When someone is going through a tough time, there are many ways we can help them — bringing a meal, mowing the lawn, or simply being there to listen. One of the best ways to help someone, though, is to offer them up in prayer. As Catholics, we know prayer can make miracles happen. The more prayers, the better!
Maryann Boumann felt the pull to start the Prayer Line Ministry in the early 2000s. For 15 years, she received prayer requests from parishioners and friends. In 2020, Georgeanne Rashilla started helping share the requests and appropriate Bible verses for the individual circumstances. Brittni Biba later jumped on board in 2020 to help send emails for the ministry.
Maryann always prays for the request as soon as she sees the email.
“We all are busy, so by immediately praying the Scripture verses and joining in prayers as fervently as we can, we complete this Work of Mercy in minutes. Over and done, times 269! We hear of our Prayer Warriors offering prayers together as a family for those on our Prayer Line. The power of our prayers is greater when we ask the Holy Family, our angels, saints, and beloved souls to join in our prayers.”
“I am so grateful for our prayer warriors — you encourage me to be a better parishioner and friend,” Maryann says. “I find I am also making Holy Hours more often to intercede for past, present, and future requests and needs of our parish, family, and friends.”
For Georgeanne, the opportunity to join the Prayer Line Ministry was a perfect transition role from her prior activities in the parish.
“Maryann approached me at church in 2020.I had just returned from living overseas in Germany for my husband’s work. Living in a new culture and not being fluent in the language, I spent a lot of alone time walking, praying, and listening to religious podcasts from home. I often described my time there as being an ‘accidental contemplative’.It isn’t often in life you have so much free time for reflection. That alone time had a profound effect on my faith life. After moving back to Lincoln, I was looking to fit myself back into parish life here but was not sure what that would look like and I didn’t want to lose the habits I had formed in Germany. So when Maryann proposed that I join her in this ministry, it was as if God himself was pointing the way forward.”
Brittni has found that being part of this ministry has profoundly impacted her faith, as well.
“There’s really something so beautiful and comforting knowing people are praying for each other,” Brittni says. “Maryann and Georgeanne write beautiful prayers! I’ve learned more Scripture because of them, and I’ve learned how to better pray for people on my own!”
The women love how this ministry is accessible to all — from the busy moms and dads to the homebound.
“Everyone can participate in this ministry at no cost except the gift of time,” Georgeanne says.
As Georgeanne emphasizes, this ministry is essential to the life of the parish. In addition to being a ministry of prayer, it’s also a ministry of hospitality.
“Church is not just a building — the church is living in community,” Georgeanne says. “This ministry provides vital sharing of various crosses that people bear.”
This group loves to receive updates from those who have been on the prayer line. Of course, not every prayer is answered like the person wants, but that is all part of God’s plan. And even if the prayer wasn’t answered how a person wanted, they still find great comfort in being prayed for.
“We are learning to trust that our God is in charge,” Maryann says. “He knows what He is doing. We will be happier and more peaceful as we surrender to Him more and more. Prayer helps us accomplish our goal of heaven.”
“I am so blessed to be a part of this ministry,” Brittni says. “I am a better Catholic and person because of it.”
To get involved with the Prayer Line Ministry, contact Brittni Biba at 402-759-1053
or stpeterprayerwarriors@gmail.com.