Seven Sisters Apostolate Interview with Sr Cecilia Joy

Sister JulieAnn Sheahan

February 17, 2022

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Cecilia Joy Kugel interviews Janette Howe, Foundress and Coordinator of the Seven Sisters Apostolate founded in Saint Paul, MN https://sevensistersapostolate.org/

The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen 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—a “holy wasting” (cf. Mt. 26:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. A Seven Sisters group begins when at least seven women respond to a call to the mission of the apostolate. If more than seven women desire to pray in this manner, a core group of seven should be designated while others may substitute or provide additional hours of prayer. The coordinator of a group is known as the Anchoress. The initial recipient of a Seven Sisters group should be their parish pastor. After the pastor has a committed group, subsequent groups may be formed for others, such as the parochial vicar, a retired priest, a priest serving in a non-parish assignment, or a bishop. The group’s intention is directed towards the office of the shepherd more than the individual. In other words, the group prays for the priest until he is reassigned, at which time his successor becomes the recipient of those prayers. This helps us to guard against an undue attachment to a certain priest.

Since1869, we’ve followed our Franciscan charism to serve in Catholic Health Care, Education, Campus Ministry and Parish-Community Service throughout the United States. From Missions on Dioceses in Arizona, to the Dioceses of Lincoln and Omaha; from Columbus and Steubenville, to Missouri, Wisconsin and Michigan. Our newest sisters in formation have joined us from Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado, North Carolina and Texas. Would you like to know more about us? We invite you to visit /

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