Do you have family members, relatives, or friends who have fallen away from the Catholic Church?  Are you worried about their future if they don’t return to the faith?  Have you wanted to pray in a special way for them but didn’t know where to begin?  You are not alone.  For many people, watching a loved one leave the Church is a devastating experience. What can you do to help them?

Fortunately, there is a prayer group addressing the problem of fallen-away, marginal, and apostate Catholics.  Every week, the ST. MONICA PRAYER SODALITY offers a devotion promoting prayers for people to return to the Catholic Church.  The devotion begins with the St. Monica Novena and the recitation of the Holy Rosary, followed by the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Tridentine). Confessions are also available.

The St. Monica Prayer Sodality was founded in 1995 by FR. FRANK PHILLIPS, C.R., the pastor of ST. JOHN CANTIUS CHURCH.  Fr. Phillips also serves as the Prayer Sodality’s chaplain. The purpose of the group is to help people find the strength and perseverance they need to help loved ones return to the Church.  St. Monica was chosen as the patron saint for the group because of her unwavering prayers for her own son’s return to the faith.  After three decades, her prayers were answered and her son renewed his commitment to Catholicism. That same son went on to become one of the greatest defenders of Catholic orthodoxy and a Doctor of the Church. He is also one of the most revered men in Catholic Church history – ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO.  His mother never gave up on him – and we should never give up on those we love either.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the St. Monica Prayer Sodality.  The devotion is conducted each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in St. John Cantius Church, 825 N. Carpenter Street in Chicago.  If you would like more information, please telephone the Church at (773) 243-7373.