Prayer Tree Ministry
The Prayer Tree Ministry is a group of over two hundred men and women called Prayer Partners who pray for the intentions on the Prayer Tree list distributed each week. This list contains requests for the Lord’s physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
The Prayer Tree Ministry began in 1976 as twenty-one members of St. Agnes Prayer Community volunteered to pray daily for the intentions of others. As our Lord so powerfully answered these prayers, more people began to join this special ministry.
Thursday evenings at the Prayer Meeting, special intentions are placed in the "Prayer Tree Basket". These and other requests communicated by phone are typed, printed and mailed out weekly to all Prayer Partners. Eighty-nine members are from Reading, one hundred one members from other towns in Massachusetts, and fourteen members are from out of state. The cost of envelopes and postage is covered by donations from the Love Offering basket at the St. Agnes Prayer Meeting.
As part of the Prayer Tree Ministry, Prayer Partners are encouraged to pray for all the programs and activities in their Church bulletins. Before each liturgy they pray that the celebrant, lector, leader of song, and all those present at the Eucharist be anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit so that the Word will come alive and take root in their hearts, and that those who receive the Body and Blood of Jesus will be aware of His healing and loving presence.
As the Prayer Partners pray for all who are seriously ill, need employment, have marital problems, addictions, etc., they are so aware and so grateful for all God’s blessings in their lives. As a result, their personal relationship with Jesus is strengthened and their faith increased as they witness the power of prayer.
The team consists of: Edward Chisolm, Rhonda Gracilieri, Frances Herman, Marie Kleponis, Linda Logan, and Lynda Palladino.