Benedictine Spirituality

It may seem odd that some of the best guidelines for achieving balance in our world today, where stress has become the norm, come from a sixth-century Italian monk who at one point chose to live by himself in a cave. Yet through the centuries, millions have found the teachings of Saint Benedict of Nursia and his Rule for monastic life key to their own spiritual wholeness.

Divine Word Spirituality

Generosity of spirit, openness to God's Word, and strength coming from prayer and a dynamic spiritual life are the Divine Word way of proclaiming God's Kingdom. Divine Word spirituality recognizes the need for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to fulfill one's mission. Through the Holy Spirit one is opened to listening for God's voice in current times, to hear God's Word in other cultures, and to go wherever the Word takes them—even if it is into the desert!

Franciscan Spirituality

Saint Francis of Assisi has inspired generations of faith seekers to embrace the values of simplicity, reverence for life, and peacemaking. Through the example of his life he invites us to explore the spiritual gifts discovered in shared community and a life of prayer. He exemplifies and invites us to cultivate the virtue of compassion as a way to reveal Christ to each other today.

Ignatian Spirituality

Saint Ignatius Loyola believed our deep desires are healthy, leading us towards the God who made us. While this may seem mysterious, we ultimately long for union with God. Our task is to align our desires with God's.

Lay Spirituality: Go in Peace

Every liturgy ends with a commissioning of the laity to go out and transform the world inspired by the grace of God celebrated in Catholic worship. What is unique about lay spirituality in relation to clerical and monastic spiritualities?

Praying into Sunday: Eucharistic Adoration

Learning sessions for the whole parish community that focus on helping Catholics appreciate and practice adoration in the context of a liturgical spirituality.

Proclaiming Hope

Providence Spirituality

Providence has been the symbol which speaks to us of the creative activity of God who calls into being, sustains, nourishes, challenges and lures all creation toward its final fulfillment. It is the word which proclaims God's enduring relationship to and involvement with all creation. Providence is God's face unfailingly turned toward the world.

Giving Thanks

Praying Well • Parent Learning Centers

Helping Our Family Live Our Faith

This session will help parents to explore prayer as a way of cooperating with the Holy Spirit, who helps us remember all that Jesus said and who instructs us in the life of prayer. They will learn the basic forms of prayer: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise and gain a greater sense of being blessed and of offering blessing. They will learn how to pray with their children and help their children understand Catholic ways to pray so they will grow into a lifetime of faith. • By Bill Huebsch

Praying Well • Whole Community Catechesis

(English & Spanish)

This session will help participants to explore prayer as a way of cooperating with the Holy Spirit, who helps us remember all that Jesus said and who instructs us in the life of prayer. They will learn the basic forms of prayer: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise and gain a greater sense of being blessed and of offering blessing.

Prayers of Thanksgiving • Generations of Faith

Four ways to practice prayers of thanksgiving. Can be used any time of year, alone or with others.

Praying with Scripture • Generations of Faith

This resource will guide you though four ways of praying with scripture.

Prayer: Scripture Reflections • Generations of Faith

Seven scripture reflections focused on the theme of prayer.

Pathways in Prayer • Generations of Faith

Complete this short quiz to help you reflect on your own prayer preferences.

Pray Always • Generations of Faith

This all-ages session will guide participants to explore and understand the central prayer forms of the Catholic tradition and engage in the practice of prayer on a regular basis.

Pathways to God: Prayer Forms • Generations of Faith

Background information on prayer and different ways to pray for facilitators to deepen their understanding of prayer.

Reading the Bible: Prayer • Generations of Faith

Four ways to use the Bible for prayer.

Reading the Bible: Lectio Divina • Generations of Faith

In this all-ages session, participants will learn Lectio Divina, "divine reading," a form of prayer using scripture. • By Agnes Done

Praying through Music • Generations of Faith

Use this to guide your family through praying with music.

A Child's Prayer • Generations of Faith

A beautiful child's prayer to be used in any setting. • By M. Bentham-Edwards

A Grandparents' Day Prayer • Generations of Faith

A beautiful prayer for grandparents to be used in any setting.

Back to School Blessing • Generations of Faith

A family blessing as kids get ready to start a new school year.

1800PRAYER

A skit to introduce the topic of prayer.

Centering Prayer

A step-by-step guide for practicing centering prayer, an ancient method based on the conviction that in our deepest self we can find God. It can be done alone or with others.

Prayers of Contrition

Three ways to practice prayers of contrition, offering words of sorrow for our wrongdoing. This can be done alone or with others.

Prayers of Petition

Three activities for practicing prayers of petition, asking God for what we and others need. These can be done alone or with others.

Prayers of Praise

Four activities to practice prayers of praise, giving compliments to God. These can be done alone or with others.

