Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ…

Sufferings come to us by a thousand paths. Temptations assault us when least expected. The eyes and ears of even the hardiest souls waver as to where to fix themselves at times. Be of good heart, the saints struggled against the same enemies of the soul.  We stand to learn from them…

As Seven Sisters we hold dear and deep our anchor Scripture verse:  In quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).  Like the saints that precede with examples and words, and continue to ‘cheer us on’, our hearts are indeed strengthened by this trust.  And our hope does not confound us (Rom 5:5).  There is more.  Confidence.  It is a virtue.  A disposition of soul.  Action.  After a fall the saints rose without delay, more humbled, more fortified in their dependence on God and assurance of His assistance.  Their maturing hearts were growing in confidence.

Fr John Hardon, SJ, explains, “There are three words we commonly use together, and they mean almost the same thing, but not quite: hope, trust and confidence. Hope is the assured desire that we shall obtain some future good things.  Trust is the reliance we have on someone that what we hope for we shall obtain.  Without trust there can be no hope. … Confidence is the result of hope and trust.  It is the peace of heart that comes from the security which is the result of having an assured hope and a firm trust.  We can have confidence only if we first trust, and trusting have hope.”

St Thomas Aquinas reminds that confidence is the bloom of hope and requires action: “Confidence is hope fortified by solid conviction.”  Perfection of hope merits the title.  It is heroic hope and stirs the will to act.  Fr Thomas de Saint-Laurent (+1949) in his petite-but-power-packed The Book of Confidence, puts it patently:“Confidence is not, then, a common flower.  It grows on the crests; it does not permit itself to be picked except by magnanimous souls.”

The magnanimous souls are among us – and they are YOU!  In the wake of the current onslaught of revelations and adversity in the church and in the world, your response has been far from cowering or anguish.  Rather there is a standing of ground.  The numbers of priests and bishops being covered in prayer by Seven Sisters groups has seen a happy boon. There are now over 600 groups worldwide. Women are taking their efficacious positions in prayer.  All this speaks of growing confidence in God and in this call on our lives for such a times as this (Esther 4:14).

Seven (partial to the number!) heartfelt testimonies of Seven Sisters… growing in confidence:

“I strongly believe that this Apostolate is truly a gift of love given to the churches during these trying times. I see it as a renewal of the spirit of love and family with one another. Focusing on strengthening us on the inside, soaking us in the ebb and flow of God’s love and mercy. It is there for us if we wish to partake of the gift given. Many thank yous … for listening to God’s Love that so often gets washed away in the noise of life. Thank you for being courageous and true to the mission that God has placed in your hands. … May others who hear of the Apostolate understand the spirit of the work and work towards protecting this treasure. – May many decide to Walk with you for the Greater Glory of God! I know I have 🙂 and with Great Confidence…”

“It’s a spiritual battle. Our priests need our prayers. This apostolate is an excellent battle plan that I’ve been looking forward to support our parish priest.”– Homeschooling mama to 7

“I converted to Catholicism two and a half years ago, and I have been praying for my parish priest for a year as part of the Seven Sisters Apostolate. …Especially in this time of difficulty in our Church, I think it important to uphold our priests in prayer and through this also demonstrate our faith in the Church.”

“Someone told me about this Apostolate.  So, I did my research and read the entire website. With every word my heart was affirmed and made stronger. I am so very excited to do this. I am the mother of a priest. When you are the mother of one priest, a wonderful, mysterious thing happens. You instantly become the mother of all his brother priests, no matter how old they are, if you know them or not, if they know you or not. My heart so wants all of my spiritual sons to be covered/lavished with prayer. My prayer is that this Apostolate will spread like wild fire for all our priests. I love the “hidden” aspect of this; it reminds me of all the women who ministered to Jesus in His earthly mission without fanfare, without their names even being recorded. I will begin praying for 6 sisters to join me here in my parish. I will also pray for the spread and success of this apostolate.”

“Hi, I am just a parishioner … who loves the church; and feels, in this time in history, we can do so much by our constant prayers for our priests. … God is preparing hearts to pray and not stop! He will help us! We each have a duty to pray and must give an answer to that duty.”

