June 22, 2016 // Local

New Women's Care Center blessed

Todays Catholic

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades blessed the newest Women’s Care Center located at 4600 West Jefferson Blvd., in Fort Wayne on Tuesday, June 6. With him are Bobby Williams, Ann Manion, board president and Ann Koehl, director.

By Stephanie A. Patka

More photos available in the photo gallery.

FORT WAYNE — It was standing room only during the Mass that celebrated the blessing of the Chapel of the Visitation and the new Women’s Care Center located at 4600 West Jefferson in Fort Wayne. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades celebrated the Mass on June 6 for over 75 people and at the conclusion, blessed the new building which marks a significant growth in the service of the agency.

“I couldn’t have chosen a better Gospel for this occasion of the blessing of this new Women’s Care Center, the Gospel of the Beatitudes,” Bishop Rhoades said in his homily. “They describe the attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself in His life and they describe the attitudes and actions we are called to have or do as His disciples.”

Bishop Rhoades went on to describe the Women’s Care Centers as true oases of mercy, places where women who may be in crisis, perhaps tempted to do harm to themselves and their unborn babies, perhaps experiencing hopelessness or despair, rejection or helplessness, here receive compassionate help and merciful love.

Bishop Rhoades reminded the attendees of a significant Beatitude, especially for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” He continued, “Mercy involves an inward identification with those in need and an outward action of kindness and generosity toward them. That is what it means to be merciful.” Bishop added that the work of the Women’s Care Center carries out this mission through their work, “It is not judging the soul of the person, but identifying with the other in their need, in their suffering, and then helping them. Mercy is connected to love.”

The leadership of the Women’s Care Center believes that the new location and new chapel will help serve more women and more babies in Allen County. Longstanding volunteer and Board President Manion stated her appreciation for the blessing that is the new building and chapel, “It’s really gratifying. We are already serving 1 in 4 babies in Allen County. With this kind of flagship center and the Holy Eucharist on site, we are going to expand beyond that.”