MOPS @ St. Patrick Catholic Community

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Four years ago, I found myself one evening at Francesca’s at Kierland Commons. It was a sweet shopping event, and I had invited my dear friend Jennifer. After some casual chitchatting, I shared with her that we had recently taken guardianship of a two-year-old that we were hoping to adopt. We were so excited, but overwhelmed because we had been out of the toddler years for so long. She shared with me about MOPS. I had never heard of it. She told me how it was a group for moms with little ones. It was a place to be vulnerable and share what was going on in our life. It was a safe place where you could be with other moms who haven’t slept more than three hours in a row in a very long time. Jennifer had brought a friend named Renee who just moved here from California. She echoed Jennifer’s sentiments and I was sold. I signed up and met the most amazing women who I’m still glad to call my friends.

Fast forward four years and my family has grown to five children. I now have a senior in high school and a six-month-old. Last Tuesday, I found myself sitting around a new table for a new year and was nervous about meeting a group of new friends. At the end of the meeting, I had a huge smile on my face and I was so glad I had taken a chance on making new mom friends again this year. I felt connected and heard and seen, and I’m so looking forward to next time.

If you are looking for a mom tribe, we would love to have you. Come join us! There is plenty of room at the table.

MOPS

(One of our adorable moms – Natalie!)

About MOPS and MomsNext at St. Patrick Catholic Community:

Mothers are loving, giving, and on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You take excellent care of your family, but who takes care of you? Where do you find time to relax, unwind, and recharge? The answer is MOPS, a ministry whose purpose is to nurture YOU! MOPS is dedicated to the message that “mothering matters” and that moms of young children need encouragement during these critical and formative years.
MOPS believes that better moms make better kids. This is true through the preschool years and beyond. MOPS, an international program for mothers of young children, is a place to enjoy the fellowship of other moms striving to meet the rewarding and challenging responsibilities of motherhood. As mothers enter the school years, new challenges and issues arise, but the need for community and hope remains. For this reason we offer MOMSnext, a ministry to mothers of school-age kids, where we encourage, equip and develop moms in the next phase of mothering.

MOPS and MOMSnext exists to meet the needs of every mom – urban, suburban and rural moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single and married moms – moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best mom they can be! Our group is an open, accepting place for all mothers, from pregnancy through school-age kids, to come, just as they are, to experience authentic community, personal growth, practical help and spiritual hope. Come experience excellent speakers, delicious food, and great conversations with women who understand how much it takes to be a mother.
St. Patrick MOPS and MOMSnext meet together the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of most months starting September 12th, 2017. We meet from 9:30-11:30AM in Fenlon Hospitality Center at St. Patrick’s Catholic Community. You can register and find out more at stpatcc.org/mops

(Another one of our precious moms – Nellie!)

We’ve all been placed in this time and place in history, as the tribe of women who are raising the world. We know we mother better together, so all moms are welcome. Our doors are open!
And please don’t feel like you have to take my word for it! Here are a few quotes from some other sweet mamas:

I have made incredible friendships with the moms at my table and my son has made friends, he’s really come out of his shell. It has benefited our whole family. I’ve learned to be more positive, that I’m not alone in this motherhood journey, I have people who understand the crazy. I truly think everyone at our table knows 100% we can count on each other if we needed help, a laugh, a shoulder to cry on, a hot meal, and most importantly, wine to drink. I am always here for all of you moms should you ever need anything! I’m thankful for the speakers we had every week, Renee for her passion to lead the group, and everyone in the group for being vulnerable, sincere, honest and a positive influence in my life! – Jennifer Galvez

This year I was blessed to share my time with you ladies and listen to all these anecdotes, they’ve made me laugh and cried (happy tears), and throughout this year i have come to the realization that even though I am probably the only one in my specific situation i am not alone, we all have our own situations going on, we all come from different backgrounds, we all have our own stories of triumph and defeat but we all have something in common, we all share something really special and unique, we are all mothers. So where do I belong? That’s what MOPS has giving me this year, a sense of belonging, I belong with my family, that’s where I belong. – Rita Patricia Castro

Bringing together women who just accept and love each other does something special. It gives us all GRACE to get through this together. – Jean Obioha

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