Prayer for priests

Bishop Kagan was presented with a special quilt from the Seven Sisters Apostolate in honor of his retirement.
 
Bev Cushing, Minot resident and active member of the group known as the Seven Sisters Apostolate, sewed the quilt for Bishop Kagan. After acquiring a copy of the diocesan shield and bishop’s coat of arms, she found fabric for each of the colors, cut out the different designs on fabric that had fusible interfacing and ironed them onto the white background.
 
“The most difficult was the ropes,” shared Bev. “I finally decided to use a black Sharpie marker for the lines. I sewed each design by appliqué with the sewing machine using a blanket stitch. It took a month to make, and it is a lap size quilt.”
 
Along with the quilt, Bishop Kagan was given a list of all the women who have prayed for him for the last four years as part of the Seven Sisters Apostolate. A bishop has 21 sisters or three a day praying one hour. 
 
What is the Seven Sisters Apostolate? 
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. Seven women each take one day a week and pray one hour for the priest for one year.
 
Where does the Seven Sisters Apostolate exist?
The Apostolate was founded in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, but there are groups throughout the United States and even in other countries. The Bismarck Diocese has several groups praying for our priests, but more are always needed and welcome to join in this prayerful effort.

What is expected of a member? 
Each member commits to a holy hour on a distinct day of the week, thus covering a complete week. The commitment is to that day; the Seven Sisters may pray at any time on that day. This generous commitment of one hour per week of prayer is asked for a period of one year but can remain open-ended in time as each woman discerns her call to continue.

Do all priests have a Seven Sisters group? 
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. In our diocese, there are quite a few priests who do not have a Seven Sisters group praying for them. The Bismarck Diocese currently has a particular need for women to be part of groups praying for retired priests. Of the retired priests in our diocese, just three have a Seven Sisters group praying for them.

Is the Seven Sisters Apostolate approved by the Church?
The Seven Sisters Apostolate is currently in the process of seeking approval from the Catholic Church as a Private Association of the Christian Faithful.
 
Is this only for women?
There is now a role for men called Fasting Brothers and they fast one day a week for their parish priest or the bishop. We have four groups presently in the diocese.

How can you get involved?
For more information about prayer groups in our diocese, contact Bev Cushing, co-coordinator of Seven Sisters Apostolate for the Bismarck Diocese, at 701-721-2788 or co-coordinator, Kristen Vetter, at [email protected]. More information on the Seven Sisters Apostolate can be found at sevensistersapostolate.org.