Moria and Brian Rooney founded Mother of Wilde in 2021, just months after their son, Noah Wilde, was unexpectedly stillborn at 35 weeks. In the midst of deep grief, Moria felt God calling her to create a ministry for families walking through similar loss.
With a heart for reaching even just one grieving parent, she set out to share the hope of Christ with others facing pregnancy and infant loss.
What began as a single remembrance print in honor of their son has since grown into thousands of keepsakes shared across the country and around the world.
Mother of Wilde exists to offer hope, prayer, biblical encouragement, and remembrance memorials to those mourning the loss of a baby. Mother of Wilde became a voice of hope and biblical truth in the loss community, using its rapidly growing social platform to advocate for life in all stages, including babies given a life-limiting diagnosis.
In a few short years, the ministry changed quickly.
- In 2022: Mother of Wilde added a donation portion to their ministry. Giving 10% back of all their proceeds to faith-based organizations in the pregnancy and infant loss community.
- In 2023: Mother of Wilde expanded to include birth prints for living children.
- In 2024: God birthed another ministry through Moria called Holy Ground, which would host quarterly faith-based retreats for the pregnancy and infant loss community.
- In 2025: God told Moria to give Mother of Wilde's ministry away to focus solely on Holy Ground retreats.
As difficult as it was to release Mother of Wilde, Moria came to understand that what began as a ministry God entrusted to her had slowly become her identity. In a moment of full surrender, she yielded to the Lord’s leading, asking Him to raise up the next mother who would faithfully steward what she had built.
Though the following weeks brought uncertainty, God made it undeniably clear that He was calling her to step back and wholeheartedly pursue a new work He was birthing through her — Holy Ground.
In that same season, Holy Ground hosted its first Christian retreat for grieving mothers. During the retreat, three women were baptized, surrendering their lives fully to Jesus. It was in this sacred place that Moria saw the shift God was orchestrating. Her desires had changed.
What once was a calling to create remembrance prints had always carried a greater purpose, to see mothers come to Christ. Moria realized that God placed a deep sense of transition on her heart and He was calling her into a deeper level of ministry, where she could personally witness the healing power of Jesus transform the hearts of grieving mothers in person.
After months of prayer, surrender, God reconnected Moria with a mother named Sam, who had lost her daughter, Abigail, a few years earlier. The two had crossed paths through ministry and had formed a brief but meaningful friendship, bonded by their shared faith and the pain of similar loss. Years before, Mother of Wilde had even created a remembrance keepsake for Abigail, offering comfort to Sam and her family during their grief. Moria felt like the Lord was planting a small seed.
Not long after their conversation, Moria was worshipping in church when God whispered the name “Abigail”. The moment brought her to tears and filled her with a deep sense of peace, as if everything was falling into place. It felt like a quiet confirmation that Sam had been on a parallel journey of preparation.
In the weeks that followed, their conversations became more frequent, and the idea of giving Mother of Wilde to Sam began to naturally and thoughtfully unfold.
The transition was a beautiful display of the glory and kindness of God. What began as a place of healing for Moria was being passed on to another mother and lover of Jesus, who would take Mother of Wilde's ministry and follow where God was leading.
"This word is by decree of the waters, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone He wants and sets the lowliest of people over them." Daniel 4:17
"Sam's love for God and love for this community are so evident. Her heart to seek His face will keep her humble. I trust that she will bring a new anointing to Mother of Wilde's ministry as she stewards this beautiful gift from God. I am overflowing with joy as I get to watch her minister to families and grow in deeper intimacy with the Lord.
Mother of Wilde has been one of the greatest honors of my life, creating keepsakes for your children. To hear their stories and intercede for your families. Thank you for trusting me with your sons and daughters. I could never truly put words to all of the ways this ministry has healed parts of me I never thought possible." - Moria Rooney
You can connect with Moria on Instagram at @moriaprays. Follow along with her new ministry, Holy Ground, @holygroundretreats or on their website www.holygroundretreats.org.
Mother of Wilde's official ownership transition will be June 2025. There will be no break in business operations so families will still be able to order through the transition. If you have further questions, email motherofwilde@gmail.com or reach out through our contact page.