The year 2016 was the year of Mercy. Celebrated worldwide in large and small ways, Holy Hours, day long Festivals of Mercy, one of which, “Gate of Mercy” was held at our own parish. Amid all this the Cenacle of St. Monica was born. Originally conceived as a prayer group to pray for family and friends who had left the Church, it was named after St. Monica, who brought her son, St. Augustine to conversion by prayer and tears.
Our parish had been introduced to Father Michael Gaitley’s “Hearts Afire” Parish program, and under the guidance of our pastor at the time, completed “33 Days to Morning Glory” and “Consoling the Heart of Jesus” retreats. In 2016 some of our parishioners read “33 Days to Merciful Love” and joined the 60,000 people in the world, consecrating themselves to Jesus, the Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday that year. We formed our Cenacle in early 2017 and have met for the last seven years, except for a hiatus due to Covid-19.
Prior to Covid, we had been very busy. In 2018 we sponsored and presented our parish retreat of “33 Days to Merciful Love”. We were amazed when 65 people signed up. Some of them coming from 90 minutes away! They consecrated themselves to Jesus, the Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday 2018. Our Cenacle has also sponsored and presented “Consoling the Heart of Jesus”, and activities and rosaries commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions at Fatima, Rosaries for Life and Commemorations of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We also sponsored a reading and consecration to St. Joseph, using Father Donald Calloway’s book, “Consecration to St. Joseph”.
We completed the first Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy Formation Manual. It took us five years to complete since so many weeks turned into a month worth of discussions. Week 48 is one of those weeks that prompted rich and lively discussions. We felt as though we had made the 8 Day Retreat prior to final vows with St. Faustina. We are fortunate that our Cenacle is made up of men and women and that no one is shy about sharing their perspective. Over the years, we have been graced with a fairly constant membership of 12 people. Not always the same ones, since some have been called home to the Lord, but we have grown into a close knit family that is growing into spiritual maturity together. Our time is a Sacred time in the presence of Jesus, the Divine Mercy. Our discernments are for the here and now of our lives and the lives of the souls we meet on our journey. As members of the Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy we pray to take on Our Lord’s humility, kindness and mercy. “Jesus, I trust in You”
If anyone feels called to join the Cenacle in prayer and formation, please do so. We would be glad to have you be part of our family. The Cenacle meets twice a month, the second Thursday and the last Thursday of every month. We meet in the sacristy of St. Matthews Church in Whitefield at 3 PM to pray and speak about our faith.
For more information please e-mail Diane Caruso [email protected] or Patty Coutermarsh at [email protected].