Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

The Seven Sisters: An Apostolate of Prayer

Posted on October 07, 2023 in: Vocations

The Seven Sisters: An Apostolate of Prayer

‘That our prayers may find the heart 

of every priest and bishop’

 

In a recent Vocations column, Father Kevin Reilly, diocesan director of vocations, stated that perhaps we would see an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life if we prayed for our pastors. Father suggested that they may be exhausted. Our prayers could strengthen them so they might notice the man in their parish who is being called to follow our Lord as a priest.

“It came to me in prayer at adoration that pastors are the ones who know the men in their parish. Invariably, the pastor is the first one who will ask a man who’s in discernment if he’s ever considered the priesthood. If the pastor is worn out and distracted by his duties, he might not notice that man. Our prayers to strengthen our pastors will help them greatly.”

One means of answering Father Kevin’s call is the formation of Seven Sisters Apostolates of prayer in our parishes. Through the apostolate, seven women in a parish each commit to pray one Holy Hour per week for one year on a particular day solely for the intentions of their pastor. The pastor therefore has a holy hour prayed for him every day!

The Seven Sisters Apostolate of prayer was formed in 2011 by Janette Howe, who had been praying a weekly Holy Hour for her pastor, Father Joseph R. Johnson, rector at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St.Paul, Minnesota, in thanksgiving for his dedication and pastoral generosity. Janette was inspired during prayer to invite other women to join her. Today, the Seven Sisters Apostolate prays for our priests and bishops in more than 4,000 parishes, chanceries, seminaries, hospitals and other organizations around the world!

In St. Pio Parish in Old Saybrook, 16 women have been praying for Pastor Rev. Grzegorz P. Brozonowicz and Parochial Vicar Rev. Martin Noe for the past year. Participants have found it to be a powerful way to support their priests, even if they have busy schedules, as there are no meetings and only one hour of prayer required each week. They seek permission from their pastor to organize a group and may also arrange for permanent substitutes to cover for absent members occasionally.

Members of the Seven Sisters Apostolate express gratitude for the blessings they receive from this commitment. They feel honored and joyful to pray for their pastor, acknowledging the significance of their prayers for the spiritual growth of their priests. The apostolate fosters a sense of sisterhood among its members, as they see themselves as links in a chain, united by their shared commitment to support their priests through prayer.

When asked about the effects a Holy Hour per week may have on vocations in our diocese, Father Kevin Reilly answered, “Knowing that, through the Seven Sisters Apostolate of prayer, a Holy Hour was being prayed for each pastor every day would be tremendous.” Father Grzegorz Brozonowicz added that he “hopes that people respond to this important call for prayer for priests through the power of the Holy Spirit. “

 

God bless and keep our holy priests! 

 

To begin a Seven Sisters Apostolate in your parish to prayerfully support your pastor by ensuring a Holy Hour is prayed for him each day, visit sevensistersapostolate.org or contact Sue Daley at susanne103@sbcglobal.net

By Sue Daley


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Haiti in Crisis: A Call to Stand in Faith, Hope, and Solidarity
To say the least, the past few years have been tumultuous for the people of Haiti. Insurrection, gang violence, kidnappings, stolen property, a lack of any viable government, drought, and torrential flooding have virtually destroyed the country and dashed the hopes of a hurting people. Although I would not have believed it possible, life continues to worsen for the people of Haiti. People who have lived with virtually nothing all their lives now have even less. People who are used to being hungry now find themselves faced with starvation. Parents, once strong and proud as t...

Read More

The Assumption of Mary: Our Mother’s Homecoming
On August 15, the Church celebrates one of the most beautiful feasts of the liturgical year: the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day is more than an occasion to honor Our Lady; it is a glimpse into the destiny that awaits all who live and die in Christ. Declared a Holy Day of Obligation, the Assumption invites the faithful to gather in joy and thanksgiving for God’s masterpiece in Mary. The Assumption teaches that at the end of her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin was taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory. While the Church has lo...

Read More

Ninety-Fifth Anniversary of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Saint Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community
  On Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Saint Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community, under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Mark O’Donnell, joyfully celebrated the ninety-fifth anniversary of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in New London. This devotion, which began with two Italian families — the Dipollina family and the D’Angelo family — has grown into a cherished tradition. Over the years, the celebration expanded through the merging of parishes, now bringing together three communities: Saint Joseph Church and Sain...

Read More

Catholic Parish Takes Flight at Annual Balloon Festival
Editor's Note: Sometimes the best opportunities to share the Gospel come when we step beyond the walls of our churches and meet people where they are. The following story from the Archdiocese of Hartford shows how one parish found a creative way to do just that—offering a joyful, visible witness to Christ at a community event. May it inspire other parishes to seek similar ways of planting seeds of faith in unexpected places. And if you get a chance, head up to Plainville and check out the balloons! A rainbow of balloons painted the sky during the Plainv...

Read More

⛳ Tee Up “For the Love of a Child” – Charity Golf Tournament
Join us Friday, September 5, 2025, at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield, CT — ranked #2 in Connecticut by Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play 2025!   The Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti’s 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament is a day of fellowship, fresh air, and purpose. Your $175 registration includes golf, lunch, and dinner — and the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping provide medical care, nutrition programs for malnourished children, and education sponsorships for families in some of the most impoverished neighb...

Read More

Bishop Reidy: Welcoming with Charity and Gentleness
During a recent appearance on That’s the Spirit, hosted by Fr. John Gatzak of the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Office of Radio and Television (ORTV), Bishop Richard F. Reidy spoke about the Church’s mission to invite people back—especially the young—and the spirit in which that invitation must be offered. Bishop Reidy was at the ORTV studio to celebrate the Live TV Mass—broadcast daily at 10:00 a.m. on ORTV’s website and The CW20, WCCT-TV—and stayed to share how meaningful consultation shapes his ministry. In conversat...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: Ninety-Fifth Anniversary of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Saint Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community
Click to view album: Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Richard F. Reidy
Click to view album: Students Called to Feed the Hungry
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294