Abstract
Our pastoral response was to design and implement an attractive and convenient
“Midweek Prayers” service that would encourage the participation of both Trinity
parishioners and St. Richard’s staff. Without the opportunity for such participation, they
miss a part of the prayerful life that is both required of Christians and a part of the grace
given to them. Our goal was further to establish a format that was comfortable for the
participants, the beginning of a framework that would perpetuate lay leadership for the
weekly service and a process through which intentions could be communicated to the
leadership.
The design process would be carried out over a period of nine consecutive weeks
at the beginning of the 1998-99 school year. Participation by a diverse group would be
invited, including both the St. Richard’s personnel and Trinity parishioners. Additionally,
because of Trinity’s central location on a main artery from the Indianapolis, Indiana,
northside into the downtown area, persons from other traditions would be invited to test
whether such a service might be appealing and useful to a wider fellowship. The project
would be planned in a theological reflection process with faculty and staff of St.
Richard’s.
Progress would be evaluated in theological reflection with participants midway
through the process, and again at the conclusion of the introductory period. The midprocess evaluation would function as a “mid-course correction” opportunity, measuring
the comfort and satisfaction level of participants and incorporating their thoughts and
suggestions. The concluding evaluation would focus on whether or not we had been successful in establishing a regular weekly intercessory prayer service that is satisfying to both the tradition of the Offices and the ecumenical background of the non-Catholic
participants.
