The 2024 Gala celebration will be on Saturday September 14th at Holy Rosary parish. Stay tuned for more information on how and when to register. Our guest speaker is Dr. William Lile!

“The world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder.” G. K. Chesterton

I’ve always loved this painting by Norman Rockwell. It’s called “The Discovery” and it appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on December 29^th, 1956.

The surprise, then astonishment, then the slow realization…. but not the surety. What has he discovered? Is he sure about what he is seeing and what it means?

The wondrousness of Santa. His sleigh and 8 reindeer. The clomp of boots on the roof! His huge red bag of goodies with all the names of the little boys and girls. The plate of cookies that mysteriously empties in the night…. The sparkling-colored lights and the crisp snow-covered yards and the hot cocoa and marshmallows!

The way my mom and dad made it all so magical. So believable, So wonderful! Because when you love someone, you endeavor to create a magical, joyous space where they can feel cherished. Where the unceasing darkness of the world is held at bay, even for just a little while. And the twinkling lights are like endless stars and the night is warm with blankets and footie pajamas and dad reads “A Visit from St. Nicholas”  like he does every year, and there is simply none of the harshness that seems to fill the news and the hurried disconnect etched into people’s faces. It all seems to melt away during the season.

Much like a parent – Next Step Pregnancy Services – tries so very hard to create magic and warmth and security for each person who comes through our doors. We all know life is hard. Not can be hard – IS hard. And we aim to do what we can to ease the burden of stress and isolation, uncertainty and pain that many of our clients feel. It truly is the little things.

Extra diapers, warm receiving blankets, nipple cream for breastfeeding moms, an early ultrasound to confirm baby is there and is ok, prenatal vitamins, a warm hand to hold and be held when inexplicably there is no heartbeat, a shoulder to cry on when the STI test comes back negative and you feel confident you can start fresh because our nurse was there every step of the way encouraging you to take a look at yourself in the mirror and love who you are. Not who you think you need to be.

I sometimes read articles right around this time that refer to Jesus as an “unplanned pregnancy” and I think – No! He was not unplanned. He was anointed. He was – is – the plan. Mary-His mother-was planned. Joseph-His father on earth-was planned. You were planned. So was I. We were planned. He planned us. He created us. He knows what each and every one of us can do and will do. And He loves us.

It’s no coincidence – the magic of Christmas. The birth of Jesus brings out the best in all of us. Makes us all kids again. Squeezing our eyes shut, imagining we hear the sound of hooves on the rooftop.

Christmas is joy. It is wonder. It is delight. It is cheer. It is sacred. It is peace.

May your Christmas be bright and filled with harmony. Merry Christmas to you from us at Next Step Pregnancy Services.

Dear brothers and sisters, 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” Matthew 5:11

My name is Heather Vasquez and I am the Director of your local pro-life medical and social services clinic. Many of you know me or if not me, you know the clinic and have worked and supported our pro-life mission for many years. You may even have attended the Gala we just had in September celebrating 25 years! For that thank you. 

It has come to my attention that sadly there are those in our local churches who are seeking to discredit and slander our good name. We do not know who is doing this, though we have a few suspicions; we only know that we’ve had a few instances of historically supportive familiar church staff and ministries  notifying us that “they heard we are promoting abortions”. That we in fact “referred someone for an abortion” and that “Next Step promotes abortion as an option”. 

Every instance has been an evil lie set to sow doubt and division between those who defend life. We have been falsely accused and slandered for our work. 

I felt as Director of this beautiful and life-affirming clinic I needed to speak out. 

Next Step Pregnancy Services (previously known as Angelorum) is now and has always been a pro-life organization fighting for and defending life born and unborn. We have never, and will never, refer for or promote the abhorrent act of abortion. Our nurses, our provider, our staff, our volunteers are heavily vetted. There is not one person speaking for our clinic that does not feel strongly about the conviction of life and its sacredness in all stages. 

I can’t help but take these attacks so very personally. I am here every day. Seeing the women and families coming in. Hearing their stories. Hearing our nurses and staff answer. And listen. And pray. I do know that Satan is at work here. That is a fact. And the enemy despises places like ours because we give people hope. And hope is not what Satan wants because with hope there is no despair and despair separates us from the love of Christ. 

I am asking for your help. Please pray for the protection of Next Step and its work. Please pray for the attacks to be thwarted and for the truth to be our shield.  We are under His care and protection. Please pray that the person or persons spreading these falsehoods is otherwise convicted and if there are questions or concerns about our work here that they seek the answers from a place of truth rather than a place of fear and apathy.

Many thanks to you all and for the immense support your churches and your church families have always given Next Step Pregnancy Services. I do hope you can pass this “letter” on to your fellow staff and ministries as well as your pastors. The truth needs to be spread far and wide. 

Thank you

Heather M Vasquez

Executive Director 

Next Step Pregnancy Services