Resources for women, mothers, fathers, and children

Even before Roe v. Wade was decided in January 1973, pro-life advocates were behind the scenes establishing organizations to help support women, babies, and families who found themselves in what they perceived was a crisis pregnancy. When the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade, pro-life advocates continued and expanded community efforts to help women in need. Since many felt abortion regulations were properly suited to be made by state legislators, others mobilized to move the ruling out of the federal purview. Many pro-life advocates have worked tirelessly to end circumstances that would make women feel that their motherhood is a crisis. 

Pro-life individuals in our diocese have not stopped working on behalf of mothers in need since Minnesota passed laws to legalize abortion and increased those efforts with the eventual 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Currently, our diocese has nearly 50 organizations where women, fathers, and families can access help before, during, and after their pregnancy. Because Minnesota is one of those states that had already legalized abortion before Roe v. Wade, Minnesota will continue to allow abortions until our legislators overturn the laws. Because none of the neighboring states have laws that allow for abortion, Minnesota will become an abortion destination site like New York and California. Services to help support women with their pregnancy and motherhood will need to expand as the number of women seeking abortions in Minnesota will increase. Below is a partial list of current services offered to women, mothers, fathers, and children. As a Catholic church, we seek to eliminate any need to call anything surrounding motherhood a crisis. 

Life Affirming Pregnancy Centers 

Brainerd: Birthright, 401 W. Laurel St., Suite B, 56401; (218) 829-8470; www.birthright.org/brainerd 

Brainerd: Lakes Area Pregnancy Support Center, 315 E. River Road, Suite One, 56401; (218) 825-0793; www.lakesareapregnancy.org 

Deer River: New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center, 17 First St., N.E., 56636; (218) 326-0404; newbeginningspregnancy.com

Duluth: Women’s Care Center, 103 E. First St., 55802; (218) 623-7100; www.womenscarecenter.org/duluth-minnesota 

Duluth/Superior: Lake Superior Life Care Center, 1823 Belknap Street, Superior, WI 54880; (218) 727-3399 or (715) 394-4102; www.lslccduluthsuperior.org 

Grand Rapids: New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center, 605 N.W. Fourth St., 55744; (218) 326-0404; newbeginningspregnancy.com 

Hibbing: Family Life Center, 802 E. Howard St., Suite Three, 55746; (218) 262-5768; www.familylifecenterrange.com 

International Falls: Northern Options for Women, 923 Fifth St., 56649; (218) 285-7673; northernoptionsforwomen.optionsmn.org 

Pine City: Pregnancy Resource Center, 315 Main St. S., Suite 20, 55063; (320)629-2792; www.pregornot.org 

Sandstone: Options for Women, 927 State Highway 23 N., 55072; (320) 216-7633; www.sandstoneoptions.org 

Virginia: Family Life Center, 820 N. Ninth St., Suite 130, 55792; (218) 262-5768; www.familylifecenterrange.com 

Walker: Walker Area Pregnancy Support Center, 102 Eighth St. N., 56484; (218) 547-5433; www.pregnancyhelpmn.com 

24-hour nationwide help 

Pregnancy Resouce: (800) 395-HELP 

Birthline Hotline: (800) 786-0200 

Birthright Hotline: (800) 550-4900 

Option Line: (800) 712-4357 

Post-Abortion Services 

Abortion Changes You: online resource for post-abortion healing; www.abortionchangesyou.com 

Abortion Recovery International: worldwide database of organizations that can assist in healing; www.abortionrecovery.org 

Healing Hearts Ministries: offers post-abortion group/online study “Binding Up the Brokenhearted”; www.healinghearts.org 

National Helpline for Abortion Recovery: counseling services and a model for sexual health, abortion recovery, and prevention; www.internationalhelpline.org; (866) 482-5433 

Project Rachel: offers one-on-one therapy for abortion recovery across Minnesota; [email protected]; (651) 291-4515 

Rachel’s Vineyard: weekend retreats for healing after abortion; www.rvineyardmn.org; (763) 250-9313 

Silent No More Awareness: nonprofit organization exposing the devastation of abortion and helping women find healing; www.silentnomoreawareness.org 

Family Support 

Christ Child Society of Duluth: help for children in need; [email protected] 

Cradle of Hope: financial assistance for pregnancy expenses; www.cradleofhope.org; (651) 636-0637 

Damiano Center: food, clothing, and other resources in Duluth; [email protected]; (218) 722-8708 

Guiding Star Project: www.guidingstarproject.com; [email protected]

Holy Family Catholic Adoption: adoption services for birth mothers and adoptive families; [email protected]; (612) 209-5869 

Mysterious Miscarriage Sisterhood: supporting families who have experienced the trauma of miscarriage; (320) 597-4138 

New Life Adoptions: comprehensive adoption services; [email protected]; (612) 746-5658 

Sidelines Support Network: supporting women with complicated pregnancies, and their families; www.sidelines.org; (888)-447-4754 

Maternity Homes 

Star of the North Maternity Home: offering Christian-based housing for pregnant mothers and their babies 

Duluth: (218) 340-1645, [email protected] 

Iron Range: (218) 206-1931, [email protected] 

Prenatal Hospice 

Courageous Hearts: (715) 969-4506, [email protected] 

Prenatal Partners for Life: (763) 772-3868, [email protected] 

Family Planning Services 

Northland Family Programs: Fertility Care Center, (218) 786-2378; www.northlandfamilyprograms.com 

Emergency Services 

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, www.svdpusa.org 

Duluth: (218) 409-6887, [email protected] 

Superior: (715) 398-4039, [email protected] 

Food 

CHUM Duluth: 102 W. Second St., Duluth; (218) 720-6521 

Union Gospel Mission: 219 First St., Duluth; (218) 722-1196 

Emily Food Shelf: 20948 County Road One, Emily; (218) 763-3663 

Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen: 923 Oak St., Brainerd; (218) 829-4203 

Housing 

Habitat for Humanity: Aitkin County, (218) 927-5656; Lakes Area, (218) 828-8517; Itasca County, (218) 999-9001; North St. Louis, (218) 749-8910 

Grace House, Grand Rapids: (218) 326-2790 

Campus Youth Ministry 

CSS Students for Life: (218) 723-5000, [email protected] 

UMD Bulldog Students for Life: (218) 726-8000, [email protected] 

Sidewalk Ministry 

40 Days for Life: [email protected] 

Pro-Life Ministries of Duluth: [email protected], (715) 969-4506 or (218) 382-0015 

Pro-Life Across America: (800) 366-7773 

Diocese of Duluth 

Office of Marriage, Family, and Life: 2830 E. Fourth St., Duluth, MN 55812; (218) 724-9111; [email protected]; www.dioceseduluth.org