What is #PrayAcrossAmerica? And how do I get involved?

This fall Ave Maria Press is going to be releasing The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers, a beautiful, full-color collection of favorite prayers and #PrayerStories of more than 70 faith-filled, inspiring Catholic moms with children of all ages and stages. (Preorders go on sale September 1, 2021.) More about that later, except to say …

As this book was in development, I got to thinking about the thousands of Catholic women across the country who needed this kind of encouragement, and I started praying about how I could connect with these sisters of mine in a very practical, personal way. During this “season of COVID” I brought my piano playing and singing out of mothballs to serve at my home parish (which had lost its music minister). One of the ways I’d served in the past was to lead a guided meditation during the weekly parish holy hour, providing music and testimony to give those present a chance to ponder how God has been at work in their own lives. I thought this might be something that could easily be replicated in other parishes, and so I asked prayer book contributors to invite me to their home parishes to give the Catholic women in their community a chance to gather together and be encouraged and uplifted by spending an hour or two with Jesus and their sisters in faith. And we are starting to see this idea bear fruit!

So that explains the “pray” part of the hashtag. What about the “across America” part? Well, my husband Craig and I have a goal of seeing the national parks and shrines, and so we thought that as long as we were touring the country in our RV, we could make strategic stops along the way in order to connect with the contributors and their parishes in a more personal way. We will wait until our prayer book hits the warehouse, load up our RV, drive across the Midwest, then down the East Coast in a more or less southerly direction, stopping in at parishes along the way. No paying for hotels or airplanes. No huge speakers fees (just a freewill offering or small stipend to cover the gas) … just getting on the road to encourage and inspire Catholic women who right now, frankly, could USE a little encouragement!

How does this sound to you? Is it something you think would be welcome in your parish — either as an evening “night of reflection” (with or without benediction), or as a less formal, Saturday morning faith-sharing event? if so, please get in touch with me and let’s get you on the calendar!

So far, we have a confirmed events (we will update this as other events are announced):

• Tuesday evening, October 26 (thanks, Kelly Johnson at St. Mary of Gostyn Parish in Downer’s Grove, Illinois). This will be live-streamed the day of the event.
• We are also working on a “virtual,” Zoom-based retreat. If you would like an invitation to attend this, to see what it’s all about, email me and I’ll make sure you get an invite!
• If you are interested in more information, please email me at heidi.hess.saxton@gmail.com and I will send you the details.
• Please pray for us, that the Holy Spirit will guide us to the parishes we are most needed.  God bless!