A Special Ministry of Prayer
(The latest update from Fr. Bert Heise, OFM, one of our retired friars living at St. Margaret Hall nursing facility.)
My Good People!
When I came to St. Margaret Hall in August of 2010, our Provincial Minister, Jeffery Scheeler, OFM, wrote in my letter of obedience:
"We assign you, Bert, to a special ministry of prayer. I ask you to please pray for our Province and all its members and, especially, pray for the gift of vocations. I thank you for this. I know that you are a prayerful man!"
There are five friars here with me at St. Margaret. All five are prayerful men. So was our deceased friar, John Boehman, The people here see all of us at Mass most days. This is despite the fact that we all are diminishing--- as one friar so well put it.
One comes in a wheelchair and is up on the second floor balcony. Three friars have their wheelchairs in the back of the chapel while one friar sits in the body of church. I am up in the sanctuary with my cane. There are, of course, days when one or more of the friars are too sick to come or are away at a medical appointment.
The friars are in chapel too at other times during the day with holy hours and the saying of the rosary or praying the Prayer of Christians. I personally pray both at Mass and during my morning prayers for all the intentions that Friar Jeff has listed. In addition I try to remember all the members of my own family, living and deceased, as well as all of you people I send this letter to.
Fr. Bert Heise, OFM
Occasionally someone sends me a letter or e-mail asking for prayers. You can be certain that I will do that, even at times offering my Mass intention itself for you. I also do all of the regular anointing of the sick. And I am called when someone is dying. I pray with the family and the resident. The Lord has been so good to me that I am still able to do all of this.
God love you! Remember me in your prayers too.
Fr. Bert
Let us pray with you. Visit our Prayer Page today.
Posted in: Prayer, Senior Friars
