"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much.  I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion."  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's Daily Prayer to Spiritually Adopt an Unborn Child

What is the Spiritual Adoption Program?

It is very simple.  Participants in the Spiritual Adoption Program pledge to pray each day for nine (9) months for an unborn child.  While this child will remain unknown to his or her 'spiritual parent', God knows who the child is.  Many people have found naming 'their child' helps to keep them focused on the reality their prayers are helping to save a particular baby from the harm of abortion.  This can be done in your Parish, CCD, youth group or school, with age appropriate materials.

The Purpose of the Spiritual Adoption of the Unborn Child is threefold:

  1. Encourage prayer for those contemplating abortion, that they will respond to God's grace and welcome their child into life.
  2. Educate adults and children about the development of the pre-born child.
  3. Provide single mothers in need with donated gifts.  A baby shower is held at the end of the program and gifts are given to Good Council Homes or Birthright.

How to Begin the Spiritual Adoption Prayer in your parish:

Prior to Beginning See Unborn Baby Blanket Directions

  1. The program is simple.  Begin putting info in the bulletin about the program to let the parish know what to expect and when to expect it.  Example: Begin in February, the 37 week program will end in October.
  2. On the Sunday beginning the program make a short announcement (3-5 minutes) at the end of all Masses and have enough Prayer Cards to hand out to parishioners who wish to pray for the unborn.  Set up a table and have volunteers with the prayer cards at every entrance.
  3. Provide weekly or monthly updates on the development of the unborn child so those who are praying can follow the progress.  Provide the updates in the bulletin, Facebook, CCD or classrooms.  Remind parishioners to continue to pray for the unborn child.
  4. Plan a 'baby shower' to celebrate the "birth" of their spiritually adopted baby and ask parishioners/students to bring a new baby item or monetary donation.  The items will be donated to single moms at a maternity home or pregnancy center that provides alternatives to abortion i.e. Good Council Home, Birthright.