“I was convicted at Mass on the Feast of St. John Vianney to proceed. I began to ask the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother for help to see the Sisters needed. The women revealed to me were surprising! Initial invitations to parish women have been very well received. I now have six Sisters committed and three more considering. It seems timely to seek official affiliation with your Apostolate.”

“Driven with a desire to save souls, praying for priests is a sure way to help save hundreds of souls. Our shepherds play a critical part in leading the flock to God, and the holier priests we have, the more souls saved. I’m thankful for this ministry, and I will provide any resources I can to keep it strong in my church. Praise be to God for the formation of this group!”

And through the heart of the Lord, an excerpt from the aforementioned The Book of Confidence: “Our Lord once said to a saintly religious, who died in the odor of sanctity: ‘If I am good to all, I am very good to those who confide in Me.  Dost thou know which souls take the greatest advantage of my goodness?  They are those who hope the most.  Confident souls steal my graces!’” (From Soeur Benigne Consolata Ferrero, Roudil, Lyons, pp 95-96) Imprimatur, 1920.

The virtue of confidence affords such great glory to God that it bears exceptional benefits to souls:  So, do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Heb 10:35).

And from the beloved disciple himself …we have confidence before God, and receive from him anything we ask (I Jn 3: 21+).  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (I Jn 5:14).  Let us grow in this virtue as we pray for our shepherds, melding hope and trust for the fruit of confidence. Prayers for sanctity, nothing less. In God our confidence is not betrayed.  Nay, it finds reward indeed – for such a time as this…

United in prayer and mission…

that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! Don’t stop writing to me. Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+
651-484-3404 (h)
651-283-0929 (c)
[email protected]

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ…

As unpleasant news stuns our hearts in these days regarding Catholic clergy, peace comes remembering Our Lord never forsakes us (Deut 31:6) and, in all things, brings forth the good (Ro 8:28). The wisdom of saints, including from our patron, St John Vianney, echoes Truth Himself.

Sitting quietly in the rays of the Blessed Sacrament recently, a connection regarding these disheartening reports and the Seven Sisters Apostolate emerged.  There arose a remembrance that the inspiration of the Apostolate arrived at my heart door (03/24/11) just a breath after finishing a meditation on the wounds of Christ.  It is a meditation that evolved in those early weeks and months of prayer, the way each Holy Hour began – and still begins.  It serves to remind that the priest is called to walk the Way of Christ.  Pitfalls loom.  The Way is narrow, at times rugged, steep, ambiguous, linked with suffering.  The meditation bears an understanding that it is indeed possible for the priest to persevere, but only through the merits of Christ’s wounds.  Mercy and grace are entreated because they are necessary for the priest as both recipient and conduit.  As Seven Sisters we can call upon Our Lord for the release of this treasure trove of graces for the sanctity of priests.

St John Vianney encourages, “Why not love our crosses, and make use of them to take us to heaven?” And further, “Under the winepress of the cross, our soul produces a juice that feeds and strengthens us.  When we haven’t got any crosses, we are dry.” It is said that our patron often cried, even to weeping.  When asked, “’Why do you cry so much?’, his heartfelt and illuminating response, “Because you cry so little.”

The risen Jesus does not appear without His wounds.  Through them St Thomas expresses the fullness of his faith, “My Lord and My God!” (Jn 20:24-28).  Our personal and collective hardships and sufferings find meaning through the wounds of Christ. To an audience of Chilean priests in January 2018, Pope Francis explained: “We are not asked to ignore or hide our wounds.  A church with wounds can understand the wounds of today’s world and to make them her own, suffering with them, accompanying them and seeking to heal them.  A wounded church does not make herself the center of things, does not believe that she is perfect, but puts at the center the One who can heal those wounds, whose name is Jesus Christ.”

The Holy Father’s pontificate steadily bears the themes of mercy.  He practices what he preaches.  In mid-March 2018, during the day’s Angelus reflection, he advocated the ancient devotion of contemplating the five wounds of Christ (each hand, each foot, side).  He recommended praying an Our Father prior to moving to the next wound.  “When we pray that Our Father, let’s enter through Jesus’ wounds and arrive deeper and deeper, into His heart.” The Pontiff continued, “Enter into His wounds and contemplate the love in His heart for you, and you, and you, and me, for everyone.” Included is the priest for whom you pray.

