Our Community
Ministry of Mothers Sharing:
Faith-Based Support for Local Moms by Sarah Albanese Photo by Pano K Photography, Instagram: @DoYouShoot
T
he role of mothers is often underappreciated or overlooked in our busy society. This year in particular finds many mothers burned out from the stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mothers are feeling lonely, isolated and just plain exhausted. Social connection is an integral part of being human, and for many women, their usual social outlets have been put on hold indefinitely. As a mother of five young children, I was in desperate need of social connection when I moved to the Marple/Broomall area five years ago. I came from Buffalo, NY, where a local moms’ group at my church helped me through my first four pregnancies, postpartum depression and periods of intense loneliness. I made lifelong friends through that moms’ group, and I grieved when I had to leave the area. When I moved here, my family became parishioners at St. Pius X in Broomall, and I immediately felt called to start a moms’ group in the parish. Four years later, the Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS) is still going strong. Prior to COVID-19, mothers of all ages and stages from all over Delaware County met monthly in St. Pius X parish hall, where free babysitting was provided. We hosted local speakers on a variety of topics including prayer, fitness, art and education. We also offered a monthly book club that included evening discussions and socials. A few times a year, we hosted a larger event or social gathering. When the pandemic hit, I made sure that we stayed connected to each other through email and other social media sites. Many moms told me that not only were they dealing with loneliness and isolation, but so were their children. Some women struggled to juggle schooling their children from home while maintaining a full-time career. Anxiety was high as many felt
The Albanese Family; Sarah and her husband Jay with their children Jacob (13), Raphael (11), Theo (9), Sam (6) and Lillian (2)
the direct impact of COVID-19 in their families and social circles. Initially, our group stayed connected by making care packages for homebound parishioners and individuals who
Marple Newtown’s Carpeting & Floor Covering Expert Offering New Floors at Warehouse Prices! • Residential carpeting • Commercial carpeting • Waterproof vinyl plank flooring • Quality pre-bound area rugs and remnants • Carved college logo rugs including Penn State • A full-service workshop for cutting/binding • Installation for all of the products we sell
610 - 353-1312
I www.CarpetWarehouseCo.com I 620 Parkway Dr, Broomall
16 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together
(Lawrence Park Industrial Park)
