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Avilas — Intercessory Prayer For The Priests Of Our Parish And Diocese
It could be said that, perhaps more than ever before, after months of not having regular access to Mass and the Sacrament of Confession, Catholics are coming to realize the significance of these graces in their lives. And yet, pandemic or no pandemic, regardless of the location or situation, what is necessary for these sacraments to take place is a priest who has chosen to say “yes” to serving Christ and His Body, the Church.
“I don’t know who said it, but it caught my attention — if there are no priests, there’s no Eucharist, no Reconciliation,” says parishioner Mary Ann Takacs, the contact person for the Avilas at Immaculate Conception. “We really need them, and we need them to be holy priests.”
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The Avilas is a diocesan-wide organization, with groups of men and women gathering at individual parishes to intercede for our priests, and for vocations to priesthood and religious life. Here at Immaculate Conception, the Avilas meet on the third Tuesday of every month, beginning with 7:30 a.m. Mass, followed by the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and prayers distributed by the diocesan Avilas organization. Homebound members of the Avilas intercede in similar ways from home.
There are also bi-monthly diocesan gatherings of the Avilas, including Mass with our seminarians, prayer, lunch and an opportunity to hear from a priest or religious, who come to share their story. For many who attend, not only is it an opportunity to meet some of those for whom they are praying, but also a chance to learn about their needs and struggles, and how to best intercede for them.
“They tell us about their vocation stories,” Mary Ann says. “Some began in very religious homes and some came from homes that were not religious. Some had a real struggle and some knew from second grade that they wanted to become a priest. It’s very interesting — it’s wonderful.”
Through the Avilas, people also have the opportunity to anonymously “adopt” a newly ordained priest, committing to pray for him daily, and occasionally sending cards or other signs of support.
“My mom used to say, ‘The devil never sleeps,’” Mary Ann says. “We know that the devil sets traps and snares for the souls of our priests. So, they do need our prayers and we know God hears our prayers. He would not discount our prayers for the sanctification of His priests and religious.”
The inspiration for the group comes from their patroness, St. Teresa of Avila. One of four female Doctors of the Church, St. Teresa was known for highlighting the importance of prayer.
“St. Teresa of Avila’s focus was the power of prayer,” Mary Ann says. “I’ve heard from many priests who speak to us that prayer is the anchor in their life and without the real focus on prayer, they tend to drift.”
Mary Ann encourages her fellow parishioners to consider becoming involved in this important ministry.
“All of us may not be able to be involved in Avilas, per se, but all of us can pray for the priests,” Mary Ann says. “It’s just an extension of praying for your family. They’re part of your life.
“One thing that [the priests] always mention is, ‘Keep praying for us,’” she adds. “Every one of them is so thankful for Avilas and they ask us to continue to pray, ‘We need your prayers.’”
