Charity begins at home. But as Christians, we are called to reach beyond our individual households and neighborhoods, and to live in spiritual solidarity with our brothers and sisters in our larger community and throughout the world. And as Catholics, we are given unique opportunities to make these broader connections through Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official global outreach ministry of the U.S. Catholic Church.

We encourage you to check this page and the parish bulletin regularly for these opportunities to be the compassionate face of Christ to the world.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions: 

Charlie and Dianne Gardner
Global Solidarity Ambassadors for Nativity Parish
gardner1947@gmail.com
317-407-9130

CRS Program to Reduce Maternal and Newborn Deaths in India  
In Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, high maternal and infant death rates persist. CRS is utilizing a mobile phone app to provide women with prenatal and postnatal care. A healthy start, from the womb, is what we help mothers give their children: sound height and weight, strong immune systems, robust brain development and emotional maturity. Given low literacy rates in the state, the app’s audio and visual tools support both community health workers and expectant mothers. 
Women are learning more about pregnancy and delivery, receiving more prenatal visits, taking more recommended nutritional supplements and undergoing more appropriate medical tests. These findings are a remarkable testament to the ability of mobile technology to improve health outcomes in these locations. Lifting people out of poverty begins with the first 1,000 days of life. Nutrition and health care have effects that last a lifetime. 
LEARN MORE about the project at: https://bit.ly/36OI2qX.
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PRAY 
Compassionate God,
Protect your little children, the unborn and the born,
especially those who live in impoverished or dangerous areas in the world.
May they receive the care they need in the earliest stages of their life,
to be healthy at birth, and to become thriving children.
 
Protect every expectant mother,
who carries the unborn child you knit together in her womb.
Lead her from fear and uncertainty to complete trust in your merciful care,
through those you have prepared to assist her during pregnancy and delivery, and postpartum.
 
We pray for all babies and children that they may be given the opportunity to grow in a healthy, safe and loving environment.
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TAKE ACTION by asking your U.S. Representative to sponsor the Global Child Thrive Act. Just follow this link:
https://support.crs.org/act/lead-the-way-ECD?ms=MAMcrs0220ltw00btn00&_ga=2.54403304.1588539408.1578925699-2015127202.1578925699