Southern Nebraska Register
Seven women of St. Joseph Parish in Auburn held a breakfast for pastor Father Timothy Danek June 15, celebrating their recommitment to praying for him throughout the year.
The women are members of the Seven Sisters Apostolate, in which seven women each commit to praying a holy hour for a specific priest one day a week, so that the priest has someone praying for him in front of the Blessed Sacrament every day for a year.
A Catholic woman in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was inspired by the Holy Spirit to start the apostolate of prayer dedicated to Catholic priests in 2010. It has grown to include more than 2,000 organized groups across six continents, 23 countries and all 50 United States. The Seven Sisters Apostolate has been active in the Diocese of Lincoln since 2017.
When a Seven Sisters group is formed in a parish, the initial recipient should be the parish pastor. After the pastor has a committed group, subsequent groups may be formed for others, such as the assistant pastor, a retired priest, a priest serving in a particular non-parish assignment, or a bishop.
The group’s intention is directed toward the priest’s office more than the individual, so the group prays for the priest until he is reassigned, at which time his successor becomes the recipient of the prayers.
Valerie Able is the anchoress of the Seven Sisters group at St. Joseph Parish in Auburn. She recalled reading an article in the Southern Nebraska Register several years ago, about the Seven Sisters Apostolate.
“It really touched my heart and called me to the apostolate,” she said.
Able retired as principal of Lourdes Central Elementary in Nebraska City in 2014. She was hired to teach there in 1981 and became principal in 1998. She was received into the Catholic Church in 1993.
“During my 33 years at Lourdes Central Catholic School,” she said, “I served with many of the priests in our diocese. They had touched my life in so many wonderful ways that I thought (the Seven Sisters Apostolate) would be a way for me to give back to them.”
She approached St. Joseph’s pastor at the time, Father Karl Millis, and asked permission to start the apostolate in the parish.
“Then I prayed to the Holy Spirit that I could find seven women that would join me in the gift of one hour of prayer, one day a week for our parish priest.”
She called eight women, and seven said “yes” to being a part of the Seven Sisters Apostolate. Of those original seven, four are still faithfully praying for the parish’s current pastor, Father Danek. The group currently has nine members – one sister per day, with two substitutes.
One hour a week is not a daunting commitment, Able said.
“We have 168 hours in a week. Surely, we can find one hour to pray for our priests.”
When the women met to recommit to the apostolate, Able said they all agreed that spending the hour of adoration each week had really strengthened their faith.
“I believe that our prayers in front of the Blessed Sacrament draw us closer to our Lord,” Able said. “Kneeling in front of the altar and praying, feeling close to God, and having a close relationship with Him, to the point of feeling like He has His loving arms wrapped around you are one of the greatest benefits of being a part of this apostolate. It gives me comfort to know that my hour of prayer for our priest’s sanctification, physical and emotional wellbeing protects him from the evils of this world just a little.”
Father Danek thanked the women, and gifted each of the sisters a rosary made by him.
