Prayer

Personal Prayer

OLPH Church interior

Church and Chapel Accessibility:

The Church remains open for personal prayer time during weekdays, from 9 am to 3 pm, except for the weekly School Mass at 9:30 am on Thursdays; funerals and other liturgies may restrict access to personal prayer. In those instances, The Good Shepherd Chapel remains available.

The Good Shepherd Chapel is open daily from Monday- Friday, 9 am – 3 pm for all visitors.

Additionally, Private prayer in the Chapel is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Chapel After-hours Access:

To balance the ease of after-hours access and the need for security, OLPH is using an electronic system called VIZpin that turns your cell phone into the key needed to gain entry after-hours.

I’d like to gain after-hours access.

Eucharistic Adoration: 

​​Our Adoration Chapel is a sacred space for parishioners and visitors to meet our Lord throughout the day, grow in love for the Eucharist and each other, and hold the intentions of those discerning vocations close in our hearts and prayers.

Take a minute to learn more about the history of space and the beautiful Good Shepherd stained glass window.

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament flows from the sacrifice of the Mass and serves to deepen our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of the Church.” ~ www.usccb.org

Festivals of Praise

The Festival of Praise (FOP) is a monthly Adoration opportunity typically scheduled on the first Friday of each month beginning at 7:30 pm in church and features live music, preaching, and prayer teams. As an extension of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which occurs in every Mass, participants encounter Christ through the same means:  In the community gathered, the music they share, his Word, and most importantly, His Eucharistic presence. Tuning out the noise and busyness that dominate much of our daily lives, participants find healing, hope, and peace through shared prayer and song.

 

Novenas

A novena is a form of prayer whereby a person brings a particular intention to the Lord over many consecutive days.  The nine days between Jesus’ Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost are often categorized as the original novena of the Church.  Modern novenas vary in length and content and may be attributed to a particular saint or liturgical season.   

Our OLPH Clergy and ministries sponsor novenas throughout the liturgical year, which are announced in the bulletin, E-blast, and OLPH’s official Facebook page.

Opportunities for Others to Pray with Me

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care—also known as Spiritual Care—provides emotional and spiritual support to those experiencing trials and difficulties in life. This takes place in one-to-one sessions and can include pointing to community resources and support groups to maximize support.

If you are going through a difficult time and need support and a listening ear, please contact the Parish Office at 410-747-4334 or fill out the form here, and our Pastoral Care Director will be in touch with you.

FOP Prayer Teams

Prayer Teams are called upon to serve at various events such as FOP, retreats, and other communal gatherings.  Prayer Ministers are trained to pray in person with individuals for various needs, such as personal intentions, healing, and clarity, among others. Consider seeking a prayer team when they are present at our events if you have a particular intention or need you’d like to pray for.

Unbound Prayer

Unbound Prayer is an outreach of Heart of the Father Ministries, developed by Catholic author Neal Lozano. Based on the book Unbound: A Practical Guide to Deliverance, Unbound Prayer focuses on helping people embrace the power and freedom already made available to them through baptism. This is accomplished by guiding participants to respond to the gospel’s good news and apply truth to their lives using the “Five Keys”: Repentance and Faith; Forgiveness; Renunciation; Authority; and The Father’s Blessing.

For more information or to sign up to receive prayer through a trained Unbound prayer team, please visit https://unboundministrymaryland.org/ or email unboundministrymaryland@gmail.com.

Opportunities for Others to Pray for Others

The Charism of Intercession

Intercession is a “characteristic of a heart attuned to God’s mercy… He who prays looks not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others…” (CCC 2635). Those individuals who enjoy praying with and for others are encouraged to continue fostering that gift by serving with Prayer Teams, Unbound Prayer, or visiting our Prayer List regularly. 

For more information about Prayer Teams or Unbound Prayer training opportunities, please reach out to Becky Needham at becky.needham@archbalt.org.

Prayer Teams

Prayer Teams are called upon to serve at various events such as Festivals of Praise, retreats, and other communal gatherings. Prayer Ministers are trained to pray in person with individuals for various needs, such as personal intentions, healing, and clarity, among others.

If you would like to be trained as a Prayer Minister, please reach out to Becky Needham at becky.needham@archbalt.org.

Prayer List

Parishioners are welcome to submit prayer intentions for themselves or loved ones to be included on our public Prayer List, which is shared each week through our bulletin and on our website.

If you would like to join us in prayer, please visit the prayer request page for an updated list of intentions each week.