OUR LADY OF REFUGE PRAYER
GROUP
Again, I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there
am I with them."
(Matthew 18:19-20)
The
History of the Parish Prayer Group
The Charismatic Renewal is a phenomenon which began
in the Catholic Church during the late 1960's. It marked a
new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and vitality in the Church and it
spread worldwide very quickly. Locally, the Cha
rismatic Renewal
began in 1970, with a group of students at Loyola University in Los
Angeles. They formed a small prayer group with Father Ralph
Tichenor, SJ, as their leader. As the group searched for God's truth and
direction, the meetings were filled
with power and a manifestation of gifts of the Holy Spirit. Word
spread, and soon people from parishes throughout the Los Angeles Archdiocese
were traveling to Loyola to participate in meetings. Within two years, the Loyola
prayer group swelled to over 1,000 people. Father Tichenor
recognized that the movement had to move beyond the University campus. He urged people to take the renewal back to their
parishes.
One person who heeded Father Tichenor's advice was
Bill Tosti of Our Lady of Refuge. In 1973 Bill approached
Monsignor Daly, who was then pastor. Bill asked for and immediately obtained
permission to start a prayer group. The group
began modestly. It grew and flourished for about five years.
Then the membership began to wane. Bill Tosti found himself alone
once again. Instead of abandoning the group, Bill continued
to pray before the Blessed Sacrament each Monday evening. He prayed
alone for about a year. Then gradually new parishioners
began to join him. It was a re-birth of the Prayer
Group.
The Prayer Group Today
The "reborn" prayer group has continued
to meet weekly for 20 years. Sometimes there may be twenty or thirty
people present;
more frequently the group is less than one dozen.
Size has little to do with what happens.
The power and effectiveness of each prayer meeting comes as a
God-given grace and from the deep desire of those gathered to follow the
leadings of the Holy Spirit and praise God for His goodness.
The meeting begins with song and about a half hour of spontaneous
praise and thanksgiving. Then comes a time of silent prayer, followed by the
proclamation of Scripture and “words of knowledge”. Next
there is intercession – lifting up the needs of the world, the nation,
the Church, our parish and local community, and then the personal
petitions of each person present. Finally,
there is a period in which participants share and witness how God is moving and
molding their personal lives, drawing
them closer to Himself.
We invite you to read more about Charismatic
Prayer Meetings in an article by Father Ralph Tichenor, SJ - what
happens during a meeting and how the Spirit moves. Also read
about our own parish group and the activities it sponsors beyond weekly
meetings. Finally, learn more about the Charismatic Renewal in the
Church, a renewal which is often misunderstood by Catholics. Click on the links below, or those
found on the upper right side of this page for further information
A
Charismatic Prayer Meeting - Prayer in Spirit
by Father Ralph Tichenor, SJ.
Special
Events of Our Parish Prayer Group -
Workshops, Intercessory Prayer Gatherings, Healing Masses and SCRC
Sponsored Events
Links
- The Charismatic Renewal
If you want to know more about prayer meetings
or the Prayer Group ministry , contact:
Helen
Burch
Prayer Group
You are welcome to participate in the Prayer
Group. Join us on Monday evenings at 7:30 PM in the
Church.
(On the first Monday of each month we join other
parishioners in
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.)
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MINISTRY GROUPS
