Learn About Springs of Love Chapters
Springs of Love is a national Catholic ministry that encourages, educates, and equips Catholics to discern and live out the call to foster and adopt, while building parish communities where families are supported and never walk alone.
Chapters live out this mission through three simple areas: Awareness, Community, and Accompaniment. Some chapters begin by helping the parish understand the needs of foster and adoptive families; others start by gathering families for a Building Belonging small group; and others begin by organizing practical help. Many start small with just a few people and grow over time.
A chapter does not need to do everything at once. It simply begins with one step, helping a family know they are not alone.
If you are interested in leading a Chapter at your parish, please register your parish and our Family and Chapter Support Coach will be in touch.
The Three Ways Chapters Serve
AWARENESS
ACCOMPANIMENT
COMMUNITY
1. Awareness
Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something. Springs of Love Chapters invite the parish to recognize local foster care needs, support foster families, and prayerfully discern a call to foster.
Chapters are encouraged to host one or more parish-wide events each year such as an awareness event, donation drive, film discussion, or a reception for Mother Cabrini Sunday.
Resources for Parish-Wide Awareness & Involvement:
- Resources for Mass: National Adoption Month (Nov.) | National Foster Care Month (May)
- Create a Foster Care Awareness & Support page for your church website
- Sign up for our newsletter to get updates on ways to be involved with Fostering and Adoption
Exclusively for Chapters:
Join a Springs of Love Chapter and get access to the following:
- Toolkit: Host an Awareness Event
- Toolkit: Host a Video “Watch Party”
- Toolkit: Mass & Meet-Up for Foster & Adoptive Families
- Toolkit: Mother Cabrini Sunday
- Project ideas for Chapters
- And more!
2. Accompaniment
There is a great need for foster families, and many stop fostering within a year because of the challenges they face. When families are supported, they are far more likely to continue providing safe homes for children in need.
One way parishes can help is through a Springs of Love Care Team, a small group of volunteers who build a relationship with a foster family and offer ongoing practical support such as meals, parish-based childcare events, mentoring, meeting material needs, or committing to pray for them regularly.
The simplest way to begin is by creating a Family Care Alerts email list. Parishioners can sign up to receive notices when a family has a new placement or urgent need, providing a low-commitment way for many people to participate.
More for your Springs of Love Care Team:
- Understand Foster Care
- Get Fostering Info for your state; some Team members may be interested in becoming certified as Respite Care Providers
3. Community
Help foster, adoptive, and kinship families in your parish or diocese build community. Chapters may host gatherings such as a Mass and Meet up, a Building Belonging small group, or other opportunities for families to spend time together and support one another.
Building Belonging
A beautiful way for parishes to accompany foster, adoptive, and discerning couples is by offering Building Belonging — a seven-session Catholic formation and small group series that helps families reflect on fostering and adopting through the lens of faith. Springs of Love provides training, ongoing support for facilitators, and digital access to materials through the Learning Portal. Learn more at springsoflove.org/buildingbelonging, where you can watch a short trailer and preview the introductory session.
