The Prayer
A Parish Community Engaging in T
he Catholic faith is rich with an abundance of ways to pray. These include the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Lectio Divina, contemplative prayer, and, especially, the Mass. These different forms of prayer come from the Bible and Tradition. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs us to pray together — “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). This command gives us insight into the power of praying with one another. A newer ministry to the parish, the Prayer Ministry offers parishioners an opportunity to join other members of the ministry to pray together. This opportunity for intercessory prayer is offered after the Sunday Masses in the Pier Giorgio Frassati Room. Parishioners are invited to go to the room after Mass to pray with others. Leanne Bergford is heading up the organization of this new ministry. “This ministry really comes from the heart of Fr. Jim to continue to
make the center of our life around the Eucharist,” Leanne says. “We then reach out to people around that core of the Eucharist. We are available to be with people to pray with them. This is a prayer with them, not just for them. “In a sense, this is not really new,” she adds. “It is an extension of what the parish already engages in. In our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, we have slips of paper on which people can write their prayer requests. Those prayer requests are then prayed over by adorers throughout the month. In the Prayer Ministry, folks will be invited, if they so choose, to write their prayer requests on a slip of paper to be added to those being brought before the Blessed Sacrament. This praying with one another stems from the community that we are called to as Christians. When Christ began His mission on earth, He surrounded Himself with a community of disciples and followers — “He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two
“Sometimes during Mass, people’s hearts will be stirred. Or maybe they come to Mass with their hearts burdened. There is no stigma in sharing prayer together, so I just really would encourage others to be open to the opportunity. Whether you have a specific need or just want to join others in prayer, all are welcome. You don’t have to have an impending crisis to come and pray. This is about experiencing God’s presence in another way.” — Leanne Bergford 4
