Seven Sisters, Fasting Brothers seek to expand from Forest City to other parishes
FOREST CITY — What began as a nudge in 2010 to pray more frequently and intentionally for a pastor has led to an international prayer movement called the Seven Sisters Apostolate.
Immaculate Conception Church now has an active Seven Sisters group, and even a group of Fasting Brothers, to pray and fast for their pastor, Father Herbert Burke.
The Seven Sisters Apostolate began nine years ago when Janette Howe, a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn., felt called to pray for her pastor, Father Joseph Johnson.
She began to offer a Holy Hour once a week. She chose to make the chapel visit on Thursdays, the day celebrating the institution of both the Holy Eucharist and holy orders, during the Hour of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.
In March 2011, while in prayer for Father Johnson in front of the Blessed Sacrament, she “heard” the words “Seven Sisters” in her heart. After some time, Howe sensed that the Lord wanted her to invite six others – seven in total – to offer one Holy Hour once a day for their pastor. The Holy Spirit also impressed upon Howe two specific directives regarding the intercessor’s Holy Hour: it should be only for the pastor, and it should ask for the priest’s deepening devotion to our Blessed Mother.
Howe shared these aspects of her prayer with Father Johnson, who directed her to start the Seven Sisters Apostolate with seven churches – 49 women in total.
The apostolate has now spread to more than 800 parishes, chanceries, seminaries, and hospitals around the world – with most in the United States.
In August 2018, Immaculate Conception parishioner Amanda DeLauter approached fellow parishioner Valerie Giggie about starting the apostolate there.
“We thought it was a great idea – a powerful and concrete way to fight the good fight,” Giggie recalls.
Giggie agreed to help start the group. She is now the anchoress of the Seven Sisters group at the parish, as well as coordinator of the apostolate around the Diocese of Charlotte. As anchoress, she makes the schedule, prays for the Sisters, advises the Sisters of any special intentions of the pastor, and forwards a monthly communique to the Sisters. As diocesan coordinator, she promotes the apostolate, answers questions and advises new groups.
“By Divine Providence, it was easy to start our group,” Giggie says. “I made an announcement explaining the apostolate and the commitment after all the Masses one weekend. By the end of Sunday, we had enough volunteers, including extras and substitutes, to pray for our pastor.”
The Seven Sisters commitment is for one year, from June to June, with May as a month of discernment to decide if another year of commitment is possible.
“However, a group can begin at any time of the year,” Giggie explains. “Our group began on Oct. 7, 2018, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.”
”Lay people need to know the importance of setting aside some time to pray for our priest,” says Seven Sisters group member Alma Resendiz. “With everything happening in the world, our priests need lots of prayers to keep focused, strong and keep us going. That is something I did not realize until I joined Seven Sisters.”
Men of the parish have also been inspired to join the effort. The Fasting Brothers are seven men who fast – each one day of the week every week, specifically for their pastor.
“Knowing that the other six (Sisters) will be praying for Father Burke all week just makes me so happy,” says Teri O’Reilly, who feels blessed to be a part of the apostolate. “Also, having the men do their part and fasting is such a blessing.”
“I have enjoyed the one hour of peaceful prayer for Father Burke in our beautiful chapel. Knowing that other parishes have their Seven Sisters and it has spread to all over the world is such a wonderful thing,” O’Reilly says.
Currently, there are three groups in the diocese: Immaculate Conception in Forest City, St. John the Baptist in Tryon and St. Joseph College Seminary in Charlotte.
“What a blessing for our diocese if this apostolate would spread to all the parishes, strengthening all of our priests!” Giggie says.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter; Valerie Giggie and SevenSistersApostolate.org contributed.
For more information
Interested in forming a Seven Sisters group at your parish? Visit www.sevensistersapostolate.org for information on history, prayers and locations of the apostolate.
Questions? Email apostolate coordinator Valerie Giggie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CHARLOTTE — People gathered to pray at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte the day after an on-campus shooting at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte killed two and wounded four people at the north Charlotte university.
“In the wake of yesterday’s shootings across the street, our hearts are broken and our security shaken,” Father Patrick Winslow, pastor, said in his homily at the 12:15 p.m. Mass May 1.
The Catholic parish of 2,300 families is across N.C. 49 from the UNCC campus and serves the university’s student population through the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic Campus Ministry.
