Intercessory prayer allows Christians of all types and places to join together, lifting our hearts and our souls up to God for the world.
On Saturday, September 7, at 10 PM EST, the Oratory will offer an intercessory mass for the countries of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo. Resources from the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Cycle of prayer for the world will be used. (https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle/benin-cote-d-ivoire-togo)
It is not necessary for you to be physically present at the mass in order to join in. A candle at the mass will be lit in the name of anyone who comments below, likes or comments on the Oratory’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Oratory-of-St-Catherine-of-Siena-264477326928667/), or contacts the chaplain, Mother Sandra, at beguine2@yahoo.com.
As Christians, we need to remember that the world is much larger than the small portion of it that we see around us. It has much to offer us; and we each have much to offer it.
On Saturday, August 31, at 10 PM, the Oratory will continue to join in with the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer by celebrating a mass in which the nations of Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal will be offered up in prayer. While the form of the mass will be drawn from the Book of Common Prayer, the collect and prayers of the people will be drawn from churches in those countries.
If you are interested in joining in with the intention for these countries, you are welcome to comment below, send a private message to the chaplain, Mother Sandra, or like the Facebook posting.
For more resources, you can check out the World Council of Churches website for the cycle at https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle/cv-gm-gn-gw-sn.
In many liturgies, we add a generic prayer for the world. The prayer can slip by us easily because it is so general, and the pain, need, and thankfulness in particular places doesn’t get named or even thought about.
Through my experience with prayer, I have come to the conclusion that we are called to pray in specifics, not in generalities–and that each one of us may have the privilege of lifting up in prayer a particular area or a particular concern. Someone might find themselves to drawn to pray for a political leader (even perhaps one whose politics they ardently disagree with). Another person might lift up those in their area who suffer from addiction. There are a multitude of needs, but there are also a multitude of people to pray.
My personal “prayer burden” (as my charismatic friends called it) seems to be the peace of Jerusalem and those who are in pain in the middle of the night. Yours may be very different.
However, recently I ran across something that seems to walk the line between the overly general and the very specific. The World Council of Churches has an Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, that focuses on the needs of a particular area/set of countries each week. In their link
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle
they offer a set of suggested intercessions of things to be grateful for and things to pray for. Prayers, litanies, and songs are there, as is more information about the churches in the area.
This week the focus is on Sierra Leone and Liberia, two nations with a history of tragic violence. The specific resource page is here: https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle/liberia-sierra-leone
For the next 20 weeks, through Advent and into Epiphany, the Oratory will pray in sync with the World Council of Church’s cycle, culminating in a mass each Saturday night at 10 p.m.
You are welcome to join in each week’s intention, bring your own particular concerns to God. Candles will be lit for intentions, for people, and for the area of prayer. Comments are welcome–as are requests for specific prayers.
Remember that when two or three are united in God’s name, God is there in the midst of them.
News coming out of the Holy Land is often overwhelming for people of faith who take the biblical call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem seriously. The issues involved cannot be reduced to black and white, and there is more involved than taking sides. The Oratory will celebrate an inclusive Mass for the conflict on Friday night at 8 p.m. No matter what your views on the issues, you are invited to cry out with the Oratory for peace, justice security, and prosperity in the land that gave birth to our faith. Believing as I do in the power of light over darkness, the Chaplain will lit a candle at the service for everyone who comments on this post, likes it on Facebook, or contacts the Chaplain directly
A note: While I would be more than happy to carry on a conversation offline about the issues involved, this Mass is a place for obeying God’s instructions to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not fighting among ourselves.
The middle of the night can be the loneliest time for many, who are facing their own personal forms of darkness in addition to the physical darkness of the night. Mass will be said on Wednesday, August 7 at 11 p.m (EST) for all those who are struggling. If you would like to be included by name in the prayers of this service, comment below, like this on Facebook, or email me at beguine2@yahoo.com. A candle will be lit in the Oratory for everyone prayed for.
The Oratory of St. Catherine of Siena is undergoing some basic changes in its form and ministry. Originally, the purpose of the Oratory was to meld the sacraments with intercession for the world, and for individuals. This charism continues to be the Oratory’s purpose, although the details of how it is lived out seems to be changing.
The first change is a simple one of time. The Sunday celebration of the Eucharist will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Sundays. If you are interested in attending, contact the Chaplain at beguine2@yahoo.com.
There will be additional Eucharists that are focused on specific prayer concerns. Masses for the Peace of Jerusalem will be held at least monthly on Friday nights. Masses in the Middle of Night will be held monthly on Wednesday nights at 11 p.m. for those who struggle personally with various forms of darkness. And Masses for America will be held on a monthly regular basis. A schedule will be posted shortly.
In addition, the Chaplain will celebrate masses for individuals with special needs and concerns. If you would like a mass said for you, please contact the Chaplain.
If you live in the Greater Boston area, the chaplain is available for the sacraments and for conversation. The Oratory of St. Catherine of Siena is a constituent ministry of the Independent Catholic Christian Church (inclusivecatholics.com), and we are radically inclusive in our sacraments. All are welcome,
The Oratory will be celebrating the Eucharist at 10 am:
February 12, 19, 26
(The service on February 19th will be the annual Bishop’s Visitation. More information will be posted.)
March 12, 19, 26
April 2, 9, 16, 23
There will be additional services during Holy Week, and as posted.
All are welcome.
Mass will be celebrated every Sunday 
during Advent. However, there will NOT be a Mass on either Christmas Eve or Day.
During Advent, we will be celebrating using the Tridentine Rite, in English. This is a form rich in history and symbolism, but our use is accessible to everyone. Come and experience it for yourself!
Additional weekday services may be celebrated, especially during Epiphany. Events will be posted here, or check with the Mother Sandra (beguine2@yahoo.com) for details.
Service will be held on:
December 4, 11, 28
(No service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day)
January 22, 29
Feb. 5, 12, 19
This year, the election in the United States is a particularly troubling one. A vigil Mass will be offered on the night before the election, November 7th, for wisdom, guidance and peace. A candle will be lit at the service for anyone who likes or comments on this post. If you would like to attend, please contact the chaplain at beguine2@yahoo.com.
And, if you are a United States citizen, please VOTE!
Oratory of St. Catherine of Siena 