Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ as those words Habemas Papam sweetly linger to sustain our trust in the promised provision of Our Lord. Oh, my – so very many Seven Sisters swiftly and generously expressed a desire to pray for Pope Leo XIV through the Apostolate. Nine groups devotedly offered Holy Hours for Pope Francis. Let us see what the Lord will arrange for our new Holy Father. Please register the groups! May God’s Will bring intercessors for him from all around the globe! As a type of warm-up, there is a beautiful initiative to collectively offer one million Holy Hours as a Spiritual Bouquet for our new Pontiff (to be presented on the Feast of the Assumption, 15 August). https://www.starsofpeace.org/pope-leo
Heavenly June has arrived! Our Lord has mystically linked us to His Sacred Heart, for which the month of June is wholly dedicated. Our beginnings are marked in June of 2011 with 7 groups praying for 7 pastors in 7 parishes. While groups may begin any day, our eventual universal recommitments to the prayer offerings in this month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus fortifies and links us. We unite in pledge and in prayer!
Recently in the Office of Readings (Fourth Week of Easter, Thursday), a portion of St Augustine’s treatise on John was featured. It carries a message central to the Apostolate. In the selection, St Augustine unfolds this Scripture: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another.” He challenges the term new, asserting the Old Law holds the same commandment. His musings, however, escort the reader to the truth that the love Christ commands is distinguished by His own descriptor to love as I have loved you. St Augustine underscores that this new kind of love renews us and those we love. We become heirs of the new covenant and singers of the new song. Through offering this love of Christ and as Christ, we become united as family: to God and to one another. St Augustine delights at such an extravagant gift from the Lord: that in loving us we are enabled to love each other with such heights of love. As I have loved you, you also must love one another.
Seven Sisters seem to readily and courageously embrace this summons – and respond humbly and generously – to return this type of love to Love Himself. This is the love that the Sacred Heart reveals. This is the love that is accessible to each of us. This is the mystical link we hold. Our Lord is offering the purity of His love to be our love – for Him and for others. We indeed love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Desiring to love as Christ loves, enables Seven Sisters to trust that there is Help: to keep fidelity to the Hours we have promised, to guide us in how to pray, to surrender the merit of our offerings completely to Our Lord, to confidently come against distractions in prayer, to grow in a rightly-ordered love for the recipients of our prayers. In so doing and in imitation, our love iconically bursts from our core. We cannot contain it. Priests and bishops witness this in us. Our families benefit. We desire to love with a lavishing of His love! We take our rest in His generous Heart and are guided and renewed all at once.
Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque between 1673-1675. Among the words spoken to her, she heard Jesus make 12 promises (approved and cited by the Church) to those who would respond to the pleading of His Sacred Heart and make an effort to return His love. Among them, Jesus promises that “Lukewarm souls shall become fervent”, “Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection”, and “I will give priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.”
An esteemed subject for artists, Sacred Heart images are diverse. At their core, they speak of this love that St Augustine describes and that Jesus describes to St Margaret Mary. This is the love that Seven Sisters are called to. This is the love that is set to bolster our relationships with those for whom we pray and those whom we pray alongside. Every June Communique a distinct Sacred Heart image or selected detail serves to help us more deeply understand this full Heart of love so freely offered and brought close within our very grasp. In this issue’s rendering, the placement of rays to the wounds of Christ allows us to readily comprehend “to love as He loved” through a love that sacrifices in actions of prayer and service to our shepherds. As conduits of Christ’s love, we bear the seeds for the fruit of unity. How full is the new Holy Father’s heart regarding unity. At his Inaugural Mass on 18 May 2025, Pope Leo seemed to affirm what resides in the Eucharistic hearts of Seven Sisters, “We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look at Christ! Come closer to Him! Welcome His word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to His offer of love and become His one family: in the one Christ, we are one.” And in that same homily, something more: “Brothers and sisters, this is the Hour for love!”