My weekly practice of this meditation, albeit slightly different, carries a like-hearted goal.  The meditation is done kneeling in sight of the Crucifix behind the monstrance.  (If travelling and there is not a Crucifix in the Adoration Chapel, my rosary Crucifix suffices).  Using the rosary beads, a simple phrase is uttered, “By the merits of the wound of Your (location), have mercy on Fr ___.” A decade for each meditation is offered.  An additional mediation flows from the first, considering some of the other wounds of Christ (again using rosary beads): “By the merits of the wounds from Your crown of thorns, purify Fr ___ thoughts and give him the mind of Christ.” … “By the merits of the wounds of Your back, heal Fr ___ in the areas of need.” … “By the merits of the wounds of Your knees, fortify and deepen Fr ___ prayer life.” … “By the merits of the wounds on Your feet, make straight the way for Fr ___.” … “By the merits of the wounds of insults and spittle, increase Fr ___ humility.”

While most popular in the 12th and 13th centuries there was a revival of this devotion through the Divine Mercy reflections of the Polish St Faustina Kowalska. “As I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament and greeting the five wounds of Jesus, at each salutation I felt a torrent of graces gushing into my soul, giving me a foretaste of heaven and absolute confidence in God’s mercy.  Jesus told me that I please Him best by meditating on His sorrowful Passion and by such meditation much light falls upon my soul” (Diary, 1337, 267 – my emphasis).  Some have used the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayers to efficaciously contemplate the wounds of Christ.  “Jesus said: I give great graces to souls who meditate devoutly on My Passion” (Diary, 737).

The classic prayer, the Anima Christi (which has been dubbed the ‘saint-maker’ since numerous Saints prayed this daily following reception of Communion), includes the appeal to Jesus: “Within Thy wounds hide me.”  Here lies an important vantage point for the Seven Sisters intercessors.  A place within to assist in forming prayers for the priest for whom we are committed to pray. St. Bernard concurs: “Where have your love, your mercy, your compassion shone out more luminously than in your wounds, sweet, gentle Lord of mercy?”

In these days of greater transparency and cleansing in our Church, St John Vianney offers us more counsel: “God commands you to pray, but forbids you to worry.” And “It is always springtime in the heart that loves God.”  St John Vianney, pray for us!

In CELEBRATION of St John Vianney’s Feast Day and his generous and loving patronage: I am offering FREE St John Vianney medals which have been touched to a first-class relic of him (making the medals third-class relics).  Send me a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope).  Limit one medal request per envelope please.

United in prayer and mission…
that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…
… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
… your kind emails and notes and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your letters of testimony (of both victories and challenges) are so beautiful and edifying! Don’t stop writing to me. Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ…

Recently while enjoying a meal on our patio with guests, a singing wren made a visit.  I interrupted conversation, pointing to the dense woods. Listen! Altho hidden from sight, the sweet trill of the wren heartened us toward smiles all around.

Despite being such a wee and very plain-looking bird (when one is able to spot one!), the wren is gifted with a remarkably beautiful and penetrating voice.  It never seems to run out of hours or reasons to sing!  Yet in the case of our dinner gathering, even this impressive melody went unnoticed.   So may it seem with our prayer offerings as Seven Sisters – hidden, week after week after week.  Does it matter?  Do our prayers go beyond the ceiling of the Chapel?  Do they have effect?  Are they being heard?

While these are reasonable inquiries, it seems Seven Sisters are better served by a contentment that comes from our anchor verse:  … in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).  The heart of St Peter Damien encourages, “Let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face.  Let the joy of your mind burst forth.  Let words of thanks break from your lips.” His counsel challenges our prayers to pour forth  – simply because God has asked us to join Him in these endeavors to pray for priests.  “This is what I was made for” (St Joan of Arc). Our prayerful voices, albeit perhaps seeming so plain and small and unnoticed, hold eternally worthy resonance in the merit that God has called us to them and faithfully guides us in them. Simple. Humble. The seedbed for a divine joy that cannot be contained. …so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 30:11).

