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When Nick Audi became a caregiver for his elderly mother, he needed a way to express his faith without leaving the house. He found it in a parish group originally founded for bicyclists.

Groups of cyclers from Christ Our Light parish in Loudonville - mostly retirees and stay-at-home parents, plus a priest - met at The Crossings in Colonie last spring on Wednesday mornings.

That part of the group put on the brakes temporarily, but their email, mail and phone-chain prayer list has exploded. They call themselves the "Christ-Cyclers Prayer Partners."

Hundreds of people - some from different parishes, different denominations and even different states - have joined the weekly list, which they discovered either through Christ Our Light parish, through neighbors or through the prayer group's Facebook page.

The group especially appeals to busy individuals who can't find time for formal prayer groups and to homebound seniors.

"To some people it doesn't seem very personal, but for the people involved in it, they're thrilled to have an outlet," said group founder Carol Ann Selkis. "It does fill a niche."

Mr. Audi, whose mother has since passed away, told The Evangelist that "both [formal and virtual prayer groups] have merit. This fit the bill because I spent all my time with Ma."

Many of Mr. Audi's submitted prayer intentions have centered around his mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and other ailments.

Caring for her in her illness "was probably the hardest time in my life," he explained; "so I started asking for prayers on Ma's behalf and also for me to be more accepting of it and more understanding of the whole disease. I felt like it was purposeful."

When his mother, whom he described as "truly the love of my life," died at 85, Mr. Audi felt comforted by fellow prayer group members.

"I felt a sense of belonging. You would read other people's needs, posts and requests," he explained. "It gives you a sense of security. It made me feel a sense of peace."

Other intentions on the list range from the specific (a missing couple, a house lost in California floods, marital problems, health issues, accidents) to the general (strength and courage for seminarians, those affected by abortions and grown children who move back in with their parents).

Members of the group maintain that their prayers in response to one plea helped cure a three-year-old boy of stomach cancer.

"The power of prayer works based upon what is God's will," said Debbie Howard, a Christ Our Light parishioner.

She added her childhood friend to the list when the friend developed breast cancer. The friend's most recent CT scan showed improvement.

Marie Morris, a homebound parishioner, receives the prayer list in the mail every few weeks. She prays the Rosary with the intentions in mind.

"It's something I do first thing in the morning," she said. "I'm happy to do it because I won't be able to do anything else. It makes me feel like I'm part of something.

"The Rosary is a powerhouse of prayer," she continued. She believes miraculous results can occur: "Even if I don't know it, [miracles] could be happening all over the place."

For parishioner James Martin, the group is a connecting force and a way to remind people to pray.

"There it is in front of you on the computer," Mr. Martin said of the list of prayer intentions. "You can't miss it."[[In-content Ad]]

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