Prayer app-titude

Our Lady’s Cathedral bringing Hallow to Lenten mission


Hallow, the popular American Catholic prayer and meditation app featuring celebrities Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, Chris Pratt, Gwen Stefani and others, has captured widespread appeal.

Intentional local appeal, too, including at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where the parish’s Lenten mission in late March will flow through the Hallow app, led by Marco Casanova, who works as the parish lead at Hallow.

“Will be our best event of the year,” said Jayce Palmer, director of evangelization for the cathedral.

Hallow is, Palmer said, “the most downloaded Catholic and meditation and prayer app that is out there. We’re in the middle of a huge Lenten push, which we call the Lenten Pray 40 challenge where we encourage all of our parishioners to take on this challenge by praying 10 minutes a day.”

Palmer said the prayer challenge will “come to a crescendo” at the end of Lent.

And the Hallow app is at the center of that prayer. And for the Lenten mission, set for March 23-25 at 6 p.m. each night.

“The Hallow app has been proven to help people deepen their faith and spirituality,” said Monsignor Rick Stansberry, pastor of The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. “The Lenten mission led by one of their top speakers will help lead those who attend to a more grace-filled Lent and Easter and that is my hope and prayer.”

With a theme of “The Return,” which is a reference to Christ’s parable of “The Prodigal Son,” in the Gospel of Luke, Casanova, a Catholic podcaster and speaker from Houston, Texas, will dive deep into areas including God’s grace for sinners, redemption and repentance, and the dangers of self-righteousness. It is also about the humbling aspects of Lent as Catholics grow closer to God and the celebration of the Resurrection at Easter.

Casanova has been featured on a number of online and televised Catholic programs ranging from Catholic Answers to Pints with Aquinas and FOCUS. Each of his three presentations will last less than an hour.

“The mission is about the Father who runs toward us and never stops looking at us with love,” Casanova said. “No matter how far someone feels – rebellious or religious – there’s always a way home.”

The last night, Palmer said, will feature adoration and a guided meditation as they pray with the Lord. Priests will also be present to hear confessions will also be available.

“Anyone can come,” Palmer said. “We want as many people to come as we can. We have room for hundreds.”

No reservations or RSVPs are required for the event. For more information, visit cathedralokc.org.

Andrew Griffin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.