Over and again when I meet with Seven Sisters – face-to-face or through phone calls, emails, notes – I am struck by theuniversal witness of joyfulness. This call to pray for a priest or bishop seems to fulfill something within, animates fresh prayerful actions, gives radiance to one’s countenance.  Fidelity has its reward!

Some have shared that they have at times been led to spend a good portion of their hour simply quietly rejoicing in all that the Lord is accomplishing – seen or unseen – in the call upon and the life of the priest they are committed to pray for. They have further shared that in doing so this gives a new-found liberty of heart – to believe a lavish of thanksgiving and praise of God is redeemable as grace that is applied to the life of this priest for his good.  “For me prayer is a surge of heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (St Therese of Lisieux)

When the wren opens its beak to release its remarkable warble, it often holds its tail vertical as if to give impetus to impart extra gusto to its singing.  It hearkens to a friend’s daughter who, when excited, stands on her tiptoes and seems to cause every muscle to contract.  She uses her whole body to tell the world of her happiness.  So too may it be for us, that we simply allow our whole being to revel in the joy of the Seven Sister mission and its fruits. Let us to allow our cups to runneth over.  Let us permit our thanks and joy to simply break from our lips.  No need to ruffle our feathers over this or that. Let us rather embrace the Hours set before us, remembering what has passed and anticipating what is to be – allowing our interior voices of gratitude and joy be heard in the heavens through the din of the world’s “woods”.

There is a children’s tale about the various birds trying to choose a King among them.  Would the criteria be beauty? size? strength?  The wise owl suggested the bird that flies the highest should be King.  Knowing its limits, the little wren hid in the feathers of the eagle, unbeknownst to all.  The birds took flight.  As each met its limit, the eagle continued to soar and eventually was solo.  The eagle made its descent, but to the surprise of all, the wren flew out and hovered in the sky to try to cinch the honor.  The wise owl was consulted again.  His verdict rested with the eagle because the little wren really did not fly to the heights, but only ‘gave the appearance’.  It is said that the wren accepted the judgement and henceforth flew close to the earth and never ceased singing in a gratitude of humility and joy of being who he was always meant to be.

Remain of good heart.  Your humility and sacrificial prayers assuredly bring a most fragrant offering and sweet sound to the Lord:  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer… (I Peter 3:12a). Grace upon grace. While Psalm 100 is the smallest psalm in the Psalter (more great things in small packages), it has a grand message for us: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into His presence with singing! 

And we are well aware that His Word holds a special invitation apart from a self-invitation like that of the wren: that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles… (Isaiah 40:30).  St Francis of Assisi, the saint of simplicity, humility and joy, gives us a fitting closing ponder-able: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” And I might add – nor keep silent our joy-filled fidelity to pray for our Shepherds. 

United in prayer and mission…
that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…
… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
… your kind emails and notes and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your letters of testimony (of both victories and challenges) are so beautiful and edifying! Don’t stop writing to me. Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ…

and a most blessed Solemnity of Corpus Christi!  We live the richest life! …

We bid adieu to that beautiful month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our time of discernment regarding our involvement in this Apostolate.  Let us now welcome that beautiful month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, where we respond to God’s Will regarding the Apostolate for the upcoming year.

Please inform your Anchoress TODAY (if you haven’t already) whether you will continue with your Seven Sisters group or depart from its schedule and commitment.  By informing your Anchoress in a timely fashion, hope remains to adjust/adapt any prayer coverage transitions needed to keep them seamless for our priests/bishops.

To both those continuing or departing – eternal gratitude.  Every sacrifice, every prayer bears eternal worth.  Both new beginnings and renewals hold great graces – each entering the radiance of His infinite love through His Sacred Heart!

