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Mr. Smith » Prayer
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Prayer
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"For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; finally, it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus." St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, pg. 242
Students who attend St. Mary's Junior High School experience and learn many forms (blessing & adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise) and styles (vocal, meditative, and contemplative) of prayer. Students learn how to pray as individuals, but they also learn how to pray in community in an effort to give them the spiritual tools they need to have a relationship with God and their faith community. Communal Prayer St. Mary's students gather weekly to celebrate Mass or participate in multi-aged Spirit Groups. Every student participates in liturgy through some ministry throughout the year. (Please click here to view the St. Mary's School Liturgy Schedule.)
Junior high students also have the opportunity to lead the entire school through morning prayer over the intercom system. Students also learn how to lead their classmates in prayer. - Witness Talks: Students in 7th and 8th grade have the opportunity to connect the weekly Gospel message to hands-on activities and popular culture through class presentations called "Witness Talks."
- Prayer Services: Students in 7th and 8th grade also have the opportunity to work in small mixed age groups in HomeBase to create theme based prayer services that use popular culture and Church teachings to invite their classmates to actively participate in prayer.
Personal Prayer Students also need to learn specific prayers by heart each quarter. Boot Camp prayers will be prayed daily in class until the day of the test. Click here for the Catholic Boot Camp list of prayers students need to know.
8th grade students will be assigned a week of Sunday scripture readings from which to choose a meaningful verse. Students will create an illustrated mini-poster of the verse to hang in the religion room, junior high hall, or parish display boards. Click here for a schedule and scripture passage options. Click here for directions on how to create the poster. 7th grade students will be assigned a number of saints from a designated week to choose from to create an illustrated comic strip mini-poster of the saint's life and important events. These posters will be displayed throughout the year in the classroom and on parish display boards. Click here for a schedule and saint choices for each week. Click here for directions on how to make this poster.
Students pray in a variety of formats throughout the week. Click on each day for a description of many of these prayer prompts. Here is a sample of what a typical week of prayer may look like: Monday: Reflective Prayer: Silent, Written Journal (TRAP, Examination of Conscience, Theological Reflection), or Guided Meditation.
Tuesday: Liturgy of the Hours: A modified form of Liturgy of the Hours created especially for Catholic youth is prayed on a weekly basis. A different student from each class is chosen to lead this prayer every week.
Wednesday: Prayer related to popular culture and/or current events (Movie & TV clips, secular & Christian music, News- internet, print, broadcast). Students will also reflect on the experience of the Eucharist (what did they see, hear, taste, touch, and smell; what images, sounds, tastes, textures and smells touched them).
Thursday: Scripture-Based Prayer (Lectio Divina, PRIMA, JOY, Ignatian Gospel Contemplation, Psalms, Novenas, the Rosary, Litanies, Stations of the Cross, and Chaplets or Guided Scripture Questions)- completed individually or within faith sharing groups.
Friday: Student-led prayer (Witness Talks, Petitions, Affirmations).
Please click here to access a prayer booklet.
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St. Mary's Junior High
St. Mary's School
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