Catholic Charities honors foster mother of 121 babies

Published: 2004-09-30

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNS) -- At its annual meeting in Denver, Catholic Charities USA honored a Colorado Springs woman who has been foster mother to 121 infants. For 22 years Barbara O'Connell has been a foster mother of newly born and very young babies for the Catholic Charities adoption program in the Colorado Springs Diocese. In ceremonies Sept. 25 the national organization gave her the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Award, citing her for excellence, creativity and leadership in her service to children in need. "I just like what I'm doing, and I was very surprised to learn of this award. I don't feel like I need special recognition," she told The Catholic Herald, Colorado Springs diocesan newspaper. O'Connell said she started being a cradle-care foster mother after the second of her two children became a toddler. She takes the infants in for any time from a few hours to several weeks. She will care for babies while their birth mothers, who considering placing them for adoption through Catholic Charities, receive counseling and weigh all the considerations. If adoption is chosen, then she cares for the children for a longer period while the necessary adoption procedures are completed.

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