Georgetown maternity home focuses on family
Catholic Spirit, January 2009, In our World
By Mary P. Walker
Senior Correspondent
“If it wasn’t for this place, I wouldn’t have accomplished nearly as much,” said 18-year-old Ariel Frizzar, referring to Annunciation Maternity Home in Georgetown. Since arriving at Annunciation with an 18-month-old daughter and pregnant, she has given birth, improved her parenting skills, earned a GED, gained valuable job experience and is learning the skills she needs to live on her own.
Imagine being young, pregnant, homeless, and without the help and support of a caring, involved family. Deacon Mike Aaronson, who founded the free, full-service maternity home in 2001 with his wife, Christie, explained that Annunciation makes a long-term commitment to teens and women experiencing crisis pregnancies, regardless of whether the mother puts her baby up for adoption.
Annunciation does this by creating a family atmosphere of support and encouragement as the teens and women learn the skills they need to become self-sufficient.
“Many don’t have mothers or fathers, or are alienated from them, have been abused or are from struggling families. They have low self-esteem because they lacked consistent love,” Deacon Aaronson said.
Five sisters of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, a religious order from Nigeria, formed the heart of this family environment when they arrived at Annunciation two years ago. Sister Celine Echewa, the superior, explained that the sisters strive to give the mothers and their children all of the love, sacrifice, commitment, joys and encouragement found in healthy families.
“What is found in a family, is found here. This is really a home, not a house or a shelter,” Sister Echewa said.
The sisters rise at 4:45 a.m. to pray and work hard throughout the day and night, but their greatest gift to the mothers and children is their caring love. Through this love, the sisters strive to teach the young women that they are precious to God. This realization makes it more likely that they will make positive changes in their lives.
“The sisters have taught me patience. They let me know that even though I made mistakes, I can learn from them and am still a good person,” said Frizzar.
Knowing that their example speaks more effectively than any words, the sisters treat each other and the mothers and children with kindness and respect. Sister Olivia Okoro, Annunciation’s housing director, said that even when a mother is not responding to her request to do a simple chore, she often just does the job herself, which touches the mother’s conscience, motivating her to apologize.
Although Annunciation has no requirements regarding religion, the mothers take turns leading morning and evening prayer. There are also weekly spirituality classes. The sisters report that Mary, the Mother of God, has inspired requests to learn the rosary, even from non-Catholic mothers.
The sisters’ celibate lives reinforce the idea of chaste living. Many of the young mothers cannot imagine life without a boyfriend. One mother wanted to leave Annunciation long before she was ready. Sister Ursla Philomartins suggested that as a religious sister if she could give up male companionship for the love of God, this mother could give up having a boyfriend for the love her child. The mother stayed.
Family life with 12 mothers and their children, five sisters and other staff members is both organized and remarkably “normal.” All activities help the mothers develop skills to live on their own, become excellent parents and support themselves and their children.
Coming from chaotic or abusive family backgrounds, many must learn the basic skills of cooperation and planning. Sharing bedrooms with each other and their babies and taking turns with all the household chores foster these skills. The clients also discuss and plan well-balanced meals and shop for food. Deacon Aaronson proudly pointed out that while many disadvantaged women in Texas have low birth weight babies, the babies of Annunciation’s clients have had healthy birth weights, which he credits to this meal planning.
Because the mothers have different work and school schedules, breakfast and lunch times are flexible, but all the residents get together for family dinner, a lively and fun time. This simple family experience is something new for many of the clients. In addition, there is a family meeting every Friday, in which all are encouraged to voice their concerns.
Each mother has goals and earns “merits” as she progresses toward these goals. Goals involve studies, parenting, and mastering household and life skills. As both an incentive and a simple lesson in budgeting, the mothers can save and spend their “merits” in a “store” for baby clothes, toys and items for themselves.
Annunciation has an on-site Child Development Center for the children while the mothers are working or in school. Mothers with high school degrees get jobs, gaining valuable work experience. Mothers without high school degrees attend an on-site accredited high school for customized instruction.
Their teacher encourages the student mothers not only to pursue their degrees, but also to have follow-up goals and plans for their future. Last year, two mothers earned their diplomas, and this year four more are on track for graduation.
Annunciation’s long-term commitment means that when a mother is prepared and ready to leave, she is “sent off” in much the same way parents send their children out into the world. The staff helps her find a suitable place to live, and the mother is provided with donated furniture and household goods. Many of the mothers keep in touch after leaving, a testament to the bonds created during their stay.
Presently, Frizzar is working toward living on her own with her children, but she also has dreams to carry her beyond the day she leaves Annunciation. Through her experience there, she has discovered that she is a good listener and can encourage others. She hopes to use these qualities in a career as a probation officer or addiction counselor.
These are ambitious dreams for a young mother with two small children, but there are success stories from former residents to give her hope. Annunciation has served approximately 250 mothers and their children since its founding. Deacon Aaronson’s joy and pride mirrored that of any parent when he mentioned that the first graduate of the high school recently earned her master’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas.
For more information about Annunciation Maternity Home, visit www.thematernityhome.org or call (512) 864-7755.