Seven Sisters Apostolate 'Stands in the Gap' for Priests Through Prayer

Women in the Diocese of Baton Rouge converged at St. George Church in Baton Rouge to fulfill their guiding mission that "no shepherd is left behind" at a Seven Sisters Apostolate Mass.

Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated the June 16 Mass along with priests from the diocese.

The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a global ministry dedicated to strengthening the church by ensuring that a holy hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop.  

Bishop Duca emphasized in his homily that prayer is intentional. In the case of the Seve.n Sisters Apostolate, it is for a particular priest.

"In this way, for this particular priest, and the way God is going to make him serve, and the challenges that he may have in his life right now,” he said. I find that a powerful prayer.

"Also, when we pray for something intentionally, God's going to work for us as well; drawing us into an understanding of the church, not just how I see it in my eyes, but how I see it through the priest's eyes."

During the Mass theTop right photo: Bishop Michael G. Duca speaks to the assembly about the importance of intentional prayer. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Above photo: The Seven Sisters Apostolate intercessors renew their commitment to the apostolate for one year.  women recommitted themselves for a year to the apostolate.

Amy Hymel, a parishioner of St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Maurepas, said she feels closer to the church when she prays in the presence of the blessed sacrament for Father Augustine Puthumana IMS. He is parochial vicar at St. Joseph Church in French Settlement and St. Stephen.

"My day is Sunday, so I spend an hour a day in church by myself and it's been peaceful and moving. I'm feeling a peace and a calm that I didn't have before. And it's making me think of others as opposed to myself. It feels pretty selfless to give an hour for someone," Hymel said.
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Rita Coleman prays for Father Tat Hoang CSsR and his intentions for his fellow Redemptorist priests at St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge.

Coleman was drawn to the Seven Sisters Apostolate several years ago to pray for the conversion of priests. She prays for their comfort and reminders of God's presence in their lives.

"For the ones that were sick, lonely, I went to visit a lot of them. They didn't have someone to pray for them," said Coleman.

Carol Pearce, religion teacher at Ascension Catholic High School (ACHS) in Donaldsonville, prays for ACHS student alumnus and Ascension Catholic Church pastor Father Matthew Dupré.

"I taught him when he was a junior in high school. He was one of the first classes I taught at Ascension Catholic," said Pearce. "Now that he is a priest, I feel that God has blessed our community abundantly."

Pearce prayed for Father Dupré several years ago when he was feeling a call to the priesthood and took a trip to Medjugorje.

It is important people to pray for priests, especially when they face temptations, Pearce emphasized. 
Bishop Duca consecrates the host during the liturgy of the Eucharist.

"You're being drawn by God. He wants this so badly for these priests and (the devil) does not want it at all because he knows the difference it makes in their lives," said Pearce.

Some Seven Sisters Apostolate intercessors dedicate their holy hour to praying for their bishop.

Donna Davis has been praying for Bishop Duca since the Seven Sisters Apostolate was introduced to St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge.

"I remember Bishop Duca's first Mass at St. Agnes. When he gave that homily he said, 'Pray that my love for the Blessed Mother will continue to grow and that I am the bishop God calls me to be.' That was so profound. I have continued that prayer," Davis said.

For more information about the prayer apostolate, visit sevensistersapostolate.org