What is ACTS?

ACTS is a parish-based retreat program that began in Texas in 1987 and was brought to St. Louis in 2002. The ACTS retreat program is now in parishes all over Texas, in many parishes in St. Louis, and in 13 other states and 3 other countries. The ACTS movement is based on Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2, verses 42-47. This passage provides a description of the early Church and is inspiration for us in parish life: breaking bread together, worshipping together, receiving instruction together, sharing in common, and reaching out in loving service. The acronym of ACTS came to mean Adoration, Community, Theology and Service, which is today the foundation for these retreats. For more information about the worldwide ACTS movement, click the ACTS Missions link.

Parishioners of St. Gerard Majella are pleased to present ACTS weekend retreat. This parish-based retreat offers the opportunity to renew your spirituality and prayer life, to enhance your relationship with our Lord and to strengthen connections to and within our parish community. Members of our parish present the retreat with spiritual direction from our parish priests. Since September 2013, many of our parishioners have attended the retreats and most have gone on to help with future retreats.

A retreat begins on a Thursday evening with check-in at 6:15 pm at St. Gerard Majella Church, and ends Sunday with a reception in Liguori Hall following the 11:00 am Mass.

The cost for each retreatant is $300, with $100 due upon registration. The remaining $200 is due at the Thursday check-in at the beginning of the retreat.

PLEASE NOTE: Financial difficulties should not prevent parishioners from attending the retreat. If you wish to inquire about a scholarship, or need further information regarding the retreat please contact the Director of the retreat.

The dates of upcoming retreats are:

• Men: February 18-21, 2027

• Women: April 1-4, 2027

• Men: November 11-14, 2027

• Women: February 17-20, 2028

• Men: August 24-27, 2028

• Women: October 19-22, 2028

Approximately 7-10 days prior to the retreat, you will receive a letter describing what to bring with you (clothing, reading material, etc.) for the retreat weekend. Please call or email if you have any questions or need additional information.

Online Registration

What is "Jonah Prayer Ministry"? 

Jonah Prayer Ministry is a prayer ministry based at the parish level. The goal is for every parish to have Jonah Prayer Ministry or its equivalent. Praying over each other is an excellent way to affirm each other's faith as a community, to let the Holy Spirit heal our hurts and to open our eyes to being thankful for the truth and love in every situation that we experience.   

Jonah Prayer Ministers are people like yourself who are approved by the pastor for this ministry. Ministry members feel the call to pray for others. After training, Jonah Prayer ministers pray in small groups with individuals who request prayer support, maintaining confidence in all matters. Ministry sessions are scheduled according to individual parish activity and with pastoral approval. 

In summary, Jonah Prayer Ministry is another beautiful way that the Holy Spirit can have profound direct spiritual impact both in the parish community and in personal lives. Jonah Prayer Ministry is about being present to fellow parishioners through prayer and praying with expectant faith knowing God brings about transformation/healing/growth. 

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, No hands but yours, no feet but yours, Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ's compassion to the world; Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now." -St. Teresa of Avila 

We Will Pray With You
Jonah Prayer Ministers are available on the second weekend of the month. Join us by the St Gerard Majella statue after Mass and we will pray with you.

Interested in becoming a Jonah Prayer Minister?
Jonah Prayer Ministers are to attend an archdiocesan workshop to train prayer ministers for ministry in their parishes. 

The following is the Jonah Prayer Ministry Training Schedule for 2025.  All events are held at the Catholic Renewal Center, 6120 Pebble Hill Drive, Afton, MO, 63123. 

• April 18 & 25 - 2-Day Training

• July 11 -  1-Day Training

• October 3 & 10 - 2-Day Training

Applicants will need the signature of their pastor on the application form. Forms may be copied at the parish office, or call 314-731-6100. 

For more information or questions about the Jonah Prayer Ministry contact Debbieschaefer1962@gmail.com or 314-568-7717 or Tina Ferder at the Catholic Renewal Center, 314-731-6100, catholicrenewal@archstl.org.

We pray individually for intentions as requested by parishioners. Prayer intentions do not have to be specific to our parish community.  To make a request send an email to prayerchain@sgmparish.org.