Someone Cares: Secret Support During Lent

A new idea for Lent turned out to help this church congregation grow closer.
A purple basket full of slips with names of church congregation members.

What are these? I wondered, looking at the slips of paper in a basket in the vestibule of my church. I took one and saw that it asked for a name and address. At the end of Mass, the reader announced that we were trying something new for Lent: secret prayer partners. “Fill out the slip and turn it in,” she said, “so next week you can pick the name of someone you’ll pray for until Easter.”

We’re a close-knit congregation, so when I saw the name of an acquaintance on the slip of paper I picked the next week, I was able to offer prayers for her health concerns and difficult family situations. Some days I simply said a Hail Mary and asked God to watch over her. Knowing that someone was praying for me was wonderful!

For Easter I sent a card to my secret prayer partner to reveal my identity. I received a beautiful one from the woman who had been praying for me. Our church has had secret prayer partners for Lent for 10 years, and it’s helped our congregation grow closer.

READ MORE ABOUT THINGS TO DO FOR LENT:

Learn more about Someone Cares greeting cards!

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