Pentecost Vigil Project

The Pentecost Vigil Project models the original Pentecost Vigil, the 9 day Upper Room Novena that took place between Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost. Women, men and young people, laborers, theologians and mothers… all Intentional Disciples of the Risen Jesus, gathered to share their faith experiences, listen, pray for inspiration and then act on it!

Two People Prayed

In the Spring of 2021, Debbie Stollery (West Virginia) and Pat Clement (Virginia) were both praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Both had been blessed with years of grassroots Catholic ministry experience. Both were anticipating future opportunities for change. Pat was due to retire from full-time parish ministry in July, and Debbie’s ministry consultant service was re-structuring, due to COVID limitations.

In July, they met on Zoom for 2 hours and discovered that they had a common concern. When Church leadership gathers to discern important issues, only bishops had a seat at the table, a voice and a vote. \What could be done to provide all of God’s People a genuine opportunity to have a voice when Church leadership gathers?

The Pentecost Vigil Project is Born

Debbie and Pat decided to start with a simple idea and 4 goals:

Create a small digital platform for God’s People to freely share what the Spirit is saying
Create a simple format for gathering when Church leadership gathers
Create a means to share with Church leaders the ideas that “rise to the top” during the sharing/listening process
Create a prayer renewal, calling all God’s People to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance

The Spirit takes over

By the end of September, three events converged. Other ministry professionals asked to join the design process, Pope Francis issued the guidelines for Synod 2023, and it became evident that many American dioceses were unprepared for the synod’s Oct 2021-June 2022 Diocesan Listening Process. So, at a second Zoom meeting on Sept. 29, 2021, the growing team agreed to take a leap of Faith and launch a beta version of the Pentecost Vigil Project website filled with tools and resources to assist dioceses, parishes and all God’s People with the Synod 2023’s journey of faith, dialog and listening.

Pentecost Vigil Project, Inc.

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