When I first started this position I was given a rather blank slate as to what it could look like. Some of the initial ideas I had have stuck and others have needed to be tweaked or ditched all together. What hasn't changed, however, are the founding principals I wrote for myself and have used as my guide from the beginning. Over the next few months I will be sharing those principals as part of this newsletter. And this month I am going to start with one of the four principals or legs I thought a women's ministry program  should stand on. As a little background, these four principals are prayer, faith formation, hospitality and service. Kind of sounds like stewardship doesn't it? I know your eyes want to glaze over when the homilies turn to this annual topic but this year I challenge you to dig a little deeper. Maybe you just haven't let it sink in. For me "getting" stewardship was a game changer. As a lover of books, its not surprising that the aha moment came when reading a book. (Watch for next months book of the month if you want to know what it was!) I knew everything I had was a gift from God but I wasn't living that way. Actually, I am quite certain I will never perfect this way of living but now it is my guiding light and one of the legs my faith life and my work stand on! So this month let's take a look at prayer.

For me, if I'm not getting my prayer life right nothing is going right. In many ways prayer is a very personal thing. It is our personal and private relationship with our creator. That is why it is such a pivotal foundation for our faith life. But for this purpose I want to look at it in a ministry  light or maybe another word for that would be communal prayer.

First and foremost is the mass. Gathering together with our parish to offer the sacrifice of the mass is the most important prayer experience of our week. Check out our book of the month if you are wanting tips to deepen that experience.

But what about those of us wanting to serve or minister to each other in the church? Communal prayer can most definitely be a way to do that! Forming groups that prayer for common desires such as vocations, our priests or our wayward children can be fruitful and a great support. You can also form rosary groups and grow in your devotion to Mary as she leads you to her son. What about starting traditions of gathering on First Saturdays or First Fridays. Have you joined your parishes prayer chain yet? Just like prayer is the pivotal foundation for your faith life, I believe it is the pivotal ingredient of any ministry program. it is what makes your women's ministry group unlike any other group you belong to. So of you are wanting to start a women's ministry movement or improve on one at your parish I highly recommend you start by offering opportunities to pray with each other.

Needing a little inspiration? Grab a few women from your parish and join us for our ministry workshop in September. You will not only get inspired but also leave with a binder full of ideas, including ideas for praying together.

Finally, I encourage each and everyone of you to join us for a unique opportunity to gather in prayer this coming weekend. Add your voice to our prayers for our priests, deacons, seminarians, parishes, diocese and family. Also join us in praying for our future bishop!

Finally, please pray for me, that I will serve in this role in a way that is pleasing to God. And know that I am always praying for you!

We are Better Together,

Barb