Just as food sustains our bodies, prayer helps sustain our spiritual life. Prayer can take the form of blessing or adoration, petition, intercession, and praise or thanksgiving. Most of the time, prayer will be personal, in your inner room, with the door closed, in secret. (Mt. 6:6) At other times, it will be when “two or three are gathered in His name.” (Mt. 18:20) Many times, this will be with fellow parishioners.
In addition to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, St. Mary’s offers several opportunities for prayer and devotions that will draw us closer to Him.
Daily Rosary
7:3 a.m. in the church
How to pray the Rosary
First Friday Eucharistic Adoration
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Infant Mary Chapel
What is Eucharistic Adoration?
Stations of the Cross
All Friday evenings of Lent in the church
Note: there are many different ways to pray Stations of the Cross
Booklet with examples
Tenebrae Service
The evening of the Monday of Holy Week. An ancient tradition using only candlelight in the church.
Divine Mercy Sunday celebration
On the 2nd Sunday of Easter right after the 11:00 a.m. Mass in the church
How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Prayer Request Group
Meets weekly to pray for the needs of our parishioners and their loved ones, with each request prayed for individually. Written requests may be submitted in one of the Prayer Request Boxes on the tables in the vestibule of the church. For additional info, contact Lisa Van Handel-Lane.
Common prayers
St. Michael Prayer
(Prayed at the end of each Mass)
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Vocations Prayer
(Prayed at the end of the Daily Rosary)
Loving and generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You. Help us to grow in the love and service of our Church as we experience it today. Give us energy and courage of Your Holy Spirit to shape its future. Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ’s mission of love and justice. Bless the church of St. Mary by raising up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and friends who will serve Your people as Priests, Deacons, Sisters, Brothers and lay ministers. Inspire us to know Your call. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Spiritual Communion Prayer
(for those unable to receive the Eucharist at Mass)
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.