Faith based hotline hosting online fundraiser, novena and taking prayer requests

The Upper Room Crisis Hotline is currently hosting an online fundraiser with the goal of raising $6,000 by the end of October.

“The Upper Room Crisis Hotline provides a non-judgmental listening and referral hotline to clergy, religious and laity in spiritual need,” the fundraising Facebook page said.

The fundraiser began on Oct. 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. A novena to Our Lady of Fatima was also begun on Oct. 13. The Upper Room Crisis Hotline has links on its website to Rev. Burke Masters’ YouTube page, where he prayers the novena prayers each day.

In addition, visitors to The Upper Room Crisis Hotline website can also post their prayer intentions. These intentions will be offered by the Franciscan nuns at the Poor Clare Monastery in Minooka.

“All of us at the hotline would like to let the community know that we are there for them during this time of need,” said Jean Haas, who handles marketing and volunteer recruitment for The Upper Room Crisis Hotline.

In addition to raising money for the nonprofit, the goal is also to increase awareness of its mission, according to Haas.

“Our calls have increased 1/3 due to the pandemic and because of that our phone bills and office needs have increased,” Haas said in an email. “We are an international hotline, and we receive calls from all over the world. All of our donations go directly to expenses. Also, all of our staff are volunteers and do not get paid for their services, which is really remarkable since we have nearly 50 volunteers.”

To pray the novena, offer a prayer intention and for more information, visit Catholichotline.org.

To watch an appeals video from Sister Mary Frances Seeley, the hotline’s founder, visit youtu.be/f563NU1QbVI.

To donate on the fundraising Facebook page, visit upperroomcrisishotline.org.

Or send donation by mail to Upper Room Crisis Hotline, PO Box 3572, Joliet, Illinois, 60434.