All prayer is valuable, with the highest form being the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. While personal prayer is powerful, communal prayer is especially powerful, as Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20).
Gathering people outside of Mass for communal prayer and devotional exercises can lead to greater spiritual growth and virtue. Further, rosary groups can significantly uplift parishes spiritually.
Holy Spirit Parish offers the following group prayer gatherings, open to all parishioners. The groups are very informal, so don’t hesitate to ‘come and see’ or, if you have any questions, feel free to contact the leaders – you just may find a group that resonates with you spiritually.
Every morning from Monday to Saturday at 8:30 a.m., we pray the rosary in the Chapel. Join us as we lift our voices in grateful praise and thanksgiving for all blessings received and place our petitions before the Lord.
Leader: Judy Look at lookj@shaw.ca.
We meet in the Chapel every evening, seven days a week, at 6:00 p.m. for 35 minutes of prayer. Our prayer time begins with the Angelus followed by sharing of our prayer intentions, which we lift up to heaven. We then pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Rosary, some Litany prayers, the St. Michael the Archangel prayer, prayers for the Pope, the Unity Prayer, a prayer for Canada and the Angel of God prayer. We conclude with a hymn. Sheets with the prayers printed on them are provided. Everyone is welcome and it is an informal/drop-in gathering – no ongoing commitment is required to participate.
Leader: Jeanne Lathangue at 587-968-5532 or angelsbymyside@icloud.com.
Our Charismatic Prayer Groups are faith communities who promote a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the experience of Pentecost alive through the exercise of their charismatic gifts. Meetings are held every 2nd Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel.
The format usually includes a time for Bible Scriptures, praise and worship, healing prayer, spiritual teachings and the presence of charismatic gifts witnessing to the favors of the Lord, and intercessory prayer.
When believers gather together to pray, the central focus of the group should always be growing in our knowledge of God’s Word, the Bible, and joining in a time of prayer and praise.
Leaders:
Doreen Coffey at 403-969-0966 or coffeypd@live.ca or
Deacon Alex at 587-894-5314 or deaconalex@holyspiritparish.net.
Intercessory prayer is a powerful and loving way to support others spiritually.
This ministry consists of a group of people who pray for the prayer requests that are sent to us. We bring an individual’s or family’s needs before God, asking God’s help, blessing or favor on their behalf
whether they are family members, friends, strangers, parishioners or not. Each request is emailed out to the group as they are received.
We currently have 163 ‘prayer warriors’, not including members of our CWL, who also keep these intentions in their personal prayers.
If you would like your name to be added to our list of ‘prayer partners,’ or if you have a special intention that you would like us to pray for, please email the leader below.
Leader: Marta Toltesi at totustuus@shaw.ca
WHO WE ARE
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in over 170 countries of the world. It has been approved by the last eight Popes and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through prayers and service of love.
OBJECTIVES
The Blessed Virgin Mary calls each of us to ” Do as He commands you.” The Legion sees, as its priority, the spiritual welfare of each individual. Personal sanctification is sought by attempting to imitate Mary in her virtues of Faith, Charity, Love and Humility. The Legion spreads devotion to Mary primarily by encouraging the recitation of the Rosary (Mary’s request at Fatima).
LEGIONARY SERVICE
Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families and the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals, youth formation, catechism class, and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Seeing and serving Christ in the sick and marginalized is a vital part of the legionary apostolate to glorify God. While not engaging in the giving of material relief, legionaries will often find opportunities to do works of service for the needy.
Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which is normally based in a parish. Spiritual guidance for Holy Spirit’s praesidium is under Fr. David.
MEMBERSHIP
This ministry welcomes both adults and children. The active Adults/Senior Legionaries meet every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Parish while the children/junior Legionaries (ages 7-18) meet every Thursday at 6:00 p.m., also at Holy Spirit Parish. There are also auxiliary (praying) members.
Active members have an obligatory requirement to attend the weekly meetings and to perform 2 hours of active Legionary work each week, usually done with other members. Each meeting includes praying the Rosary and Catena, spiritual readings and teachings, and sharing of Legionary work accomplished. The Catena is a prayer which consists mainly of the Magnificat.
Other types of membership are Praetorians, Auxiliary Members and Adjutorians. Auxiliary members (open to priests, religious and the laity) are unable or unwilling to assume the duties of active membership, but associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name. They are only asked to pray the Tessera each day for the success of all Legionnaire’s work throughout the world.
Are the Holy Spirit and Mary calling you? Come and see as there is a three-month easing in period to see how work and family obligations blend with the tried and proven system of the Legion of Mary. Any Catholic, young, not so young, single, married, or retired who would like to draw closer to Jesus and His Mother Mary is welcome to give it a try.
To learn more, please reach out by phone or email to one of the following:
Contacts:
Patrick Coffey at 403-281-6025
James Nwanko at 403-427-0019
Email: holyspiritlom@gmail.com
We meet every Monday evening in the Chapel for one hour of prayer at 7:15 p.m. Our booklet of prayers encompasses the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayers for families, the sick, conversion of sinners, souls in Purgatory and more. If you can’t hug your loved ones physically, hug them with prayers.
Four Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed every first Friday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Everyone is welcome!
Leader: Jeanne Lathangue at 403-281-3432 or angelsbymyside33@icloud.com.
We pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. We pray for all the intentions sent to us, for families, for respect for life, for Canada and for peace in the world. The words of the various prayers are shared on screen and you may join us any day – no commitment is required.
To receive the Zoom invitation, please email the leader below.
Leader: Marta Toltesi at totustuus@shaw.ca.
