Ash Wednesday blessing at pro-life office, Holy Innocents Church

The Expectant Mothers Outreach Office at Holy Innocents Church in Long Beach received an official inaugural blessing by pastor G. Peter Irving III on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. The pro-life office, which has been operating since October 2014, is staffed by Holy Innocents parish volunteers five days a week.

According to Cecilia Chavez, who has led the apostolate since 2008, the office serves mothers in crisis pregnancies, many of whom have gone to a local abortion center “seeking an abortion and [instead] chose life.” Services provided include assisting mothers-to-be with finding housing and helping them with groceries, diapers, baby formula, utility bills, infant clothing, baby furniture and other needs.

In addition, office volunteers provide information about medical resources and adoption attorneys, and, as needed, direct them to outside resources, such as the local chapters of Catholic Charities and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

“Most importantly, we provide emotional support, so that the mother doesn’t feel alone, because that is the biggest fear she has,” said Chavez. For more information about the Expectant Mothers Outreach Office at Holy Innocents Church, please contact Cecilia Chavez at (562) 209-6987 or

[email protected].

Holy Innocents has a very active pro-life apostolate, with nearly 900 babies saved since 2008. In addition, parish youth launched their own pro-life ministry called “Life Boats” last fall, and in October of last year the church started hosting a “Holy Hour for Life,” which is held on the first Saturday of each month at 7 p.m.