April 22, 2026

By Darcy Fargo
Editor

It’s seven women, each praying for one hour with Jesus in the Eucharist on one day of the week for her priest.

The Seven Sisters Apostolate started in 2011 in Minnesota and involves the creation of groups of at least seven women, each of whom commit to one Holy Hour for their priest each week. Coordinated by a member of the team known as an “anchoress,” each woman is assigned a different day for her Holy Hour to ensure the priest has a team member praying for him every day of the week.

Seven Sisters groups are currently active in both Canton/Potsdam and Plattsburgh. The apostolate was first introduced in the Diocese of Ogdensburg by Alee Parker, a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Canton who participated in a Seven Sisters group in Texas previously.

“I used to live in Texas, and we had (the Seven Sisters Apostolate) at the parish we went to there,” Parker said. “I did it for a year there. I had never experienced doing Holy Hours before. It was definitely a learning experience, and it was really moving to dedicate an entire Holy Hour every week for someone else. When I came back here to my home parish, I knew I wanted to start that for our priests here.”

In February 2025, Parker, with permission of her pastor, Father Bryan Stitt, began recruiting six other women to form a Seven Sisters Group to pray for Father Stitt. When her parish was merged with St. Mary’s in Potsdam and a parochial vicar, Father Scott Belina, was assigned there, a second group was formed to pray for him.

“It really wasn’t difficult to get people involved,” Parker said. “Everyone was really excited. Some have never done Holy Hours before. It’s been really fun to be able to introduce them to how to do a Holy Hour. And our priests, Father Bryan (Stitt) and Father Scott (Belina) are so appreciative and humbled.”

Parker said the prayerful experience is good for both the participating women and the priests.

“First and foremost, it’s so important to pray for your priest,” she said. “We’re praying for his needs physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. It’s all needed! It’s also a blessing for you as you realize just how much our priests do for us and for our communities – just how much they’re devoting to our faith and to us. Before this, it wasn’t at the frorefront of my mind to pray for my priest daily or weekly. My mind has shifted so much.”

Participating also creates community among the Seven Sisters.

“We meet twice a year as a group of women,” Parker said. “Every year, we have a recommitment ceremony, and we pray our commitment prayer again together. Later in the year, we get together just to touch base and see how everyone is doing.”

Building on the effort in Canton and Potsdam, Seven Sisters groups are now operating in Plattsburgh.

“I am the anchoress for our pastor, Father Kevin D. McEwan’s Seven Sisters group,” said Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin. “It was fairly easy (recruiting additional participants) because we have a lot of committed adorers in our parish, so I invited those who are committed to making a weekly Holy Hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament first. Then, I asked those who I often see praying in Church but aren’t able to make it for the hours when exposition of the Holy Eucharist is currently offered. We also have people who have volunteered to be substitutes, if necessary. When the apostolate begins in a parish, the first group that is formed is for the pastor. Father Kevin’s group began on January 1, 2026. Each group has a separate anchoress, or leader, and Cathy Witkowski began Father Douglas A. Schirmer’s group on January 14. Then, Marie Nacht began Father Jose Kaniyankunnel John’s group on February 14.”

Bracy said the group has been a blessing for her and the other participants, as well as the priests for whom they’re praying.

“The apostolate has been a powerful and practical way to give our priests the greatest gift we can give anyone: prayer,” she said. “When the Seven Sisters in our parish made their one year commitment, it was really awesome, we felt like we became sisters and received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We gathered in the church together and made the offering for the priest who we are offering a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration for weekly. Not only is it a gift for our priests but I think it helps us grow in holiness and is a blessing to the whole parish and diocese because it unleashes God’s graces.”

Witkowski and Parker noted the prayers do not need to be said at a formal Holy Hour.

“It doesn’t have to be at Adoration,” Witkowski said. “You can just go into a church with the Blessed Sacrament.”

Witkowski’s Seven Sisters group asks the priest they’re praying for, Father Schirmer, for specific intentions.

“Since I see Father Doug (Schirmer) pretty regularly, I ask him, ‘is there something special you need us to pray for? Whatever he tells me, I pass on to the other six ladies,” Witkowski said. “I asked him at one point, ‘do you think it’s helping?’ Father Doug said he had recently had a situation come up that he didn’t think he’d normally be able to handle it, and he felt the support there, and was able to handle it better than he thought he could.”

Parker noted, though, that the priest doesn’t need to be involved in the group.

“When starting a Seven Sisters Group, you’re encouraged to talk to the priest,” she said. “Don’t’ do it without his permission. The priest can decide how involved or not involved he wants to be. In Texas, our priest didn’t attend our group gatherings, but he would let us know if he wanted prayers for a specific intention. Father Bryan (Stitt) attends our meetings.”

Witkowski said she feels more groups should be formed around the diocese.

“Our priests need prayers desperately, especially in these times with our shortage of priests and how much is expected of them,” Witkowski said. “All priests in the diocese need to have Seven Sisters.”

And the priests appreciate the prayers.

“I’m very grateful to the apostolate members,” said Father Schirmer. “The idea that any given day someone is spending an hour in prayer on your behalf is pretty humbling! The group here in Plattsburgh will also ask if there are specific prayer intentions that I would like their prayers for. Sometimes I don’t have anything particular, but it’s so kind of them to ask! The apostolate is valuable because it offers a way for regular people to engage their prayer lives on behalf of the local church, something we could all probably do a better job at!”

While the group of seven is limited to women, groups are encouraged to have substitutes available, and men can serve as substitutes. There’s also a group for men, Fasting Brothers, that can operate in conjunction with Seven Sisters.

Anyone interested in starting a Seven Sisters Apostolate group is urged to visit sevensistersapostolate.org for information and resources, including commitment prayers and guidance on how to carry out the ministry.