Women from across the state gathered July 26 at Lumen Christi Catholic Church in St. Paul to share their experience of placing a child for adoption. Forty-six birth mothers attended the event hosted by the Archdiocesan Office for Marriage and Family Life and Catholic Charities.

Adoption Services Program Manager Connie Roller said this was the first event of its kind. The idea came from a group of women who drew Archbishop John Nienstedt’s attention to the unmet needs of women who made adoption plans in the past.

The archdiocese offers services to divorced men and women and women who’ve had abortions, but not women who made adoption placement plans, Roller said.

“There seemed to be a need for the Church to acknowledge and honor birth mothers,” she said.

This event provided an outlet for that recognition. The participants told their stories in small groups and listened to a presentation from Jeanne McIntee, a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Mary Ann Sullivan, director of family services, spoke briefly about how adoption has changed in the last 50 years. Although it has evolved, it continues to be a good choice.

“Adoption has looked different at different times over the years in response to the cultural values of the times,” she said. “Today we’re here to recognize and honor those of you who chose to place for adoption.”

The women shared a variety of experiences, ranging from having never told anyone about their adoption plan to being active members of the adoption community.

Roller said the responses she got about the event were positive and although “there were a lot of tears,” Adoption Services plans to host similar events in the future.

“We’re absolutely going to do it again,” she said. “We want to provide a place where people can share and find out what resources they have available to them.”