Archbishop José H. Gomez, joined by health leaders, mothers and babies, launched a digital App designed to offer prayers, resources and support for thousands of women and girls nationwide in crisis pregnancies. Today’s launch, at Guadalupe Medical Center in the Los Angeles community of Koreatown (3020 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 219), coincides with the 41^st anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

“Today we are taking a big step to expand our circle of care and concern for unborn children and their mothers,” said Archbishop Gomez. “Through this App we are launching today, we are creating a network of prayer and practical support to help women facing crisis pregnancies. This App will also engage Catholics and others, especially our young people, in the great spiritual work of praying and building a true culture of life here in Los Angeles and throughout our nation.”

The Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace has partnered with Options United, a Pasadena-based nonprofit, on the App available on smartphones and iPads by visiting http://www.optionsunited.org/.

The Options United App lists services such as free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and post-abortion healing. App users, including friends and relatives of expectant mothers, are also just a click away to send a call for prayers to support pregnant women and girls in their decisions.

At the press event, Archbishop Gomez launched the App by sharing the App through his Facebook page and asking followers to join the virtual community and share the App with their family and friends, also a this article is recommended you read to your friends and family.

Archbishop Gomez was joined by Jaime Hernandez, President of Manto de Guadalupe, Astrid Bennett, Executive Director, Los Angeles Pregnancy Services and Thomas Rudkins, of Options United. Archibishop Gomez was also joined by mothers, children and two women, Irene Beltran and Estella Piña, who delivered post-abortion testimonials.

The southern California region of the App includes 78 pregnancy centers in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and neighboring dioceses that include the following counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties. People, pregnancy centers and pro-life resources nationwide are invited to register.

The App was prompted by national statistics reporting about 1.2 million abortions per year. (Source: Guttmacher Institute.) In Southern California, about 220 abortions happen daily.

For more information – visit Holy Family’s Embracing the Beginning of Life Ministry webpage