Birthing accompaniment

Australian Jesuit and author Father Richard Leonard SJ reads a section from his latest book Why God? The book is a collection of personal stories focussing on four themes: church, liturgy and sacraments, society, and faith and spirituality.

In this piece, read above, Father Richard reflects on a time many years ago when he was given the opportunity to be part of a birthing experience with a young woman named Mary who fell pregnant at the age of sixteen and had no birthing partner. Father Richard subsequently became godfather to her baby boy and remains in contact with them both to this day.