A wonderful initiative for Ministries and Parishes during Lent and beyond.

I, Marilyn Henry (Ministry Co Ordinator) first met the author when her son, fresh out of the Seminary, was assigned to my Parish, Prince of Peace, in Houston, Texas. As you’ll read in the story, Father Ryan was not with us at Prince of Peace for long, but he touched countless lives with his faith, caring, and courage through great suffering.

Father Ryan

PRAY for Our Seminarians!!!

WHY…Fueled by our growing shortage of Catholic priests, a grassroots effort began the Monday before Ash Wednesday 2025 in Houston, Texas.

THE QUESTION…

How can we encourage more prayer, fasting, and sacrificial offerings for our seminarians in our Archdiocese? We want to do more!

ONE SOLUTION….

Create a list of spiritual bouquet options of Masses, Rosaries, Chaplets, Holy Hours in Adoration, and Sacrifices of their choice that people can sign up to do for one or more seminarians during Lent (we are talking about expanding this practice to year-round).

PROCESS…

One mom developed a Signup Genius Link where she listed all the archdiocese seminarian names and links to Houston vocation website where they could learn more.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FA4AD2DA3FAC43-55504089-praying

Another mom created a printable Spiritual Bouquet Card that we’ve shared with Catholic Churches and Schools for them to print out on cardstock and distribute as they like. Within a week, we’ve expanded by sending the spiritual bouquet file to our Catholic contacts everywhere; even to friends in Aberdeen, Scotland and Perth, Australia in hopes of grassroots efforts beginning there as well.

(printable file below)

LOCALLY….

We have teamed up with the Knights of Columbus and set up a Seminarian Spiritual Bouquet table at the KC Lenten Fish Frys at St Anne in Tomball, St Matthias in Magnolia, and Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston.

At the table, we have the Vocations Office poster of seminarian photos so folks can see who they are praying for during Lent, along with Spiritual Bouquet Cards, pens, and Fr Ryan Stawaisz cards. Fr Ryan was a young local priest who valiantly served 2 years at Prince of Peace before he died in 2021. There’s a movie about his life, Love God’s Will, in theaters beginning on Holy Thursday. More info at palomitafilms.com!

The name of a seminarian is on Spiritual Bouquet Card and prayer warriors write in their name, parish, and the number of Masses, rosaries etc that they will offer up for him.

The person takes a picture of the card and his photo so they remember their pledge.

These cards will then be distributed to the seminarians at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston.

THE RESPONSE….

The Clergy and school staff are delighted with these very practical opportunities to encourage more prayer, fasting and almsgiving, especially during Lent and to focus it on uplifting our future priests.

The Knights are always encouraging in efforts to promote a deeper prayer life in families and inspiring young men to consider the priesthood.

My favorite story so far…

Roselle, age 8, asked me if she could pray her night prayers for a man who wants to be like Jesus….❣️❣️❣️

We are so delighted to share this prayer opportunity with all of you and hope you are inspired to join in and spread His word!