Our first official prayer meeting, with the permission of our pastor, Msgr. Moore, was held in the cloak room of the old school on 28 March 1977. We currently meet each week on Monday evenings at 7:30 to pray for the needs of our parish, our families, our community and our country. We spend most of the evening in praise and thanksgiving to our God.
COORDINATOR Marie Dickson 215-342-4869
Few Parishes in Philadelphia had prayer groups in 1976 and St. Cecilia was no exception. Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Margaret Frycler, a parishioner, held the first prayer meeting in her home. Those present were Peg and Henry Frycler, Theresa Krotti, Kathleen Hess, Ann O'Neil, Otto Reinhardt and Maria Tyson. We were a group of relatives, friends and strangers who shared a common desire to praise God at a prayer meeting in our own parish. Most of us were attending prayer meetings in other parishes at the time.
In answer to prayer, we sought and received permission from our pastor, Msgr. Frederick Moors to become St. Cecilia's Charismatic Prayer Group and on March 28, 1977 we held our first meeting in the cloak room of the old school. Over the years, we've moved from the old school to the church and to the new addition at present. We've changed the night we meet from Tuesday to Monday, and we've recited the Rosary before the prayer meeting for many years. Henry Frycler designed and Betty Malone gave us our banner and our name, "People of Love." The following are those who guided us through the years: SPIRITUAL LEADERS Fr. Peter Quinn 1977 - 1981 Fr. Bill Joseph 1981 - 1985 Msgr. James Fitzpatrick 1985 - 1989 Fr. Stephen Katziner 1989 - 1997 Fr. Scott Brockson 1997 - 1998 Rev. Mr. Lou Malfara 1998 – 2006 LAY LEADERS Henry Frycler 1977 - 1979 John Donnelly 1979 - 1985 Fern Pergelino 1985 -1999 Betty Malone 1999 - 2003 Sue Mahan 2003 - 2006 Marie Dickson – 2007 Through the gifts, guidance and love of these faithful people and our committed members and by the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we have grown and matured spiritually. We praise and thank God for his goodness to us over the past 30 years. IN LOVING MEMORY OF ST. CECILIA'S CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP DECEASED MEMBERS 1977 - 2007 Miriam Anderson Margaret Bigley Elizabeth Bradley Nancy Checchia Regina Coltman Dolly Coluzzi Margaret Condon Anne Cooke Doris Ellis Jack Ellis Henry Frycler Jim Gibbons Frances Gillespie Mary Illewish Mary Ann Izzi Mary Jackson Helen Katizner John Katizner Charles Kerner Robert Knapp Marie Kullman James Lawley Chick Maiuri Joseph Martin Caroline McBride James McKenna Martha McKenna Max Meister Trudy Meister Gertrude Newman Anne Poiron Margaret Potts Walter Potts Bill Quinn Theresa Quinn Hazel Raguso Otto Reinhart Rita Schmitt Violet Stoll Peter Uzelac Barbera Wauhop Catherine Wojtowicz Salvatore Yanelli
