HOWARD BEACH — When Father Dominick Dellaporte, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church, asked parishioner Lindsay Papalardo to lead a new ministry, she jumped at the chance.

“He knew I was very devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows, and he mentioned the possibility of having a women’s prayer group once a month where we could meet, support one another, and reflect on Mary’s example of strength and trust in God during times of suffering,” Papalardo said. “So, I said yes right away.”

The result is a prayer ministry called Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Howard Beach church to pray for the Blessed Mother’s intercession to help them resolve issues in their lives and those of their families and friends.

Our Lady of Sorrows is the title given to the Blessed Mother to acknowledge the profound suffering and grief she endured during the life of her son Jesus.

At the prayer ministry meetings, participants gather in the church before a statue of the Blessed Mother to pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, which differs from the traditional rosary in that the prayers are centered on the sorrows of Mary’s life rather than the mysteries (joyful, luminous, glorious and sorrowful) in the life of Jesus.

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The meetings are also a time for participants to pray for specific intentions.

“Some of us kneel, some of us sit, and we concentrate on what our intentions are for being there. Some of us state our intentions out loud and talk about what’s going on in our lives, but others would rather do so in silent prayer,” Papalardo said. “I feel the main thing is to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable.”

She added that the group prays together to seek comfort as they face life’s challenges, “and we reflect on them to remind ourselves that God is present in our lives to help us in our suffering.”

Papalardo, a 28-year-old public school teacher, is an example of a young adult stepping up to the plate and taking on leadership roles in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

As a member of Gen Z, Papalardo said she feels comfortable leading the prayer ministry.
“I feel very fulfilled leading this group as a young person,” she explained. “I see myself as someone who wants to bring people together.”

She is pleased that Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows has drawn women of all ages, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, and that the ministry is bringing people together.

“We have people my age and women in their 80s coming,” she said. “We have diverse ages and diverse backgrounds, which is amazing.”

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Papalardo was born Catholic and was baptized but was raised in a non-denominational household. In high school, she found herself drawn to her original religion.

“I went to The Mary Louis Academy, and it sparked my interest in possibly reverting back to Catholicism,” she explained.

And so, she began studying at Immaculate Conception, the church located near her high school and, after a few years, received the sacraments of Communion and confirmation.

“The teacher there taught me how to pray the rosary,” Papalardo explained, “and over time, I became devoted to her.”

She now shares that devotion with the members of her prayer ministry. Speaking of Our Lady of Sorrows, Papalardo said, “I believe she has given me strength.”