United in prayer, fasting and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest. Eternal gratitude continues as you each offer a daily wee Hail Mary for me. “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’ (St Teresa of Calcutta). Your emails, notes and calls always arrive to my heart door at the just the right moment! Financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of the Apostolate. Your letters of testimony are beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through them! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar. – Janette (Howe) +JMJ+ 651-283-0929; 43 Nord Circle Rd, St Paul, MN 55127; sevensistersapostolate@gmail.com
SEVEN SISTERS – in and out and about:
Heartfelt welcome: NEW groups that registered in MAY to cover more priests in daily prayer: Additional groups in Canada (Vancouver), Kenya (Africa), Portugal, Washington, DC and these USA states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Virginia.
RECENT … and AHEAD on the calendar:
> May-October: Champion Shrine’s Shepherd Project. A season of prayer for each and every Bishop in the USA. One daily prayer provided. To sign up: https://championshrine.org/shepherd-project/
> Gratitude to Bev/Kristen (Diocese Bismarck, ND) for hosting Day of Reflection (10 May)
> Gratitude to Carrie (Diocese St Cloud, MN) for hosting Reflection and Renewal (17 May)
> Gratitude to Holly/team (Diocese Seattle, WA) for hosting 4th annual Diocesan Retreat (31 May)
> Gratitude to Tammie/team (Diocese Ft Wayne/So Bend, IN) for hosting annual Retreat (31 May)
> Sat, 7 June. Morning of Reflection w/Rosary, Mass, talks, fellowship, relics for veneration, lunch. St Aloysius. Olivia, MN (New Ulm Diocese) 9-12. Invited to wear blue and may bring flowers to honor Mary. Janette to offer Reflection. Donation supported event. Jen: sevensistersnewulm@gmail.com
> Wed, 11 June. Commitment Day Retreat with Most Rev Brendan Cahill, St Mary’s (Victoria, TX)
Begins 11 am. Adoration, talks, Holy Mass, potluck. Ask Conchita: sevensistersvictoria@gmail.com
> Sat, 14 June. Seven Sisters Gathering/Reflection. Diocese of Birmingham, AL. St Theresa of the Child Jesus (Leeds, AL). 9 am – 1:30 pm. Holy Mass, talks, lunch, fellowship, Q&A. Janette will offer a Reflection. $15. Contact Kathy: sevensistersbirminghamal@gmail.com
> Sat, 21 June. Galv-Houston 2025 Recommitment Retreat. Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. Incl Mass, brkst, Adoration, Confession, lunch, fellowship. Janette to offer reflection: The Privilege of Praying for Priests. $33. Contact: galvezhoustonsevensisters@gmail.com Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050844AEA723ABFA7-55577591-2025
> Sat, 21 June. Annual Seven Sisters Retreat. Mount Angel Abbey (St Benedict, OR). 8-2:30. Talks: Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, Fr Michael Niemczak. Incl Adoration, Confession, Rosary, Fellowship, Prayer with the monks. Contact Jennifer: sevensistersportland@gmail.com
> Link to quality Apostolate T-shirts (short & long sleeved and hoodies) Eye-catching monstrance design. https://www.bonfire.com/seven-sisters-apostolate OR sevensistersseattle@gmail.com
MATTERS of the HEART:
- “I love this ministry and any/all time that I spend in the Adoration Chapel. I honestly would not have thought to pray for priests so diligently had I not joined. It was pretty casual prayers for the burdens they carry/ and for the most part alone.” (Mary, Minnesota)
- “I met such a kind woman at a Retreat. She talked about the Apostolate and beautiful commitment of praying for priests. I have prayed about this several times in Adoration and feel called to be an Anchoress. As a disabled woman it can allow me to lead in such a profound way.” (Laurie, Maryland)
- “I am a deacon’s wife. My husband and I care and attend to visiting priests that stay at our parish rectory.