Spontaneous Prayers

Four activities to practice spontaneous prayers, letting the Spirit lead us in prayer. These can be done alone or with others.

The Luminous Mysteries: One-Day Retreat

Participants will be introduced to the luminous mysteries of the rosary by exploring each of these events in the life of Jesus. • By Cheryl Tholcke

The Practice of Prayer

This all-ages session has been adapted from "Pray Always" specifically for Lent.

Learning to Pray with Saint Kateri Tekakwitha • First Steps for Families

A parent drop-in session and home activity focused on Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. • By Tom East

Fall Table Prayer • Generations of Faith

A table prayer for the fall.

Morning & Evening Prayer for November • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of November.

Morning & Evening Prayer for October • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of October.

Morning & Evening Prayer for September • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of September.

Morning & Evening Prayer for February • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of February.

Praying with the Saints • Generations of Faith

Participants will write prayers that capture the life and actions of several saints and holy people.

Winter Table Prayer • Generations of Faith

A family prayer to use during the winter.

A Leaving Home Ritual & Blessing • FamilyFaith@Home

A ritual and blessing to celebrate a young adult's departure from home.

A Prayer for Family Vacation • FamilyFaith@Home

A family prayer to use before travel.

A Prayer for the Last Day of School • FamilyFaith@Home

Family Graduation Rituals • FamilyFaith@Home

Incorporate scripture, prayer and storytelling into your family graduation celebration.

Prayer for the Work We Do • FamilyFaith@Home

Take time to pray together as a family for the work you all do.

Praying the Rosary • FamilyFaith@Home

A guide to praying the rosary as a family.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity • FamilyFaith@Home

Pray together for Christian Unity.

A Prayer for Youth • FamilyFaith@Home

Prayer at Home • FamilyFaith@Home

Ideas for praying together as a family at home.

Mothers' Day Blessing • FamilyFaith@Home

A blessing for mothers on Mothers' Day.

Praying the Sorrowful Mysteries • FamilyFaith@Home

By praying the rosary, we can meditate on Jesus' passion and death. Choose one, several, or all of the five sorrowful mysteries to pray together as a family on Good Friday or anytime.

Blessing of Spouses • FamilyFaith@Home

A prayer of parents for each other.

Morning & Evening Prayer for August • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of August.

Morning & Evening Prayer for July • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of July.

Morning & Evening Prayer for June • Generations of Faith

Family prayers for the month of June.

A Parent's Prayer • FamilyFaith@Home

A prayer for parents.

Summer Table Prayers • FamilyFaith@Home

Family meal prayers for the summer.

Morning & Evening Prayer for January • FamilyFaith@Home

Family prayers for the month of January.

Praying into Sunday: Eucharistic Adoration

Remembering the Importance of Eucharist in our Homes

A family activity to help us remember the importance of Eucharist.

Lingering & Re-Living

Adoring the Blessed Sacrament

This session addresses ways young people can incorporate Eucharistic adoration into their practice of prayer. • By Robert Feduccia

Becoming Community • FIRE

Jesus Taught Us to Pray

Jesus came as the Word of God. Not only did he speak God the Father's Word to us, he taught us a way to speak to God. People were praying for centuries before Jesus came. People pray today who have never been taught. Jesus' teaching on prayer did not make prayer possible; it made prayer simple. Participants will experience how directions can make a difficult task simple. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

Becoming Community • FIRE

Calvary Walk

The purpose of this experience is to enable all of us to realize that Jesus not only suffered and died in Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago, but that he continues to suffer and die in all the people suffering in our world today. It also hopes to familiarize participants with the ancient Catholic devotion of "Stations of the Cross." • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

The Responding Community • FIRE

The Desert Experience

The desert can be a place where we meet God. This meeting introduces the group to the “desert experience” of contemplative prayer. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

Communal Prayers in the Words of Vatican II

Use these 19 prayers in a variety of pastoral and personal situations. These prayers each celebrate one major themes of Vatican II, pairing a brief reading from the pertinent Council document with Scripture—the word of the Lord alongside "the word of the Church." Each leads into a brief period of Breaking Open the Word. • By Bill Huebsch

What is Faith?

What is our Christian understanding of faith, and how do we celebrate it and live it in inspiring ways within a secular culture?

Forgiveness & Reconciliation

We believe in the forgiveness of sins.... After the great commandments to love God and your neighbor as yourself, forgiveness is probably the next great hallmark of Christianity. Yet, just as love is easy to say but hard to do, so are forgiveness and reconciliation. We teach our children to say, "I'm sorry," but it's too easy for those to be hollow words – even for adults. Here we explore principles and challenges that address the holy concept of forgiveness and reconciliation.