This weekend Garden City residents will be donating home-made and newborn baby gifts to St. Joseph Church's 17th annual Spiritual Adoption Baby Shower. All the items will be distributed to Long Island's award-winning crisis pregnancy centers that help support mothers and fathers who choose life for their babies. This Saturday and Sunday, December 8th and 9th, St. Joseph's Church will host its 17th Annual Spiritual Adoption Prayer Crusade with a Village-Wide Baby Shower. The donated baby gifts and items will be delivered to Long Island-area crisis pregnancy centers in time for Christmas.

Earlier this year in March, parishioners of St. Joseph's began a nine-month prayer program, dedicating themselves to pray daily for babies who were in danger of abortion, and also to pray for the babies' mothers and fathers who were experiencing crisis pregnancies. This weekend the prayer program concludes with a Baby Shower to help the mothers and fathers in caring for their newborns.

"This Saturday we will be celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, one of the Catholic Church's Holydays which recognizes that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was conceived without the blemish of sin," noted a member of St. Joseph's Respect Life Society. "It seems very appropriate that our Annual Baby Shower happens to fall on Our Lady's feast day."

Over this past year, maternity centers such as The Life Center, MOMMA's House, Birthright, Mother of Good Counsel Home, and Regina Residence, have offered their love and support for mothers and fathers who find themselves facing uncertain futures for their unborn babies. These award-winning organizations provide 24-hour, confidential crisis counseling, pregnancy testing, medical assistance, housing, and clothing - all without fees. The main goal of these groups is to provide mothers and fathers with a chance to choose life for their babies instead of abortion.

This Christmas the centers are in particular need of Newborn Baby Items such as: layettes, baby blankets and towels, crib sheets, diapers (new born through toddler), wipes, formula (Enfamil), pacifiers, digital thermometers, humidifiers, nose aspirators, diaper cream, shampoo, baby wash, and gift certificates to Target, Kaybees, Toys "R" Us, and CVS.

There is also a need for Toddler Items such as: clothes, pajamas, underwear and socks.

And finally, Christmas Gifts for Moms such as: sweatpants and jackets, pajamas, toiletries, robes, slippers, umbrellas, watches, Metro and Phone Cards, and gift cards to Kohl's, Wal-Mart, and McDonald's.

Shower Gifts can be placed in designated Christmas Boxes at the doors of the church or auditorium following all Masses.

St. Joseph's Parish thanks all Garden City residents for their continued support in this most worthy cause to support efforts to assist mothers who value the sanctity of all human life.