Miscarriage Ministry Fundraises for Dedicated Infant Loss Memorials at Cemeteries

by Diocese of Des Moines | September 8, 2026

By Ann Pierson

Fundraising to create a dedicated infant loss space in cemeteries is underway. This project is one of the latest ways miscarriage ministry has been reaching out to others.

Maria Campbell of the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines began miscarriage ministry at her parish in 2024. She was inspired after meeting founder of Covenant Resources Miscarriage Ministry, Rebecca Harpring, at the National Eucharistic Congress to use her suffering to help others who suffered from miscarriage.

Through the ministry, Campbell has helped others access resources after loss in her parish, including helping other parishes begin their own miscarriage ministries.  Along with supplying kits to those who have experienced a miscarriage, the ministry is preparing a podcast in partnership with Iowa Catholic Radio. Now, the ministry is creating a space for families to bury their loved ones.

Little Souls Cemetery™, created by Covenant Resources Miscarriage Ministry, is a created burial place for miscarried babies, or infants that died prior to 20 weeks. There are few solutions for burying a miscarried baby, but these memorials provide a dignified way to care for the remains of an unborn infant.

Each design features a walkway, flat granites to bury infants with remains, and upright memorials for babies without remains. Each cemetery will have the potential to bury and memorialize hundreds of infants. The design also features a statue of Jesus holding an unborn child at the center of the burial place.

Additionally, each cemetery will have benches marked, both making the space intentional and sharing the importance of the lives it honors.

“It’s a great evangelization tool,” Campbell said. “Having this right there where people are going to drive by, walk by and draw their attention to [it and say]... ‘They have a spot that’s just for these babies. How important are these babies prior to 20 weeks that they have an actual burial ground for them?’ What a great witness to life.”

Currently, there is only one infant loss cemetery in the Diocese. There are hopes to create five additional diocesan-located cemeteries, with talks to add cemeteries in St. Patrick’s Parish in Perry, St. Mary’s (owned by St. Boniface) in Dallas Center, St. John’s Parish in Norwalk, St. Peter’s in Council Bluffs, and Ss. Peter and Paul in Atlantic.  The project provides a solution to an unmet need in many communities.

“This is so overdue,” said Campbell. “Everyone I’ve talked to, hands down… was just like, ‘Yes, we need this.’”

As fundraising begins, Campbell encourages the community to give what they can, spread the word, and pray for the success of this project. Donations of all sizes are needed and welcomed, and education on the rights parents have to bury their unborn children is essential. Campbell invites especially those who have a personal connection to miscarriage to help others through a similar cross

“This is a need, and if it’s something that’s dear to your heart, or you’ve experienced it in your own family or in your own life,  this is a tangible way you can pay it forward and do something to help other people,” she said. 

Maria Campbell will be at Christ Our Life Conference in September representing Covenant Resources with ministry totes as well as fundraising resources.

To make a donation, please visit www.tinyurl.com/DesMoinesLSC. For more information, please contact Rebecca Harping at rebecca@covenantresources.org.