Nazareth House Apostolate began in prayer. It is that “making space for God” that we strive to continue.
When many think of Nazareth House Apostolate, they think of the humanitarian work we do in Sierra Leone.
That work, full of compassion, is a portion of what Nazareth House Apostolate is.
Humanitarian work is noble work but for NHA, as with everything else of NHA, it must be born out of and sustained in prayer. Without it, we become simply one of many humanitarian organizations.
There is so much more to Nazareth House Apostolate.
Without focus, commitment and practice of prayer as the priority, we become nothing than another secular establishment. Our prayer is not only a precious gift to give others, but more importantly it is for God. This is why St. Simeon Skete is vital to us all.
People need a place of ongoing prayer, a place where God is enough. Not all of us can live the demanding disciplined life at the Skete, but we can all pray. And when there are times in which we are unable to pray because of the distractions and dysfunctions of the world, it is comforting to know that there is a place where prayer is constant and where we are taken up into that prayer.
This blog post is not meant as a suggestion for you to assume we no longer need your donations-quite the opposite. (Although, if you can only give us one thing, we’d rather it be prayer.) The goal of this post is a recommitment to the statement you’ve heard so many times from us:
“Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God
as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers,
compassion and generosity.”
It is to the degree that you are in ongoing relationship with God that you will hear, know and understand what he has put into your heart.
In the spirit of focusing on prayer, the parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Chico, California sponsored a “Walk-a-thon” to benefit Nazareth House Apostolate on New Years Day 2011. They didn’t want to just WALK through Bidwell Park, they wanted to PRAY through it. And that is exactly what they did.
From the beginning, the event was organized in prayer, about prayer and for prayer. The normal administrative preparations all began and ended in prayer from permits to advertisement. 
Even the name of the Event maintained the focus: PRAY- LOVE-WALK-a-thon.
Even the name of the Event maintained the focus: PRAY- LOVE-WALK-a-thon.
On the day of PrayLoveWalk, we’d hoped for a sunny, warm day. It didn’t happen, we got exactly the opposite – a rainy, cold and dismal morning. But it didn’t matter.
The gathering of the people filled with love brought about all the warmth and light we could ask for.
The teamwork was incredible.
People helping out to do whatever
task to make the PrayLoveWalk a reality.
task to make the PrayLoveWalk a reality.
One after another, they joined in to register the walkers.
Thankful to Augie’s Fine Coffee and Tea, we enjoyed hot coffee to wake us up and keep our teeth from chattering.
It was wonderful to see the loving fellowship
and genuine happiness as people greeted each other and worked together.
and genuine happiness as people greeted each other and worked together.
The prayer walk opened (of course) in prayer,
and then the participants
dispersed into groups
dispersed into groups
or individually to begin the course
through Bidwell Park.
Each step a prayer,
each conversation a prayer…
In the midst of the prayer walk
we happened upon the New Year’s Day “Polar Bear” Swimmers
we happened upon the New Year’s Day “Polar Bear” Swimmers
who brave the icy weather to take a yearly splash in the cold waters in Bidwell Park.
The prayer walk combined with such great fellowship seemed blessing enough, but St. Augustine Parish being St. Augustine Parish didn’t end the day there – they also fed us.
Again, teamwork at its best,
a tremendous breakfast was spread before us.
Having had a nice prayer walk, a great breakfast
and lots
of good fellowship,
it was now time
for the Raffle Drawings.
More fun
More fellowship
and then a little bit more fellowship…
Nazareth House Apostolate is very much in awe of the NHA gathering in Chico. What a wonderful work you have done.
We are very pleased to announce the results of the PrayLoveWalk -a-thon:
- $500 received January 1st; individual check to NHA
- $1769 received January 17; summary of checks written to NHA
- $1893.79 received January 27; individual check from St. Augustine to NHA (total of checks written to St. Augustine for NHA)
- $50 received from out of State donor written to NHA
for a grand total presented to Nazareth House Apostolate: $4,212.79. …and it all began in prayer. Simply amazing!
Thank you to everyone who participated, what an awesome work. Thank you, thank you!
Thank you to everyone who participated, what an awesome work. Thank you, thank you!