Gratitude lives well beyond my heart.  Straight from the hearts of priest-recipients regarding your prayers and sacrifices are just a sampling of notes of gratitude…

>  “I believe the Seven Sisters Apostolate has been a great source of grace for my priesthood and, as a result, for all those to whom I minister.  I sense that I have been more centered and integrated in my public and personal life, and that the spark of love for Christ and for His Body has been intensified on a daily basis, helping me to overcome distraction, temptation and weariness of heart.  While I may not recall each day that a female disciple of Jesus is praying for me in a very intentional way, perhaps the strength and encouragement I derive in habitual manner is a taste of what Jesus felt as he was surrounded and supported by holy women.  I am very grateful for the circle of “sisters” who pray for me, and for all whose love for Christ is extended in beautiful solidarity with those who share the yoke of my priesthood.  Thank you so much.”

>  “Since my group of 7 Sisters started praying for me, I often feel comforted and very supported by the fact that I have this loving shield of Marian intercession continually round about me, enfolding me and bearing me up.  … To be so loved, in such a spiritual, prayerful way, I feel so much more confident as a priest, especially when I am facing difficult situations.”

> “I take consolation and strength from knowing that I am being prayed for each day during a prayer hour.”

> “I am grateful for your prayers. It allows the Lord to sustain and bear fruit in and through His priests.”

> “I’m so deeply grateful to be daily enveloped by such powerful prayer.  The effects of the prayers of these dear women have been tangibly felt on numerous occasions.  I have no words to express how blessed I feel.”

> “… I’m convinced that none of us can thrive without a reliance on prayer, so I appreciate knowing that I’m strengthened by my own prayer life, and the prayers being offered by the Seven Sisters.  God bless this Apostolate for all the good it’s doing for the lives of priests and for the life of the Church!”

>  “Knowing that each day throughout the course of the week is covered with hidden prayer before the Lord is a great consolation that spurs me on to serve with zeal and generosity. I am a grateful recipient of this powerful and steady intercession which reminds me that apart from Him I can do nothing. All of us, priests included, are like the paralytic in the Gospel – carried aloft to the Lord by the prayers of friends, loved ones, even of hidden contemplatives and unknown intercessors. The Seven Sisters who dedicate themselves to pray for my intentions and priestly vocation in no small way take up their part in the Church’s mission for souls. With heartfelt thanks, A grateful associate pastor”

>  “Many times during the week I recall that one of the Seven Sisters is praying for me.  I find it so comforting, and also humbling.  Their charity inspires me to be more generous in the time I spend in prayer.  When I’m struggling to keep prayer as a priority, I’m deeply grateful for the powerful intercession provided by these holy women.” 

> “I am sure that I would be in much worse shape if I didn’t have prayer warriors assisting the ministry here. This is what I think: Ministry has its own challenges, as any walk of life, but ours is somewhat different. When things have been spiritually “sleepy” for a long time, the forces of evil don’t have a lot to worry about. However when renewal begins to happen (especially under a pastor’s leadership) people’s lives begin to change. Evil hates that. Many times skirmishes in parishes seem to be about change, but there is a darker side. That darker side is a spiritual battle for people’s souls… Therefore one begins to see a rise in things like gossip, complaining, criticizing the pastor, etc..

While they might have some grounding in reality, I believe many times it is a reaction of the struggle between good and evil. That’s where pastors can get discouraged, back down from or avoid challenging issues or situations that must be addressed… What is hurt is the community spirituality. THIS is where I see the Seven Sisters so important! I am aware of a situation where a Seven Sisters prayer person got upset with the pastor she was praying for and subsequently said she would no longer pray for him! Maybe the Scripture passage about “praying for your enemies” was not one she was familiar with. We don’t just pray for those whom we like 🙂 I am assured that those praying for me help to protect me from anything that would thwart God’s plan for the parishes I serve.  I am humbled and MOST grateful to those faithful women.”

Many priests nationwide are learning of new assignments/ retirement in these days.  It is a new season for these shepherds and a new season for those Seven Sisters in prayer for them. Prayer efforts may need to be ramped up a bit for those in the unsteadiness of the transitions.  So many details, one step at a time.  Let us generously offer our folded hands and bended knees in support.

This is my ‘go to’ prayer in life’s transitions.  May this prayer of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) be yours (and for a transitioning priest), as well:

“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You.  Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me.  I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace. Amen.” 

