Bishop Timothy Senior is pictured with staff from Women’s Care Center in York, including Lynn Newcomer, president, far left, after blessing the new ultrasound machine.Six Knights of Columbus councils in the York Deanery stepped up for the pro-life cause in a united effort to purchase a new ultrasound machine for Women’s Care Center, which offers free and confidential services while empowering and supporting women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Drumming up financial support through various fundraisers and several individual contributions, the councils collectively raised more than $28,000 – more than half the cost of an ultrasound machine – and received a match of over $23,000 from the Supreme Council for the purchase. Ultrasound machines are paramount in determining the health and development of unborn babies and prominent in encouraging abortion-minded women to give their child the gift of life.
“We are extremely grateful to the Knights,” said Lynn Newcomer,” President of Women’s Care Center of York. “Many women make the choice for life after choosing to see their unborn baby on an ultrasound.”
Last year, the center served 1,047 women and provided 717 ultrasounds.
“Women’s Care Center is expressing deep gratitude for the outpouring of support from councils throughout the deanery and beyond,” said Kay Donato, the center’s outreach director. “Knowing that so many men – fathers, grandfathers and godfathers – care deeply about the mothers and babies served by the center has been an overwhelming source of encouragement for the organization.”
On May 20, Bishop Timothy Senior blessed the new machine during a prayer service attended by deanery priests, Knights of Columbus, staff members and volunteers.
“The dignity of the human person is not something we give to each other, it’s something that God gives each precious life from the moment of conception,” the bishop said. “We know there is a culture continuing to be prevalent around us that wants to define what the truth is. I can’t help but think that peering into those most precious moments of early life in this room is going to reveal the truth that life begins at conception.”
“The Women’s Care Center provides pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, maternity and baby clothing, diapers, formula, a very popular parenting program, as well as a fatherhood program. We support moms and babies from cradle to kindergarten and build stronger families,” said Newcomer, who joined the late Msgr. Thomas Brenner and fellow parishioners of St. Patrick Parish in York in founding the center in 1990. “We offer a wide variety of pre-natal and parenting classes which were attended by 828 people last year.”
The new ultrasound machine is the third one the Knights have purchased for the center. It also represents the 102nd machine that various Knights of Columbus councils have gifted to centers across the state, and the 14th so far this year.
“Central to the center’s mission is its ultrasound room, which staff describe as the heart of the facility. When I give tours of our center, I tell people that the ultrasound room is where parents fall in love. It’s the moment they view their child for the first time with such clarity and definition and hear the heartbeat,” Donato said. “Beyond the emotional significance, ultrasound technology plays a critical role in monitoring a mother’s progress, confirming pregnancy viability, and helping women understand what fetal development looks like in the earliest weeks.”
“One of the major pillars of the Knights of Columbus is support of pro-life efforts and promoting the dignity of all human life, so this was an obvious cause to support,” said David Simms, Faith Director and Secretary-Elect of the Pennsylvania State Council of the Knights of Columbus.
As Grand Knight of Council 10474 in Manchester, Simms can also attest to the ways in which individual Knights volunteer their time with Women’s Care Center.
“I personally know many council members who have volunteered service hours and time with the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) Program at Women’s Care Center and also with Morningstar in support of their pro-life efforts,” Simms said.
“Raising funds for the ultrasound machine was a natural response to a need, and the Knights of Columbus are always ready, willing and able to step up, and we’re always happy to champion the pro-life cause,” Simms said. “The Knights are always looking to volunteer or support the Diocese and what the Catholic Church stands for, especially in charitable efforts, and we stand at that forefront.”
Councils contributing to the purchase of the ultrasound machine are: Council 1530, Dallastown; St. Joseph Council 6353, York; St. John the Baptist Council 8891, New Freedom; Father Edward Gerrity Council 10474, Manchester; St. Rose of Lima Council 10870, York; and St. Patrick Council 11872, York. Contributions also came from the Bishop McDevitt 4th Degree Assembly 920, the Columbiettes of St. Rose of Lima and two anonymous donors.
Women’s Care Center provides services for the whole family from birth through age five. The organization is 100% privately funded and welcomes monetary donations, as well as gently used or new baby items. Volunteers are also needed for a variety of roles, including sorting, organizing, clerical work and mailings. Learn more by contacting Kay Donato at kay@supportwcc.org.
(Photo courtesy of Mary Piro, St. Rose of Lima Parish, York.)
By Jen Reed The Catholic Witness
