This May, St. Stephen's will celebrate Foster Care Awareness Month—a cause that holds a special place in my heart. Even before we were married, my wife and I talked about adoption, but foster care wasn't something we had considered. That changed when we learned that over 100,000 children in the U.S. are waiting for a permanent family. We realized that our hope to grow our family could also provide a child with something every child deserves—a safe and loving home.

After training, paperwork, and a lot of prayer, we welcomed our first foster son in 2019, a nine-month-old baby boy. A few months later, we learned his birth mother was expecting again and was unable to care for the baby. Suddenly, we had two little ones under the age of two!

Foster parenting comes with its share of challenges, but it is also full of love, growth, and moments of unexpected grace. We navigated weekly visits with birth parents, frequent check-ins with social workers, and the uncertainty of whether we would be able to adopt. One of the most delicate aspects was balancing our deep love for the boys with the understanding that their birth family was also part of their story. Through it all, we focused on living in the moment-giving them the security and affection they needed, no matter what the future held.

After years of twists and turns, the court determined that adoption was the best path forward.

Four years after we began this journey, we stood before a judge and officially became a forever family.

Looking back, we see that adoption is not just about creating a family-it's about healing, resilience, and embracing the unknown with faith. Every adoption story involves loss, but love has always been about stepping forward, even when there are risks.

As Christians, we are called to care for the vulnerable. James 1:27 reminds us, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress." If foster care or adoption has ever been on your heart, I encourage you to explore it with an open mind. And even if fostering isn't vour calling, there are so many ways to support children and families-through prayer, advocacy, and simple acts of kindness.

I invite you to join me between Masses on Sunday, May 4, from 10:00-11:00 AM, for an open and heartfelt conversation. You'll hear real stories from foster families, have a chance to ask questions, and discover ways to make a difference. I hope to see you there!

~Ky & Christina