THE CATHOLIC MOMS GROUP: Sharing in the Blessings of Motherhood and the Faith

Our faith is meant to be lived with others — it’s not a journey on which we embark alone. We are to live in communion with our Catholic brothers and sisters, as Matthew 18:20 makes very clear — “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Beth Gilb and her family recently moved from Powell, Wyo., where she was part of a Catholic Moms group. It was something she missed, particularly when she and her family moved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wanting to share in the same social experience here at Holy Family Area Catholic Community, Beth ran the idea past Fr. Paul Timmerman. He was all for it and recommended that Beth connect with Alyssa Larson.

Since June, the Catholic Moms group has been meeting on one Saturday morning per month.

They alternate months between a moms-only event at Java River in Montevideo and a kid event at a local park. Nursing babies are invited to the moms-only meetings. The next coffee and playdate will be at the CCM Wellness Center Indoor Playground in Montevideo on Saturday, December 11 th at 9:00 a.m.

So far, Beth and Alyssa have enjoyed getting together. Both are new to the area, so it’s been a great way to meet other moms. Both women agree that moms, no matter their personalities, all have something in common. This group is based on the commonality of motherhood and their Catholic faith.

“Come as you are,” Alyssa says. “We are all different with different personalities, so you will fit in. We are just excited to meet new people and get to know each other.” “It’s a very welcome, open, laid-back group,” Beth says.

Although the Catholic Moms Group is primarily for socialization, they have also had a Reconciliation and Adoration gathering. Both Alyssa and Beth are open to wherever this group will go. For now, they are meeting in Montevideo, but they are open to meeting in Dawson and Granite Falls, too.

“We just want to be here to support each other,” Alyssa says.

Beth and Alyssa are both thankful to Fr. Paul for being so supportive of this group. They both agree that meeting other moms should be a priority because it is so important to have friends in the Catholic faith.

“Being a mom can be hard and isolating,” Alyssa says. ‘It’s just great to have a group like this.”

Alyssa would like to see moms of various ages gather for this group, as moms with older children have experienced what the younger moms are currently going through — so she would love to see them all learn from each other. In the end, all moms have a lot in common.

“There’s a lot of beauty in that,” Alyssa says. “We can be in the struggles together. It’s nice to be with people who are in the same boat.”

Both women want other moms to know they are all welcome at any time, and there is no requirement to attend every month. It’s a low-pressure group, available whenever it works for its members.

“We are made for each other,” Alyssa says. “We are made to be with people. There’s something special about mom friends.”

If you would like more information, please contact Beth Gilb at bethgilb7@gmail.com or 307-202-2322, or Alyssa Larson at 515-341-3494.

Beth Gilb enjoys being part of the Catholic Moms Group.

Alyssa Larson feels blessed to be meeting other Catholic moms throughout the area.