Holy Family Parish history of Cenacle prayer

 
Once a week. since June 22, 1999, members of Holy Family Parish have come together in prayer.  They are participating in a world wide prayer movement called the Marian Movement of Priests.  Now meeting in home of parishioner on Thursday afternoons at 3:00 p.m.  Please e-mail the  Webmaster  for info on location or to pass on intentions for prayer list.

Currently the movement includes at least 400 Cardinals and Bishops, more than 100,000 priests and millions of lay persons around the world.  These prayer groups are Cenacles.  "Cenacle" is a word for the Upper Room where Jesus' apostles gathered together in prayer with his Mother Mary and the Holy Spirit powerfully descended upon them.  It was during this original Pentecost that the Catholic Church was born.  Two thousand years later, Our Lady renews the call to gather together with her in Cenacle of Prayer in anticipation of the Holy Spirit.

 

 
Origin of the modern day cenacles
On May 8, 1972, Father Stefani Gobbi, a priest from Milan, Italy, was taking part in a pilgrimage to Fatima.  While praying in the Chapel of Apparitions for some priests who, besides having given up their vocations, were attempting to form an association in rebellion against the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, an interior force urged Father Gobbi to have confidence in the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The first cenacle held in Como, Italy, 1972, consisted of Father Gobbi and three other priests.  By September 1973, the first national gathering took place with twenty-five gathering out of the already enrolled 85 priests.  The Marian Movement of Priests had succeeded in expanding in a powerful and extra ordinary way.

The purpose of the Cenacle is to pray for our Pope, Bishops and Priests in these very difficult times and for our families, the ill and peace in the world.  More information about the purpose for Cenacle can be found on the Marian Movement of Priests website http://mmp-usa.net

                                                                                 Return to Home Page                            Hit Counter