How did Prayer Wine Chocolate become a Catholic blog and a ministry?

Prayer Wine Chocolate the blog got it’s name from an odd sort of Rosary group.

In my mid-20’s, I started praying the Rosary with a few friends regularly. We would meet in my apartment on Thursday nights. Some would bring food, others, a bottle of wine. We would hang out, share our intentions and pray the Rosary together.

We continued to do this for years. Eventually, we started writing our intentions in a notebook and we became very aware that we had many prayers answered. At one point I said, “we should write a book!” (about how our prayers were answered). Another friend asked in response, “what would we call it?” The host looked around and saw our rosaries, our wine glasses and our chocolate so she said “Prayer Wine Chocolate”.

When I started my blog, I found that no one own the domain “prayerwinechocolate.com” and I mentioned the name as a possibility to my husband. His reaction sealed the deal, he said, “That is SO you!”

So with that, my blog had a name . . .

How did Prayer Wine Chocolate transition from a blog to a ministry?

I ended up writing and sharing many stories of faith and I met many people in the online and Catholic world from sharing my blog posts on Facebook.

Early on, one way a person with a blog would promote their platform was through going Live on Facebook.

I decided a way that would serve others through Facebook Live videos would be if I visited various shrines and churches in the Philadelphia area, I could show these places to others who may never get the chance to visit them.

While I was writing blog posts and sharing my Live videos, I came to know about WINE (Women in the New Evangelization). This ministry shares my love of Catholicism, friendship and a nice wine tasting. I saw them advertising a pilgrimage to Italy . . . it was called Wine and Shrine. I looked at the description and the photos and thought, “that sounds AMAZING!”, but I also thought, “There’s no way I can go”.

I felt bummed. But shortly after I also realized there are Saint shrines and beautiful churches in my area -as well as vineyards that offer wine tastings. So, I decided I could organize a one day retreat similar to the WINE pilgrimage. I was motivated to start planning right away because the Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine announced it was closing and I wanted to make sure we got there. I was determined to visit the place where Saint Katharine Drexel lived, worshipped and left this world before it was no longer an option.

That first Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat day was held in 2015. I’ve planned about one a year ever since.

How did Prayer Wine Chocolate go from a once a year retreat to a parish ministry?

This is where Betsy’s story begins . . .

The First Step in Starting a Prayer Wine Chocolate Ministry

Read that here: The First Step in Starting a Prayer Wine Chocolate Ministry

You can support this ministry by shopping in our shop! Fun Prayer Wine Chocolate Apparel and more here!

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Prayer Wine Chocolate: from blog to ministry

Years ago I started Prayer Wine Chocolate to blog about two things:

One: to share our family’s journey to adopting without paying an adoption agency.

Two: to write Catholic gift guides for Christmas.

What’s that saying . . . you want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans.

God had so much more planned and I feel like I understand the quote, “Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure” a little better than I did ten years ago.

I hosted a Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat because I wanted to make sure I got to visit the Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine in Bucks County, PA before it closed. I also hosted it because I was a little pouty that I couldn’t go on a Wine and Shrine Pilgrimage in Italy . . . so I created a way to do something similar close to home.

I can’t help but think of the words of Archbishop Nelson Perez right now:

“Never underestimate the power of God to work in you, through you and DESPITE you!”

Since that first Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat, I’ve hosted a few more, been asked to speak at “Prayer Wine Chocolate” nights for women’s church groups and have witnessed the birth of a Prayer Wine Chocolate community in a Catholic Parish.

I am completely dazzled by the work of the Holy Spirit.

But this last one, the birth of a Prayer Wine Chocolate community, only happened because one woman took initiative and action.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Scafidi purchased the How to Plan Your Own Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat: A Guidebook and ran with it.

Betsy was kind enough to write the following description of how the OLG Prayer Wine Chocolate group came about . . .

Wondering how to start a Prayer Wine Chocolate group at your parish? Here’s how Betsy did it:

Several years ago my sister-in-law came across the information for one of Amy’s Prayer, Wine Chocolate retreats. Although my schedule was busy I figured I would just go along with it.

That day changed my prayer life forever.

As I headed home after a beautiful day that included Mass, learning about St. Gianna, Prayer, new friendships and wine, I felt more peaceful and refreshed than I had in a long time. 

I attended a few more of Amy’s retreats walking away from each one saying to myself, “I needed that.”

I began to wonder how many more women need the same things I was getting;

enrichment to my faith life,

an opportunity to pray with other women and

a place to build Catholic friendships.

So I began to ask the Holy Spirit to show me how to move forward.

One Sunday, I casually mentioned to a fellow parishioner that I was thinking about getting some of the women of the parish together. That was all it took. Those casual words took on a life of their own and before I knew it, I was talking with my DRE about my proposal for a Women’s Prayer, Wine, Chocolate Group.

The First Prayer Wine Chocolate Gathering

At our first meeting over 20 women showed up. We shared snacks, paired wine and chocolate and talked about  the retreats that started it all.

The women were given time to write out prayer intentions and we wrapped up the afternoon by praying the rosary. This was almost 2 years ago. Since then we have gathered about a dozen times.

We discuss living liturgically, participate in service projects, share meatless recipes, learn about prayer journaling and discuss Catholic gift giving all while socializing and praying. Each time we all walk away saying the same thing…

”I needed that.”

To those of you thinking about getting started I would encourage you with the words of Pope St. John Paul II, “Be Not Afraid.” Grab a retreat guide, a few friends and jump right in knowing that I’ll be praying for you!  

Prayer Wine Chocolate: Ministry and Mission

Prayer Wine Chocolate is a Rosary group that inspires and fosters amazing friendships

I sincerely hope more women start these communities at parishes. Betsy and I spoke of a mission statement for these parish groups, and this is what we feel the Lord is calling Prayer Wine Chocolate ministry to do:

Prayer Wine Chocolate provides a way to welcome and encourage women of the parish to embrace their faith more fully. By putting God first and nurturing Catholic friendships, it creates opportunities for women to grow spiritually and socially, accompanying each other as the heart of the home and parish. The time spent in communion with each other empowers women to bridge their prayer lives from the church building into their everyday lives.*

Betsy and I would love if you prayed for this ministry – and for us as we hope to encourage women like to you to start this ministry in your parish!

We’ve begun brainstorming, recruiting friends to help and praying that we can make this happen for more women seeking friendships founded in faith.

Grab your copy of the guide, sign up for the newsletter (and get a free Prayer and Pair sheet) and let’s stay in prayer and in touch!

Need a checklist? Here you go!

1. Purchase a Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat/Gathering Guide**
2. Sign up for the newsletter (you’ll get some free resources and you will know about future events, topics to discuss at meetings, etc.)
3. Start talking about starting a Rosary group with snacks. See if anyone is interested, then tell her about Prayer Wine Chocolate!
4. Schedule a meeting with your parish office and offer to run this Rosary group that will benefit the women of the parish in many ways. (*If it helps, share our mission statement above)
5. Pray for this ministry and our ability to provide more resources and support to you! **If after you purchase the guide, you’d like more help, book a consultation call with me here!

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