Seven Sisters Apostolate prays for our priests and strengthens the Church

In a noisy world, the Seven Sisters Apostolate quietly reminds us that the Church’s strength flows from hearts turned toward Christ in love and intercession.

Across Pittsburgh, women commit to a dedicated Holy Hour each week for their parish priest as part of this global eucharistic prayer movement.

Founded in 2011 by Janette Howe in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the apostolate began when Janette’s son was discerning the priesthood. Grateful for her pastor’s support, she began a weekly Holy Hour for him. The Holy Spirit soon stirred her to invite others. Nine months later, the Lord whispered, “Seven Sisters.” She gathered six women, and the apostolate was born. Today, more than 2,700 groups pray for pastors, bishops, and the pope. Each group of seven or more women is led by an anchoress, who coordinates a schedule, ensuring seven days of uninterrupted prayer for a year.

At Saint Paul Cathedral in Oakland, Anchoress Diane Faust recalls her early hesitation to join. “I wondered if I could really commit every week,” she said. “But that hour has become the anchor of my life. It’s not just praying for Father—it’s drawing closer to Jesus and trusting Him with everything.”

On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, members renew their commitment as a spiritual bouquet for the priest. 

Diane’s Saturday holy hour includes the Rosary and specific intercessions. “I invoke the Blessed Mother to guide me in what Father needs. I pray for Father Kris Stubna’s intentions—that he may serve God with humility, imitating Mary, our mother and model of the Church.”

Supporting her priest, she said, is the most important thing she can do for the Church. “The stronger and more faithful he is, the stronger our parish becomes.” Father Stubna’s handwritten notes affirm the power of their prayers.

The apostolate is quickly expanding in Pittsburgh. “Two years ago, there were fewer than ten groups,” Diane said. “Now there are more than 36—covering pastors, parochial vicars, our bishop, and retired priests."

At Sacred Heart Church, part of Saint Jude Parish in Pittsburgh, Lucy Hainan also serves as anchoress. She first heard about the apostolate from a friend, then again at the Eucharistic Congress, and finally saw a video online. “Okay, Lord—you’re speaking. I have to do this for my parish.”

With help from her parish outreach minister, Lucy invited six women who all said yes. “Each of us picked a day. My day is Wednesday, and for that hour, nothing else comes into my mind. It’s a true prayer covering for our priest.”

The commitment has transformed her. “I didn’t realize how attached I was to my own prayer needs. But the more I pray for Father, the more I love him for who he is as a priest. Without our priests, we have no Church and no sacraments. If the evil one can get to the priest, the flock scatters.”

She sees their spiritual responsibility as immense. “From my birth to my death, my priest will be there for the most important moments of my life.”

Those unable to reach a chapel may pray Holy Hours from home. “I’ve prayed on airplanes—Jesus meets us where we are,” Lucy said. Substitutes may fill in; they must be women, though a husband may stand in for his wife in an emergency.

In several dioceses, men participate through a counterpart ministry—the Fasting Brothers—who fast one day a week for priests. There is one group in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

“Sometimes I arrive at adoration feeling distracted or weighed down,” Lucy added. “But by the time I finish, I feel renewed. The Lord multiplies my small offering into grace—grace not just for the priest, but for me too.”

The ministry is quiet but eternal in impact. “We may never see the results,” Lucy said. “But heaven does. And that’s enough.”