An Epiphany tradition at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Decatur is an outreach to pregnant women in DeKalb County.

At Masses Jan. 2, Epiphany Sunday, parishioners formed an offertory procession to the altar where they placed items for newborn babies in a carton near the manger. All baby essentials collected are presented to expectant mothers who have completed parenting and nutrition classes at two county clinics, Clifton Springs and Stone Mountain, and have kept all of their prenatal care appointments.

The gifts for babies is a longtime project of the family affairs commission of the parish women’s council.

According to Agnes Driskell, a longtime parishioner closely involved with Better Infant Births, a coalition of organizations involved in helping the pregnant women, Sts. Peter and Paul was the first parish to initiate such a collection.

Betty Pothier is president of BIB and Anne Marie Mullen is president of the parish women’s council. BIB is also a project of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women.