Until recently, I never gave much thought to the “other” mom.

I know several people who were adopted as children and also numerous parents who have adopted infants and even elementary-age kids from Ethiopia, Guatemala, China and also the United States. I started thinking more about the birth mothers – these women who relinquished children for adoption – after learning about the Mass and luncheon that takes place every year at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. After interviewing a few birth mothers over the years, I learned that they never forget, that they always wonder about their child and that many yearn to reconnect at some level. In the 1950s and '60s, even in the decades after, many were shamed into silence.

I wrote a story for today’s paper about the annual birth mothers gathering called “A Step Toward Solace.” Here’s some information about the event:

WHAT: A Mass celebrated by Bishop William Skylstad to honor birth mothers and those touched by adoption
WHEN: Friday (May 9) at noon followed by a luncheon at 1 p.m.
WHERE: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1503 W. Dean Ave. in Spokane
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To RSVP for the luncheon or for more information, call Sandy Maher at (509) 358-4258 or Bonnie Deabler at (509) 325-7667.

Here are the organizations that help put it together:
Catholic Charities’ Childbirth and Parenting Alone
Children’s Home Society of Washington
Spokane Consultants in Family Living
Washington Adoption Reunion Movement

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