“In moments such as these, we feel helpless,” Father Winslow said. “I encourage you to cling to your faith and to one another. In faith, we know that our Blessed Lord, who was Himself unjustly slain and whose security was often threatened, is close to us and that in the end God will make right these wrongs.”
UNCC student Trystan Andrew Terrell, 22, was arrested April 30 after six people were shot on the campus and charged with two counts of murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and charges related to shooting a gun on a school campus.
Riley Howell, 21, of Waynesville, and Reed Parlier, 19, of Midland, were both killed. Rami Alramadhan, 20, of Saudi Arabia; Sean Dehart, 20, of Apex; Emily Haupt, 23, of Charlotte; and Drew Pescaro, 19, of Apex, were injured in the shooting. Three of them remained hospitalized in critical condition the day following the shooting.
"This is the saddest day in UNC-Charlotte’s history. Earlier this evening, the unthinkable happened on our campus. At approximately 5:40 p.m., an individual opened fire in a UNC-Charlotte classroom, cutting short the lives of two members of our community and seriously injuring four others," UNCC Chancellor Philip Dubois said in a statement following the shooting. "The entire UNC-Charlotte community shares the shock and grief of this senseless, devastating act. This was an attack on all of Niner Nation."
April 30 was supposed to be the students' last day of classes and the campus was on lockdown for 12 hours.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church’s pastor also addressed the shooting at a special prayer service late afternoon Wednesday.
Father Winslow recalled how after Christ's resurrection, His first words to the huddled and frightened Apostles were: "Peace be with you."
Christ's peace is abiding and everlasting, he noted, and can always be counted upon, just as the Apostles learned.
"This afternoon we too are huddled together with some fear and confusion, and like the Apostles, we listen to hear the same words spoken to us, echoing throughout history with the force of the Spirit: 'Peace be with you.'"
At this time, Father Winslow said, people are praying for peace for the souls of the two students who were killed, peace and healing for the four students who were wounded, and peace for their families and friends.
"We also pray that those in our community in the University City area and national leaders find some way to prevent these occurrences into the future," he said.
"We want to live peaceful lives."
He concluded, "In the face of such difficulties we realize quickly we have nothing to console us apart from our faith and one another. Cling to both, for the Lord God is the One who can provide us peace. And each one of us can help one another feel (peace) and find consolation in this moment."
"In the wake of yesterday’s shootings across the street, our hearts are broken and our security shaken. In moments such as these, we feel helpless. I encourage you to cling to your faith and to one another." — Father Patrick Winslow, pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Father Innocent Amasiorah, UNCC’s Campus Minister, was on campus during the afternoon but had already left for the day. He started seeing messages from the students telling him, "I'm OK." That's when he learned of the shooting and that several students involved in Campus Ministry were on lockdown inside buildings on campus. He said he offered them messages of comfort before joining some of them in the area where they were evacuated.
"This is something that people can't imagine," he said. "These tragedies unfortunately do occur around us. We can comfort one another, share in each other’s pain at this time. We are strongly united in comforting each other."
Father Innocent planned to gather with students on campus Wednesday to pray the rosary prior to the prayer service at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
"As yesterday was the last day of classes, today should be the first day of joy. Instead, it's a day of anxiety and fear," he said. He said he hopes gathering in prayer and allowing the students to share their feelings will help ease the tension and allow for healing.
“The Catholic Campus Ministry is in solidarity with UNCC community as we extend our prayers for God’s consolation to all persons affected by yesterday’s shooting tragedy," added Mary Wright, diocesan director of Campus Ministry. "In particular, our hearts and thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives, those injured, the entire UNCC community.
"We are grateful to the courageous first responders who sprang into action to help others, and to our members who instantly became one another’s keepers. As we all heal gradually, even as this tragedy remains in our mind for time to come, we pray that we become stronger united in love for one another and for all.”
A candlelight vigil was also held on campus Wednesday evening.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church donated more than 1,700 candles for the campus vigil, to be lighted in memory of Ellis Parlier and Riley Howell and in honor of the four other students who were wounded, Father Winslow said.
In addition, St. Gabriel Church, located at 3016 Providence Road in Charlotte, will also honor the victims during its First Friday Mass this week at 7 p.m. May 3.
— Catholic News Herald