily St. Peter. Participants are also required to enroll in an education program or work on their high school equivalency diploma.

“With the right guidance and support, their chances to succeed can break the cycle,” Paulin continued. “A lot of times, it’s just poor judgment because they haven’t been taught.”

You can read more about how the house operates at the link.

PHOTO: Visitation House residents and friends enjoy a recent Sunday dinner together. Around the table from left to right are Rita Connery, who is Father Tom Connery’s mother visiting from New Jersey, Sheri, house mother Donna Paulin, Shannon Hobert, Charles, Sheila and Father Connery, whose mother prepared the meal and brought it to the house. Photo by Jennifer Surgent/Florida Catholic.