Nov. 16, 2016

Ogdensburg - Gabriel Project, a parish-based, crisis-pregnancy apostolate will soon be offered as a collaborative effort between Notre Dame and St. Mary’s Cathedral parishes.

Families who need spiritual and material assistance during pregnancy will be able to get the help they seek.
Linda Trill, who spear-headed the effort to begin the St. Mary’s in Canton Gabriel Project, and Freda Michaud, St Mary’s Canton’s Coordinator, will speak at the Ogdensburg Masses during the weekend of Dec. 3-4. They will explain what the Gabriel Project is and how parishioners can help.

A training session for new “Gabriel Angels” will be offered on Jan. 14 for all those who wish to volunteer or want more information.

The parishes will hold a ‘Baby Shower” collection in January, so those who wish, can donate new or gently used baby items or make monetary offerings to help stock the shelves at the Gabriel Project room which will be housed on the second floor of the former Bishop Conroy Building. The Ogdensburg St. Vincent de Paul donated the shelving units.

“The Ogdensburg Gabriel Project was a natural progression due to the fact that three of the ‘ Angels' who now help out in Canton, are from Ogdensburg”, said Ms. Trill said. The temporary coordinator of the Ogdensburg location will be Dorinda Mallette

The late Father Jerry Bleaux, who introduced Gabriel Project to the diocese, said that Gabriel Project is a wonderful way for pro-lifers to “put their money where their mouth is.”

Each of the ten current Gabriel Projects in the diocese functions as a parish entity. Parishioners support this outreach, often holding fundraisers and community-building projects. When a mother is in need of a material item, it is posted in the parish bulletin. Some hold Mother’s Day gatherings and Christmas parties for all those served through the program.

Ogdensburg joins Gabriel Project locations Potsdam, Gouverneur, Plattsburgh, Massena, Dannemora, Keeseville, Schroon Lake, Ellenburg, Brasher Falls and Canton.

Further  information about Ogdensburg’s Gabriel Project, is available from Ms Michaud at  315-347-2364 or Ms. Mallette at 315-261-1086.