I was inspired to look into the Apostolate. It stirred my heart and I felt a strong calling. My eyes, ears and heart saw the need by realizing that our priests are in need of great prayer. I asked the Holy Spirit to help form this beautiful group and had 7 women plus 2 more answer the call.” (Alexandra, California) - “I have had it on my heart to pray for priests. When I was invited by a friend, I considered it a privilege to be part of such a group. When an anchoress was needed for the group, I prayerfully considered it and it seemed very clear that this is something the Lord has been inviting me to.” (Laurie, Washington, DC)
- “I’m grateful and blessed to pray for our priests who selflessly give so much. The least we can do is to offer them our prayers in a very intentional way through this ministry.” (Mary, Maryland)
- “Have been a Seven Sister since 2019. I so believe in this Apostolate and am grateful.” (Marjorie, Indiana)
ELIJAH’s HELPERS: Intercessors in this group are dedicated to offering Holy Hours for priests in various forms of crisis (no names known). These are special Hours for special circumstances and carry special supportive graces. It is growing! Please consider this vital, hope-filled offering for our priests! All inquiries to Nancy at ElijahsHelpers@gmail.com or cell: 612-756-1107. She will help!
PRO PACE (Latin, for peace): In Nov 2024 an opportunity opened to pray for the souls of priests in Purgatory. Groups of seven are to band together. The commitment for each intercessor will be to attend holy Mass on one’s unique day every week and offer one’s personal Mass intention and personal Communion for the souls of priests in Purgatory. Anchoress: registration forms on the Website.
APPRECIATED and LOVED quilt project: A double cloaking for RETIRED PRIESTS: Seven Sisters prayer and a quilt! The priests love both! To learn more regarding a single quilt for a retired priest or on how to get this started in your Diocese, contact QuiltsBySevenSisters@gmail.com
FASTING BROTHERS is growing: Groups of men offering various forms of fasting to augment the prayer efforts of a Seven Sisters group. Each man prayerfully discerns the type of fasting he will offer and commits to fast a designated day of the week (excepting Sunday/Solemnities). Our Chaplain, strongly urges formation of these groups. Form on the Website for FB leader to register.
LAMP-BEARERS: Lamp-Bearers, so-named for their action of continually ‘filling of their lamps with the oil of prayer’, pray for the Apostolate at large. Each intercessor offers prayers of her choice every day, and prays for two unique countries to increase prayer efforts for priests. Intentions are gleaned from topics and calendar points in the Communique and sent to members on the second or third Sunday of the month. Additional intercessors ever-welcomed. Inquire through Website.
SEVEN SISTERS Guideline BOOKLETS: Available as free download from Web site. Hard copies passed on for printing cost of $2 each + P/H. Order thru Web email with amount desired/address
SEVEN SISTERS Tri-fold BROCHURE: Effectively used in parish pamphlet stands (ask pastor’s approval prior), Adoration Chapels, Retreat Centers, Bags/Packets for Women’s Conferences/Retreats, Women’s clubs, Serra clubs – or simply handing out! Available on Web as free download. Recommend 80# silk for best printing results. May also order through Web site. Indicate address/quantity. 50 cents each or 25 for $10 + P/H. Available in ENGLISH and SPANISH.
SEVEN SISTERS Tri-fold LITANY for PRIESTS: Beautifully printed on 100# silk (a bit thicker than brochures). Original artwork (inspired by the Diary of St Faustina) by Seven Sister in Minnesota, Litany by Richard Cardinal Cushing. 50 cents each or 25 for $10 + P/H.
REMEMBRANCE of those SEVEN SISTERS who have PASSED: We want to remember those Seven Sisters in name and in prayer, who have gone before us to their eternal rest. Visit the Web site. Click on ABOUT folder and scroll to bottom, choose: IN REMEMBRANCE. Follow prompts… OR you may submit info via the Website email. Please check site monthly for additions and to pray!
PRIEST who has PASSED to ETERNAL REST: If the priest for whom you pray has entered eternal life, the group may be led to continue to pray for a length of time for the soul of that priest. Perhaps a novena of Holy Hours or the offering of holy Mass(es) for the priest. You will know. Some groups have/are offering Holy Hours for an entire year for their beloved deceased priest. Groups may be started following the death of a priest that did not have a group prior. This is commendable and welcomed. Please register these special groups through the Web site.