here are times when a woman carrying a child, particularly a very young woman, is pressured into abortion. Rejected by her family, she may be placed in desperate social and financial circumstances. Or even become the victim of domestic violence.

It’s now 20 years since the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference created the Right to Live campaign. This resulted in the establishment of the ‘Mater Homes’ in our Archdiocese – places where women in pregnancy crisis could safely prepare for and give birth to their babies. Here, they also receive educational after care and skills training for future survival.

The Mater Homes are funded solely by donations from people who care about the plight of abandoned mothers – and every child’s right to life.

If you are such a person – and we sincerely hope that you are – please make your Christmas offering online now to help make sure that our ‘Mater babies’ are as welcome as the Christ Child.

Your gift to help care for our mothers and babies at the Mater Homes will help provide everything from basic toiletries and cleaning products, to food, baby clothing, bedding and medical assistance. These may not seem like exciting Christmas gifts, but they’re all essentials. And you’ll be blessed for giving them.

Please also include your special intentions for our Christmas Mass for Mission friends.

When Jesus came into the world to save each one of us, he came in the most vulnerable human state – that of a helpless baby. Let us not fail to protect the lives of other helpless babies.

This Christmas in our Mater Homes, there will be no brightly wrapped gifts under a tree. But there will be life – precious new life. And with your help, those lives will be wrapped in soft blankets and plenty of love.

Thank you and God bless you.