United in prayer and mission…

that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your letters of testimony (of both victories and challenges) are so beautiful and edifying! Don’t stop writing to me. Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+

651-484-3404 (h)
651-283-0929 (c)
[email protected]

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ in this sweetly lingering Easter season! – It is not easy to keep celebrating!  But let us try – that our wellsprings of joy may remind the world that we have plenty to shout about!  Alleluia!

When the phone rings before 7 am, like this morning, it is likely a bit of news that cannot wait or a plea for help.  This morning it carried both. I departed from the computer keys to listen, to pray. The call no sooner had ended, when in a great departure from the norm, another came in.  Really?  Really!  I surrendered once again to the task at hand.  … And so the morning went… and into the afternoon… the unexpected reigned…

Eventually settling into the chair in the den I mused that while the day was not going as planned, perhaps in a deeper sense it was going exactly as planned – by God. God had provided an object lesson for this month’s Communiqué theme: discernment of His Will.  In the day-to-day moments sometimes His Will is not so clear cut.

The echo of Our Lady, “Do whatever He tells you,” continues to reach and stir us.  We want to please God. With St Paul we ask, “Lord what wilt thou have me do?” (Acts 9:6), or with David remind our Lord, “I am thine; do with me according to your good pleasure(Ps 118:94).

Even our desire to seek His Will comes from Him. He beckons. In our response, the Lord meets us with a lavish of graces to learn and submit to His Will.  We have learned that just a toe in the water parts the sea (Joshua 3:13).  There is more: We not only gain the satisfaction of pleasing God in our compliance, but are sanctified in our conformity and our love is perfected, “The chief effect of love is to unite the hearts of those who love each other so that they have the same will” (St Jerome).  When we resist we go backwards, or at best end up in that proverbial somewhere else.

How good to seek His Will – and what a joy to seek His Will as individuals – and together – in this Apostolate!  My prayers heartily join yours as you commit in this month of May to discern (see Guidelines) your continued commitment or departure from the weekly Holy Hours as part of a Seven Sisters Apostolate group.

As soon as you have a clear sense (you need not wait until the end of the month), let the Anchoress of your group know the direction of your call for the coming year.  Ideally, before June commences, committed intercessors will be identified and able to seamlessly continue in prayerful support of the priest or bishop.

WORTH NOTING: The Apostolate serves all priests/bishops, so be open to the call that might be to remain in the Apostolate, but perhaps serve in a different (or new!) group (ie Hospital Chaplain, retired priest/bishop, associate priest in a parish where pastor already has a group, priests serving in Seminaries, priests that are chaplains/professors in High schools/Universities, Canon lawyers, priests who serve the Chancery, priests in religious orders, etc).  Every priestly heart needs and deserves our prayers! Be assured, if you ask, you will know where/how you are called. And likewise, be assured, that God’s graces are sufficient to the task!

Continue with holy fidelity and focus to your Seven Sister’s commitments through May.  It may take extra planning and efforts in this month of ‘so much’. Let us be sensitive in remembering that many of our parish priests and bishops are on ‘double duty’ in this merry, merry month as we celebrate so many events in our sacramental life and special Feast Days, as well.  Likewise, many priests will be learning of new assignments and needing our extra sacrifices and prayers as they anticipate transition.

This is a fitting segue to remind that your groups are designed to cover in prayer a priest in a particular position (ie pastor, rector, associate, etc) rather than a particular priest (with the exception of a retired priest who is no  longer receiving new assignments).  If the priest for whom you are praying is being reassigned, please continue prayers for him until he leaves and his replacement arrives.  Then seamlessly begin prayers for the incoming priest.  The outgoing priest will hopefully enter into an assignment that has an existing Seven Sisters group – or maybe you can encourage the genesis of one in his new environs!

As a final word, may this heart of our sister in Christ, St Elizabeth Ann Seton be ours: “The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner He wills it; and thirdly to do it because it is His will.“

United in prayer and mission…

that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Mother Teresa)

… your kind emails and notes and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU!  Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+

651-484-3404 (h)
651-283-0929 (c)
[email protected]