Prayer
Growing in the Life of Prayer and Spiritual Practices

​Prayer is a way to connect with the Divine. The Catholic Faith is rich in spiritual practices including many different types of individual prayer, community prayer, and practices of caring.  There are prayer forms that will be fruitful for anyone from the most traditional Catholic to someone who is spiritual but not religious.  We invite you to learn about different prayer forms and spiritual practices.  Try the ones that attract you.  If you are not drawn to a practice, enjoy the fact that some others in the world-wide Catholic community enter into their faith this way.
Click here to learn more about prayer practices including: Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, Ignation Contemplation and the Daily Examin, The Morning Offering, Praying with Images, Labyrinth Meditation, Eucharistic Adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary and much more.

Seasonal Prayers

​The season of autumn invites us to reflect on transitions and changing times. The light lessens, the leaves turn from green to a myriad of reds, oranges and yellows, and the chill in the air signifies a shift in the weather.  We shift from the carefree rhythms of the summer to the more rigid routines that mark the beginning of school year and busier times at work. As you are setting your intention and focus for your prayers this season, consider the prayer points for autumn prayers to meditate on this fall season!
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  • Pray for the harvest of those in agriculture
  • Pray for those experiencing a poor harvest
  • Pray for teachers and students during the fall school year
  • Pray for those experiencing life changes
  • Pray for those in transition
  • Pray for those who may feel lonely during the holiday seasons approaching
An Autumn Prayer
This lovely prayer service from the Sisters of Mercy can be prayed alone or with others.

The Pope's Prayer Intention for September:
For the Cry of the Earth
​The Calming Effect of Praying the Rosary
Many contemplative practices involve the use of a mantra, or the repetitive uttering of a sacred word or group of words (or sometimes a sound) in order to deepen one’s focus, avoid distractions, and create a sense of calm that permits one to enter into an “altered state.” Too often, Catholics are suspicious of such practices, thinking of them as foreign to our tradition. Nothing could be further from the truth! One of the best examples from our tradition is the praying of the Rosary, which involves the mantra-like repetition of prayers, namely the Hail Mary, which we recite 53 times as we reflect on a Mystery of the Rosary. People who regularly pray the Rosary will attest to the fact that the practice brings about a state of calm. In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, Joe Paprocki explores the calming effect of praying the Rosary as we enter into the Month of the Holy Rosary and prepare for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.