BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--The Maisha House of Prayer is seeking donations to purchase a house to expand its ministry of prayer and spiritual support to those in need.

Sisters Nancy Auster and Loretta McCarthy, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who serve at the house of prayer, began a house fund in May 1997. The funds will go towards the purchase of the desired house, located eight blocks from their current location. The house is being sold by Jennie Hubbard, a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes Church and former teacher at the parish school, who is currently holding it off the market for sale to the sisters.

The house fund has received approximately $9,500 in donations. Sister McCarthy said she hopes to collect an additional $10,000 to reduce the amount of the loan, which she hopes to secure in January, and lower the mortgage payments. "Everything we raise will contribute to the lessening of what we have to borrow," she said.

The current prayer house at 392 Glen Iris Drive is being leased by the sisters and is not for sale.

Following the expected purchase, the sisters will continue the house fund to finance renovation projects including the construction of a chapel and painting of the facility.

"The house fund will be ongoing. There's a lot of renovation (needed)," Sister McCarthy said.

The 12-year-old, two-story brick house has 4,000 square feet and offers larger chapel and gathering spaces, easy access for the elderly and is near bus stops and two parking lots. It is located in a low-income area close to public housing.

An increasing number of visitors are seeking spiritual direction, prayer and conversation about difficulties, Sister McCarthy said. The facility has a front office which can be used for private conversations and bedrooms to provide overnight accommodations for women seeking refuge, retreat and respite. Maisha House is currently unable to fully provide these services.

The prayer house was founded in 1990 and is open to all. It offers communal prayer services throughout the week and time for reflection and prayer for both small groups and individuals. The sisters pray largely for the needs of the poor and oppressed in Atlanta, and in 1997 they prayed for all archdiocesan parishes.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the house fund send checks payable to Maisha House of Prayer, Inc., to 392 Glen Iris Drive, NE, Atlanta 30308. For information call (404) 688-8040.