About

ABOUT

There is but one road which reaches God and that is PRAYER, if anyone shows you another, you are being deceived." -- St. Teresa of Avila

PRAYER ...

The Avilas of the Diocese of Cleveland join in heart and soul to pray with love for our Church. Holy Hours are the foundation of the Avilas. Each member promises their weekly Holy Hour for those called by God to offer their lives in service and sacrifice in the ordained and consecrated life. We pray also for vocations to this holy life, and those studying and discerning God's call.

Read about our membership levels and decide on the level that is best for you.

I want to thank the anonymous Avila prayer moms and other Avilas who pray for the priests. I appreciate the spiritual support from people back home." -- Father Curt Kondik, military chaplain from the Diocese of Cleveland

SOURCE: Northeast Ohio Catholic, May/June 2019, p. 14

ACTIVE AVILAS MEMBER

This level of membership is designed for those who are able to partake fully in the Avilas organization.

Make a weekly Holy Hour to pray for priests, those in the consecrated life, deacons, seminarians, and for more men and women to answer the call to a religious vocation. The "Holy Hour Prayer Book for Vocations" by the Avilas is provided.
Meet on the third Wednesday of Sep, Nov, Jan, Mar and May from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, home of our Borromeo and Saint Mary Seminaries. The gatherings consist of a Holy Hour, Mass (with the seminarians when possible), and a luncheon meeting featuring a priest or sister from our Diocese who shares their vocation story and other aspects of their life in the service of the Lord.
Receive our bi-monthly newsletter.
Have a vote in all actions of the Avilas organization.
Assist in the Diocesan Vocation Office when needed.
Pay annual dues (currently $60 per individual or $100 per couple) to cover the cost of the luncheons, guest speakers, newsletter expenses and mailings.
Have a standing reservation for the luncheon but must call to cancel your reservation by noon on the Monday before the luncheon if you are unable to attend.
Download, view and print the Avilas Member Application form.

SUSTAINING AVILAS MEMBER

This level of membership is designed to make it possible for those who are unable to attend meetings for health or other reason, but would still like to be a member of the Avilas organization.

Make a weekly Holy Hour to pray for priests, those in the consecrated life, deacons, seminarians, and for more men and women to answer the call to a religious vocation. The "Holy Hour Prayer Book for Vocations" by the Avilas is provided.
Attend, when possible (for an additional current nominal charge of $13 per lunch), the meetings on the third Wednesday of Sep, Nov, Jan, Mar and May from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, home of our Borromeo and Saint Mary Seminaries. The gatherings consist of a Holy Hour, Mass (with the seminarians when possible), and a luncheon meeting featuring a priest or sister from our Diocese who shares their vocation story and other aspects of their life in the service of the Lord.
Receive our bi-monthly newsletter.
Have no voting privileges in the Avilas organization.
Pay 1/2 the annual dues of Active Avilas Members (currently $30 per individual or $50 per couple) to cover the cost of the luncheons, guest speakers, newsletter expenses and mailings.
Must call in a reservation by noon on the Monday before the luncheon if you are attending the lunch.
Download, view and print the Avilas Member Application form.

PARISH UNIT MEMBER

This level of membership is designed for those who want to foster communal prayer for the Avilas intentions in the unity of the parish under the structure of the Avilas organization.

Meet in the parish for a Holy Hour weekly, twice a month or monthly (depending on the Parish Unit leader) to pray for priests, those in the consecrated life, deacons, seminarians, and for more men and women to answer the call to a religious vocation. The "Holy Hour Prayer Book for Vocations" by the Avilas is provided. It is noted that the very sick and homebound may need to make their Holy Hour at home.
The Parish Unit Leader receives our bi-monthly newsletter for sharing with the group.
Have no voting privileges in the Avilas organization.
Pay no annual dues.
Sustaining and Active Members can also be part of a Parish Unit. The Parish Unit Holy Hour can take the place of the personal Holy Hour for that week if desired.
Download and view a list of churches with Parish Unit Holy Hours. If your church is not listed, and you are interested in forming a Parish Unit Holy Hour, please submit the Contact Form to request more information.

PRAYER MOMS AND DADS

With our new class of priests, we need more Prayer Moms and Dads. Also, several Prayer Moms and Dads are no longer able to be active, so their priests need new Prayer Moms and Dads. If you are not yet a Prayer Mom or Dad, please consider it. The only requirement is to pray, pray, pray! Greeting cards a few times a year -- ordination anniversary, birthday, Christmas, and Easter -- are also appreciated, and an occasional word of encouragement. Your correspondence will always be signed, "Your Avila Prayer Mom" or "Your Avila Prayer Dad". Your identity remains unknown -- you are forever anonymous as the identity of the Prayer Mom or Dad is only revealed to the priest when the Prayer Mom or Dad is called home to God.

An Avilas member from any level can be a Prayer Mom or Dad, and existing Prayer Moms and Dads can take a second Prayer Son.

This is a very rewarding role, a secret between you and your God to benefit someone who will become special to you. Please submit the Contact Form to add your name and heartfelt prayers to this holy work, and receive the name of your Prayer Son.

AVILAS GUEST

Friends and guests are always welcome! Many times those who attend the Parish Unit Holy Hour are not Sustaining or Active Members, but choose to attend one of the five Holy Hour, Mass and luncheon meetings at the Center for Pastoral Leadership as an Avilas Guest and pay the guest donation (currently $13) for lunch. The only requirement is that the Avilas Guest call in a reservation by noon on the Monday before the luncheon.