Uniting in Heart 2030 Prayers

Every work of the Church, no matter how small or large, must first and foremost be grounded in prayer. God is the initiator of all good things; through prayer we come to know his will and make known to him our needs so that we can follow him faithfully and competently. As Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, OSCO, wrote in his classic The Soul of the Apostolate, “If God calls me to apply my activity… to good works, I must establish this firm conviction, before everything else, in my mind: Jesus has got to be, and wishes to be, the life of these works.”
 
As we continue to live out the Uniting in Heart 2030 Pastoral Plan we must raise up these efforts to the Lord in prayer, asking for the Holy Spirit to descend on our diocese and provide us with the gifts and graces we need to succeed. Only through his support, and with the aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, will our desire to be more faithful, more welcoming, more collaborative, and more merciful come to fruition.
 
In the coming weeks we will be offering the faithful of the diocese an opportunity to engage in prayer for the success of the pastoral plan by committing to a Holy Hour every week. A Holy Hour is time spent with the Lord, experiencing his loving presence and bringing our prayers and praises before him. The goal, inspired by parishioners who wanted spiritual means to support the plan, is that every hour, night or day, someone in the diocese will be praying for the intentions and goals of the Uniting in Heart 2030 plan.
 
Ideally, a Holy Hour is spent in a church or chapel in front of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (exposed or reserved in the tabernacle). Of course, not every community has 24-hour adoration available and some churches remain locked during the day. This being the case, a Holy Hour can also be spent in a home or other suitable location. The best place is somewhere quiet, with minimal distractions or noise. Some people designate a place in their home as their “prayer space” – it could be room or a chair with a Bible, a prayer book, a candle, and a sacred image (such as a crucifix or icon) close at hand.
 
There is no set “program” for a Holy Hour, although many people find it helpful to follow a general agenda or set of prompts. This might include time to settle in to prayer; asking the Holy Spirit for guidance in prayer; bringing certain intentions before the Lord; spending time in devotional prayer (such as praying the Rosary or reading the Sacred Scriptures); reflecting on any insights, questions, or images that arise; and ending with prayers of thanksgiving.
 
If you would like to offer a weekly Holy Hour for the Uniting in Heart 2030 pastoral plan, sign up below. If you already participate in a weekly Holy Hour you can designate that same day and time for your Uniting in Heart Holy Hour. You will receive a weekly email reminder along with intentions, prayer resources, and other materials. Even if you are unable to commit to a weekly Holy Hour, we encourage you to access these resources and pray on behalf of our Uniting in Heart goals.