Prayer Partners

March 2019

Dear Prayer Partner,

As winter fades into spring, may your prayers continue to accompany us on our upcoming projects. The renovation of our convent building on Russian Island is finally underway. Contracts are being drawn up, the right crews are being looked for, and all the decisions as to the best materials have to be made. Your prayers will continue to give us the courage and wisdom needed to proceed with the task. We are delighted to be preparing for the two ordinations to the priesthood early next month.

May all our Lenten resolutions aid you as well with your plans and hopes. May all we do delight the Lord.
Most gratefully,
Mother Julia and Sisters in Jesus the Lord

1. Your prayers have done marvels for our mission over the last several years. The year of 2019 is a year of milestones: As of January of this year, it will be five years that the sisters have lived in our convent, Dom Marii, on Russian Island. As of July, we have been in Kansas City, MO, for ten years. As of November, it will be the tenth anniversary of the sisters beginning their work in Russia.
2. Your prayers will be especially appreciated for two Rachel's Vineyard retreats at two new sites in other regions of Russia: March 15-17 and March 22-24. Your prayers and sacrifices will help the participants receive deep healing, and advance Sister Maria Stella's hope that in each of these two regions local teams will form to lead future Rachel's Vineyard Retreats.
3. Please pray for a holy Lent for all of us sisters, our parishioners, and students. There are only a few Catholics among the 50,000+ students at the new university on Russian Island. We hope with the help of your prayers that they may become powerful disciples leading others to Christ.

Prayer to Our Suffering Savior For the Souls in Purgatory by St. Alphonsus Liguori

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them, O Lord, Have mercy on them.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel crucifixion, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the cross, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

Prayer Partners: Please pray that young women who have a vocation to the missionary life will come, and that our community will develop according to God's plan.

Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for our mission work would be most appropriate.

Our community, Sisters in Jesus the Lord, is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) who was a sister of the Visitation Order in France was responsible for spreading the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus throughout the Church. She said in one of her letters:

"It seems to me that our Lord's earnest desire to have his sacred heart honored in a special way is directed toward renewing the effects of redemption in our souls. For the sacred heart is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure.

A prayer that we sisters say daily is the following:

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Have Mercy on us
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Inflame our hearts with Your love
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Help us to make You known and loved by all