In Articles

Ways to Pray When You’re Missing Your Church Community

Stephanie Foleyby Stephanie Foley

We’re coming up on a year since the Covid pandemic upended our lives, and one thing that many Catholics have missed is their faith community. Even those who are able to attend Mass may find it difficult to connect and pray with people due to masks and social distancing requirements. That is particularly true for the many people who have entered the Catholic Church this year.

A listener named Anna from Orange County, CA called in to Father Simon Says™ recently and said, “I’m a new convert, but ever since Covid hit I’ve kinda got lost in the shuffle. I haven’t been able to go to church and I’m a little overwhelmed. I don’t know where to start! Can you give me an idea of Scripture to read, prayers to pray, or something?”

Father Simon offered several suggestions for praying in community, even when you can’t be in person, saying, “One of the things that I would recommend wholeheartedly is The Drew Mariani Show™. The Divine Mercy Chaplet that he does at 3:30 p.m. Central is the largest prayer meeting in human history. It’s wonderful.”

Father Simon also pointed to several resources available on the Relevant Radio® App that would allow Anna to pray together with the Church in a way that feels more communal and less isolating. These resources can be helpful for new converts who have not yet established their sense of a faith community, or those who miss journeying in faith with their fellow parishioners.

Father Simon suggested getting the daily Mass readings from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (which can be accessed through the Pray tab of the Relevant Radio App) to enter into Scripture with the universal Church each day.

He also recommended praying the Rosary, using either the audio prayers available on the Relevant Radio App anytime, or joining in live to pray the Family Rosary Across America® at 7 p.m. Central each evening.

“I think one of the nice things about Relevant Radio is that it brings you into a community of people,” Father Simon said. “So I would use those prayers that we offer on Relevant Radio. You’re not out there alone. We’re together in this.”

Listen to the full conversation below:

Father Simon Says airs weekdays at 1:00 p.m. Central on Relevant Radio and the Relevant Radio App.

Stephanie Foley

Stephanie Foley

Stephanie Foley serves as a Digital Media Producer at Relevant Radio®. She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she studied journalism, and she has worked in Catholic radio for 12 years. Stephanie is a wife, a mother of three boys, and in her free time she enjoys reading, running, and really good coffee. You can find more of Stephanie’s writing at relevantradio.com and on the free Relevant Radio mobile app.