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Prayer Groups
WEEKLY PRAYER GROUP
The Prayer group is an initiative that falls within the Parish’s
Charismatic Catholic Renewal Ministry (CCR).
The aim of the group is to help people develop a strong
and vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit and grow a
strong team of prayer warriors for Our Lady of Lourdes.
This is done through weekly prayer meeting every Thursday
evening from 6pm to 19h30. The prayer meeting is open to
anyone wishing to experience spiritual nourishment,
to develop strong bonds with fellow parishioners and to receive or offer prayer support. The Prayer group is also responsible for facilitating and coordinating a variety of prayer events such as special novenas, 1000 Hail Mary, Spiritual retreats and seminars.
LECTIO DIVINA
This wonderful and ancient form of prayer is an encounter with the Living Word - an encounter with God who desires relationship with us. It is a prayer of the heart and not of the head. In praying Lectio today, we follow a similar process. We are listening for the particular thing that God is wanting to say tous through the scripture. We ask, what is God saying to me right now in my own heart about what is going on in my life at this moment in time? Lectio has four movements:
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We Read the Gospel for the coming Sunday
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We Reflect on the text – asking which word/ words are resonating for me
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We Respond – this is a time of sharing and listening attentively to one another
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We Rest in the Word – we read the text one last time allowing the words to sink deep into our heart and we give thanks.
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Our lectio groups at Rivonia, meet at the church, once a week, on a Monday night, from 6 – 7pm. We read the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday and listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to each one of us, directly and personally. We do not give each other advice or judge. We listen. This savouring of the Gospel has enriched our experience of mass. Listening to the proclamation of the Word becomes an adventure and we are eager to listen to the homily to discover what additional treasures may be revealed by the celebrant’s experience and interpretation of the Gospel.
MOTHERS WHO PRAY
for their Children
We are 'Mothers who Pray for their Children', a Catholic movement with Marian devotion. Our Lady of La Salette is the Patroness and Saint Monica the co-patroness. Originally from Brazil, our foundress Angela Abdo was called to pray along with other mothers who desired to pray and intercede for their children. Our mission is to establish networks of mothers who come together in the Church to pray and be formed in their faith. Brazil already has over 70,000 members, with Australia being the first English speaking country to adapt the movements resources. With already 7 groups and more being established in the country, we have been able to extend the movements reach to France, Germany, many countries in Latin America, the USA, Angola, Portugal and South Africa. With the help of our members and their talents, the movement has continued to grow.
All it takes is for a mother to say "Yes" to this mission of God!