Are You Confident When You Pray?  ​​​​​​​Mission Helps Us to Be Bold in Prayer

To be honest, there are times when I pray with confidence and times that I don’t… When my faith is strong and I feel close with God, it is easier to pray with confidence. When I feel more like asking Jesus to increase my faith (like the disciples did), my prayer might be more hesitant. While Lent reminds us to be humble before God, Jesus wants us to be courageous in our prayer!

These are some of the reasons why this year’s Lenten Mission has the title, “Ask, Seek, Knock: Praying with Faith and Confidence.” The Lenten mission is a two-night mini-retreat on March 20-21, a spiritual boost that is the centerpiece of the Lenten journey for our collaborative parishes. During these nights from 7:00 – 8:00 pm, other parish events are suspended so that all of us can gather for both nights (if possible) for song, prayer, and a more intense message that develops from one night to the next.

Based on the passage beginning at Matthew 7:7 (and appearing in all four gospels), our mission speaker and author Allison Gingras will help us to grow more comfortable with personal prayer. Do you ever worry about praying the “right” way? Allison will help us do let go of that worry, opening us to the blessings and gifts God has in store for us! I have known Allison for several years as a friendly and humorous retreat leader and author. But don’t let her lighthearted approach fool you – she is a woman of deep Catholic faith and bold prayer! We are blessed that Allison and her husband, Deacon Kevin, live with their children in the nearby Fall River Diocese (so for our mission-retreat she doesn’t have to travel far!)

Please use this special event as an opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor, or colleague to come with you. Even you would be hesitant to invite someone to attend Sunday Mass, it is often easier to invite someone to attend a talk or special event. Not only is it a bit less formal, but you know the theme of the talks ahead of time. You can tell them about both nights, but just get them to commit to the first night and then play it by ear. I’m confident that they – and you – will want to come back for more. Besides, Tuesday is the night we will end with a social, light snacks, and a chance to get Allison to sign one of her books for you!

Allison’s latest book, “Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God”, will be available to purchase at the Mission. Please visit https://reconciledtoyou.com for more information on this title and her other books.