Mothers receiving layette bundles through St. Martha’s Baby Project, a program of Catholic Community Services, are receiving a small book intended to offer encouragement and spiritual support. The book is included among essential items like diapers, clothing, and blankets provided to new mothers in need.
The book, titled The Little Way of Trust: A Saint Therese Story, tells the story of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The French Carmelite nun is known for her approach to living with love and trust in God. The illustrated book is written in language simple enough for children to understand.
This book inclusion resulted from outreach by Rebecca Webb, the director of marketing for the Saint Symphorien Institute. Webb contacted various dioceses and parish-based respect life ministries to find organizations to distribute the books to women facing unplanned pregnancies. Donors purchased the books specifically to be included in layettes.
Crystal Painter, director of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Office of Marriage and Family and the Respect Life Commission, facilitated the distribution. Painter received boxes of books from Webb and delivered some to St. Martin de Porres Parish and the remainder to Catholic Community Services.
The distribution is part of the Saint Symphorien Institute’s spiritual adoption initiative. This initiative encourages individuals and groups to spiritually adopt others through prayers, Masses, or holy hours to foster connection and emphasize the dignity of human life.
Painter described the book as a keepsake that families can treasure, noting it offers a lesson in trust through the childhood of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. She noted the story of learning to trust despite fear is a gift for women in unplanned pregnancies and a story suitable for children.
St. Martha's Baby Project, which was recently transferred from the diocese’s Office of Family Life to Catholic Community Services, distributes bundles to mothers in Salt Lake City.
