“In strengthening the priest you strengthen the whole Church....
Strengthen the priest and you strengthen the whole foundation,
you strengthen everything in the Church.”
Fr. Gerald, s.P., Founder
Handmaids of the Precious Blood
We Invite Everyone to Join us in Strengthening the Priest
One does not need to be a nun to offer every aspect of one’s life for the sanctification of God’s anointed ones. Anyone can pray and sacrifice for priests, which is why we began our prayer associations to allow those outside our cloister to join us in spirit before Our Lord in the Monstrance praying for His priests.
Lay Associates of the Priesthood
Lay Associates of the Priesthood spiritually adopt a priest to pray for anonymously by first name. The Association of lay men and women began in February of 1971 and it has since registered well over 29,500 members. There are no meetings, fees, or dues. Just daily prayer for a specific priest.
Confraternity of Mary, Mother of Priests
The Confraternity of Mary, Mother of Priests welcomes priests, religious, and deacons to also spiritually adopt their own priests. The Confraternity is structured similarly to the Lay Associates: no meetings, fees or dues. Just daily prayer for a specific priest.
Oblates of the Precious Blood
Begun under the guidance of the Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, S.J. on the Feast of Corpus Christi, June 21, 1981, the Oblates of the Precious Blood program was founded to allow priests, religious, deacons, and laity to more closely affiliate themselves with the mission and spirit of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood. Oblates of the Precious Blood bind themselves to our apostolate of prayer and sacrifice for priests by willingly committing themselves to lives completely dedicated to God, doing everything out of love for God and for the sanctification of priests. From their homes, their families, their work, their rectories, their dioceses, their missions, their hermitages, and their cloisters they reach out spiritually to priest souls in need, offering every joy and sorrow, all pain and suffering to God in love on behalf of priests. They dedicate themselves to learning the spirituality of our Founder, Father Gerald Fitzgerald, s.P. and give themselves in a lifelong resolution to live for God alone. Candidates undergo a formation period by correspondence conducted from our Motherhouse in New Mexico before making a private Solemn Resolution of Love. The Oblates are not a third order and members of third orders may apply for candidacy. World wide, there are at present over 420 Oblates of the Precious Blood.
LEFT: Deacon Steve Rangel, an Oblate of the Precious Blood, stands with a crucifix he was taking in pilgrimage around the archdiocese during Lent. His many works in the diaconate include pro-life work and prison ministry. He truly sets an example for Oblates serving the Church as leaven in the world.
If you are interested in any of these apostolates, simply use our Prayer Affiliates Inquiries form to contact us. God bless you.