Adopt-a-Nun

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (AP)--In 72 years as a nun, Sister Grace Marie Korn has spent uncounted hours sending prayers to God. For the next year, she will pray on Joyce Fink's behalf as part of an unusual fund-raising campaign that invites members of the public to "adopt" her and other sisters in her order.

A cash gift will keep donors in their adoptees' prayers for a year.

"I'm not praying for pay," stressed Sister Grace Marie, 91, a member of the Williamsville Franciscan Sisters whose Adopt-a-Sister program is just getting under way.

Instead, the sisters hope to develop lasting personal relationships with those who adopt them.

"It's not just 'so I add one more person in my prayers,' but a more personal type of being there for another individual," said Sister Marcella Nacreiner, communications director for the Buffalo-area order.

Donors can pledge any amount, and the nuns continue to pray for anyone who asks, whether or not they pay.

"As long as donors don't mistakenly assume they are buying the grace of God or that God's favor is for sale, the program could be beneficial for everyone."

Adopt-a-Sister is part of a $3.7 million fund-raising effort that the 130-member Sisters of St. Francis have launched to help pay for the $12 million St. Mary of the Angels Mother house they moved into six months ago. The site houses the order's administrative offices, housing for active sisters, and assisted living and skilled nursing space for elderly and infirm nuns.

Praying for others is nothing new to the nuns, who for generations have honored requests for intentions and accepted donations. The Adopt-a-Sister program links the practices.

"Throughout our history, we have been women of prayer. We've had people calling in or stopping in to say 'Please pray for my daughter who's having surgery, my son who's looking for employment,' whatever," said Sister Bea Leising. "This is a continuation of that."

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