Uniting parish families through prayer

When life throws you a curve ball, it is consoling to know that God “has your back” through the generous prayers of your brothers and sisters in Christ. When the going gets tough, the Catholic tough get going. Through thick and thin, it is rewarding to know that your parish family is speaking to the Most Merciful Heart of Our Lord on your behalf, and He is listening.
 
“It's a wonderful opportunity to be aware of the needs or struggles of our fellow parishioners,” said Jan Monson, who has served as the prayer chain leader at St. Joseph Parish in Williston for over 10 years. “Sometimes there is not much else you can do to help in a given situation but to pray. And this is essentially the most important thing we can do for each other as members of a parish family, anyhow.”
 
By lifting up one another through the grace of prayer, parishioners strengthen each other. Each prayer you say for your fellow parishioner fills your soul with peace and brings each of you one step closer to Heaven. Ultimately, praying wholeheartedly for a brother and sister in Christ means performing a great, honorable work of mercy, one which will draw down a little–yet often hidden–shower of blessings.
 
“Praying for one another is such a very special gift we can give one another as members of our parish family,” Jan said. “This ministry is an amazing blessing to so many–both to those who are praying and to those they are praying for.”
 
The parish prayer chain is a powerful ministry because it is encourages a supernatural outlook on life, as well as all of the joys and struggles that come along with it. It reminds us that as Catholics, we never need to ride the storms of life alone; we always have the love of God to keep us afloat. In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta, “How does love begin? By loving one another. But we cannot love one another unless we pray... the family that prays together, stays together.”
 
By praying for one another, parishioners are united in God's love and peace.
 
“Praying for one another brings the parish family closer together and closer to God,” Jan said.
 
The unity that this ministry brings is unique to the Christian spirit, which surrenders all to the loving providence of God and turns to the Heart of Christ in all things.
 
“The Prayer Chain keeps our parish family connected with one another,” said Fr. Paul Eberle, Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Williston. “When someone has a prayer intention, they can always count on others willing and happy to pray for them.”
 
Ministries like the prayer chain give members of a parish family a sense of serenity, knowing that all of their joys, sorrows and needs are confidently placed in God's hands–through the prayerful hands of their fellow pilgrims in this “valley of tears.”
 
“The prayer chain reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and that what affects one of us affects the other,” Fr. Eberle shared. “Knowing we can count on others provides a sense of wellbeing and security as the grace of God is at work through our prayers.”
 
When asked what he may say to those who are considering joining the Prayer Chain, Fr. Eberle says, “I would encourage others to be active in prayer chain ministries because others need our prayers and support, and some days, we especially need theirs. As the Gospel says, 'Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.'”
 
For, according to their faith, let it be done to those who pray.
 
“The power of prayer is real,” Fr. Eberle remarked. “We know that God always hears and answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is ‘yes’ and sometimes ‘no’ and sometimes ‘not yet,’ but we can rest assured that God always has our eternal salvation in mind when He answers our prayers.”
 
In addition to St. Joseph's, many other parishes in our diocese have prayer ministries, such as Ascension Parish in Bismarck, which has a “prayer line.” Their prayer line, which is faithfully coordinated by Pauline Mueller, has touched many hearts and souls for a number of years, serving as a spiritual pillar for their parish family to lean on in times of need.
 
When asked what she most appreciates about the prayer line, Business Manager Beth Kathol said, “I appreciate how it helps people open up and become vulnerable. Our faith calls us to be vulnerable to each other. We also have to be vulnerable to get to know God.”
 
Beth is also profoundly grateful for the charity that it nurtures in their parish family.
 
“I really like how it makes our parish more supportive. It shows what a parish family is about, and that we are a community outside of the walls of our parish building. It helps us to be Christian witnesses and hold each other up in prayer. Our pastor Fr. Russ Kovash is on the prayer line as well, which is a testimony to the fact that he really cares about what is going on in the lives of his parishioners.”
 
As Christians, our hearts are meant to be woven together through prayer and worship. As St. Angela Merici once exhorted, "Be bound to one another by the bonds of charity, treating each other with respect, helping one another, bearing with each other in Christ Jesus: if you really try to live like this, there is no doubt that the Lord, our God, will be in your midst."
 
Those who would like to join the prayer chain at St. Joseph’s Parish or submit an intention may call or text Jan Monson at 701-770-2655 or notify the parish office at 701-572-6731. To join the prayer line at Ascension Parish, call the parish office at 701-223-3606.
 
For both prayer ministry groups, intentions are considered highly confidential and will not be listed in the bulletin; prayer requests are welcome to be given anonymously. Submitted prayer intentions do not need to include the name(s) of those in need of prayer, just a brief description (e.g. please pray for an older gentleman with recent major health issues).